WHEN: 12:00 p.m. CT

WHERE: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

FORECAST: Cloudy, 78 degrees, 12 mph winds (indoors)

FOLLOW: @therealmarklane, @thetexanswire, @cotydavis24, @TexansDoc

LISTEN: Sports Radio 610 and 100.3 The Bull

WATCH: CBS (Greg Gumbel & Adam Archuleta)

Source: 506sports.com

RED — LA Chargers at Cincinnati

BLUE — Indianapolis at Houston

GREEN — Philadelphia at NY Jets

YELLOW — Minnesota at Detroit

GRAY — No game due to blackout enforced by home team on FOX

10. Houston's rank for opposing drives ending in scores

(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Opposing offenses have put points on the board on 41.1% of their drives against the Texans, the 10th-highest in the NFL. The Colts average 10.8 drives per game. If the Texans can keep the Colts scoring on less than four of their drives, they have a chance to avoid the sweep.

9. Indianapolis' rank for time of possession per drive

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The Colts have a ball control offense, thanks to running back Jonathan Taylor, which means they can effectively melt clock. Indianapolis possesses the ball for 2:56 per drive, the ninth-best in the NFL. What will help out Houston is if they can shorten these drives — via three-and-outs, of course.

8. The Texans' rank for tackle for loss

texans-david-culley-roy-lopez-plays-100-miles-hour Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Houston’s defense has generated 55 tackles for loss, the eighth-most in the NFL. The Texans have proven they can win at the line of scrimmage, and it will be key to bottling up Jonathan Taylor.

7. Houston's rank for missed tackles

texans-david-culley-key-stopping-colts-jonathan-taylor Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Texans have had 83 missed tackles, the seventh-most in the NFL. With Jonathan Taylor carrying the rock, the Texans are going to have to shore up their tackling, which means keeping the cup and not allowing so many opportunities for solo tackles.

6. Houston's rank for red zone conversions

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The Texans have converted on 52.0% of their red zone trips, the sixth-fewest in the league. Houston will have to find a way to get above that average if they hope to keep up with the Colts, who average 28.3 points per game, the fourth-most in the NFL.

5. Houston's rank for average starting field position

texans-brandin-cooks-tyrod-taylor-rebounding-titans Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports

It isn’t like Houston’s offense has to be horrendous; the Texans’ average starting field position is their own 30.5-yard line, the fifth-best in the NFL. If the Texans just pick up 35 yards, they can get into Ka’imi Fairbairn’s field goal range.

4. Tyrod Taylor's interceptions

texans-jets-first-quarter-recap-new-york-leads-3-0 (AP Photo/Eric Smith)

The Texans have absolutely no hope if Taylor is not protecting the football. Davis Mills threw two interceptions in the Week 6 matchup, which led to a 31-3 loss. Houston has not shot if Taylor is chucking ducks and freebies as he did against the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets.

3. Tyrod Taylor's red zone rushing touchdowns

texans-titans-second-quarter-recap-houston-12-0 (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Even though Taylor has played in five games, he has managed to use his legs inside the red zone to get valuable touchdowns. Taylor is tied for the fourth-most red zone rushing touchdowns among quarterbacks with three.

2. The Texans' rank for red zone trips

texans-brevin-jordan-sitting-helped-read-coverages (AP Photo/Eric Smith)

Consider the Texans are converting on 52.0% of their red zone trips, and they are tied for the second-fewest red zone trips with 25. Per game, Houston gets 2.3 red zone trips. The Texans must have more opportunities to put touchdowns on the board.

1. Jonathan Taylor's yards per carry rank

texans-respect-colts-jonathan-taylor-acknowledge-faults (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

No one in the NFL is doing it better than Taylor right now, who has 5.8 yards per carry, which is especially impressive when his 209 rush attempts are taken into consideration, which are second to only Derrick Henry’s 219. Taylor is the independent variable for the contest. How he performs dictates whether or not Indianapolis rolls Houston.