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Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts. Noon. 12/30. **Official GameDay Thread**

The NFL Playoffs formally known as Week 17



Chuck Pagano has been a source of inspiration for the Indianapolis Colts throughout their improbable season.

Now he'll finally get to do it from the sidelines.

After waging a successful three-month fight with leukemia, Pagano has resumed his coaching duties. He'll be back on the field for the first time since Week 3 on Sunday when the Colts close the regular season against the visiting Houston Texans, who will be playing for the top seed in the AFC playoffs.

"I feel great, my weight is back, my energy is back and again, it's just a blessing to be back here," Pagano said.

He'll be taking over after interim coach Bruce Arians led Indianapolis, a league-worst 2-14 last season, to victories in eight of its past 10 games.

"He's always been our head coach," Arians said of Pagano.

While the Colts (10-5) can't move out of the No. 5 seed in the AFC regardless of what happens this week, Pagano will try to help the team regain some momentum heading into the playoffs after a pair of poor performances. A week after never leading in a 29-17 loss at Houston, Indianapolis needed yet another late touchdown drive engineered by Andrew Luck to beat lowly Kansas City 20-13 last Sunday.

The Texans (12-3) also haven't been at their best lately, sandwiching the win over the Colts with losses to New England and Minnesota by a combined 45 points. However, they still have a chance to clinch home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win Sunday, or if both Denver and the Patriots lose.

"We know what it takes," said defensive end J.J. Watt, two sacks shy of Michael Strahan's single-season record of 22 1/2. "We're going to get focused, and then we're going to come out there and earn ourselves home-field advantage."

The health of Arian Foster could be a key. He had season lows of 10 carries and 15 yards in a 23-6 loss to the Vikings last Sunday before leaving in the third quarter with an irregular heartbeat.

However, Foster practiced all week, and coach Gary Kubiak said the AFC's second-leading rusher (1,328 yards) will play Sunday.

"I appreciate all the concern and support," Foster tweeted earlier this week. "I am doing well. Saw a cardiologist today and everything is back to normal."







MORE PICKS: http://challengegames.nfl.com/pickem/experts#game-day-morning

What I want to see:

Run Arian Run

Look, we have no excuses not to be able to run all over these boys. Our run game needs to get its COOL back. Time to pound the mf'in ROCK in this game. OL needs to FINISH blocks and set Arian up for some massive gains.

JJ, get yo' record, homie

2.5 sacks away from one of the greatest regular season records in NFL history. Destroy this OL and get what's yours, big man!

Better run D this week vs. Indy

Last time we saw these guys, they had a pretty good day on the ground. Let's make Indy one-dimensonal in this one. Stuff their run game, and make Luck throw it, as he is prone to picks.

The Angry Texans

One thing I have noticed all year: When the Texans are ANGRY, they play with some reckless abandon. Guess what needs to happen in this game? Yeah, you get it. All out, actin' a FOOL football.


The Playoffs start NOW!!!!! 1-0 this week. No games, no jokes, no special words, no PLAYING AROUND. LET'S. MUTHA. ****IN'. GO. TEXANS!!!!!
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
Texans give the Colts a lube job at Lucas Oil Stadium.

HFA thoughout the playoffs= 2 home wins. See Ya in the Crescent City.

Go Texans
 

since02

"Step 1"
We need this game more than ever! I was really hoping we could rest starters by now but the way the offense has been struggling, this game is a must win.

We need some momentum going into the playoffs! Go TEXANS!
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
We're expecting these modern day gladiators to go out there & kick ass for 60 minutes. There's no tomorrow, only today. We expect to see 110% effort from bell to bell. Play without fear take the fight to the enemy... don't let up.

All they expect from us is our support, to stand behind them 100% from bell to bell. There's going to be some bone headed plays. Some bone headed decisions. Some thi ngs we don't agree with, or don't understand.

Lets not allow those to deter our support for our team. 100% guys. For 60 minutes.
 

EllisUnit

Vote RED!!!
mmmmmmmmmm "Lets get it on"

I will tell you my dedication to my team, due to the hollidays i have to have all my paperwork turned in by 5 PM sunday, so i have not went to bed, i got to work around 11 tonight and will be doing paperwork until about 11AM so i can make it home to watch my texans.

Thankfully the wife and kids are visiting family so i can pass smooth out after a texans victory :)
 

Thorn

Dirty Old Man
Well kiddies, it's us and Dolts, togeather again at their place. We need to be rude visitors for a change.

:texan:
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
2.5 sacks away from one of the greatest regular season records in NFL history. Destroy this OL and get what's yours, big man!
Just a clarification.......he's 2 sacks away from tying Strahan's single season sack record........2.5 would BREAK it.
 

bckey

All Pro
Lets go Texans! This is no excuse day. Go get Luck JJ. That sack record needs to fall because Strahan didn't earn it on the "Favre fall down".
 

GuerillaBlack

Hall of Fame
So mad at Ponder for throwing those balls right when Watt was about to sack him. He should be like a sack away from breaking the record.
 

Wolf

100% Texan
So mad at Ponder for throwing those balls right when Watt was about to sack him. He should be like a sack away from breaking the record.

And the dolphins, for claiming a play was a running play and four weeks later, the stats guys took a sack away
 

rickyb

Scarlet is hot.
What's it going to take to post a W today?
* Establish the run.
* Control the clock, especially in 4Q.
* Confuse and pressure Luck.

Assuming Wade & Co. have been keeping some tricks up their sleeves, and I'm not sure they have, they will have to show some tape to the rest of the league today. We need Luck to be thinking, "What the heck just happened then?", as he runs to the sideline to look at pics and talk to the booth. We also need him to be thinking "Ouch", "Aw, hell, not again", and "Why can't my line keep me upright?" We need to make a professional QB doubt himself. What we don't need is Luck to believe he has a chance at a 4Q comeback drive to win.

Switching to our offense, it's no secret that our O requires a ground game to function. And this running attack leads to our ability to win time of possession.

The analysis is simple. If I know (what I think I know), the Colts know it and game plan for it. So the key to a Texans win will be the ability to impose our will on an opponent who knows exactly what to expect.
 

Premier

Rookie
i have my sunday alarm set for 11:59... i hate waking up this early on gameday.. these next 3 hours are an eternity..
 

Hervoyel

BUENO!
Woke up oddly optimistic this morning after a week of deep rooted pessimism.

Going to be watching the game at home with my stepson who is in with the family for the holidays...... from Indianapolis. My wife and his are going to take the grand kids to the mall and out running errands while we watch the game.

I think the Texans are going to take care of us all today.
 

TEXANRED

Texan-American
Playoffs start today for the Texans. Debating on getting drunk now to save me the heartache I believe this game is going to bring.
 

NitroGSXR

Super Sic #58
Win or lose...

I hope JJ Watt destroys the single game sack record!

GO JJ!!! M-V-P! M-V-P! M-V-P! I'm rooting for you!!
 

Lucky

Ride, Captain, Ride!
Staff member
I expect bounce back games from Schaub and Wade's defense. I also expect the Colts to pack it after halftime and get ready for their game against the Ravens next week.
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
I expect bounce back games from Schaub and Wade's defense. I also expect the Colts to pack it after halftime and get ready for their game against the Ravens next week.
Hopefully for the reason that you are implying, and not because..........
 

Showtime100

Got JJ?
FINALLY!!! Geeez, was it me or was this an exceptionally long week?

Anyhoo, Showtime is ready for action..


Let's do this..


 

2slik4u

Veteran
Win or lose...

I hope JJ Watt destroys the single game sack record!

GO JJ!!! M-V-P! M-V-P! M-V-P! I'm rooting for you!!
I like your enthusiasm but putting a players achievements over the teams is no Bueno por la caca.

We need to win today and I will sacrifice the sack record to do so.
 

Nawzer

Alienz
Has he compared him to Thteve Thlaton?
Seriously I can't listen to this man. He's one of the worst commentators in all of professional sports. They seriously need to hire some young guys as commentators. I'm tired of these guys providing no real insight and butchering names. Chris Collinsworth is the best we have right now and they need to get more guys like him.
 

bhsman

Rookie
**** the record. Just get me a W today. I don't even care how they get it, just get it!
I agree; if the record is broken AND the Texans get the #1 seed, so much the better. But right now I think all of us want that bye.

EDIT: Except Coltsfan, I'm sure. ;)
 

kiwitexansfan

Hall of Fame
What do you think the chances of the Colts triple teaming Watt every down just to avoid the sack record being obtained against them.

I expect a big day from Smith, Barwin, Reed, Mercilus as Watt gets way TOO much attention.

:swatter:
 

Showtime100

Got JJ?
I'm thrilled Chuck Pagano is doing well, and I mean that sincerely, much respect to the man.

Having said that it is Gameday vs the Colts and I have just one look-a-like observation....




I just hope Bad Santa has a bad day.
 

EllisUnit

Vote RED!!!
why did he have to come back for this game when we need this win,,,,,hope they play hard for him in a losing effort with that said.
 

Wolf

100% Texan
I hate the Colts ,think they are overrrated and hope we stomp the **** out of them.

With that said
However they are a great NFL story for 2012
 

srrono

All Pro
Last year the Texans did not win in emotional games. Hopefully the team has grown enough to overcome the emotional lift IND will have today. #GoTexans
 

EllisUnit

Vote RED!!!
Last year the Texans did not win in emotional games. Hopefully the team has grown enough to overcome the emotional lift IND will have today. #GoTexans
Thats what worries me, i remember the raiders game. Its like kubiak says, hey guys these boys have been through a lot we are gonna take it easy on them. Wouldnt put it past mr respectful :kitten:
 
Let's bring it fellas!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GETCHA PULL!!!!!!


Let's see the DL eat the Colts ALIVE!!!!!!! Let's see the Texans go dominate and nail down this #1 seed!!!!!
 
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