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NFL picks, predictions Week 8: Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans | Sporting News

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NFL picks, predictions Week 8: Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans | Sporting News


The Indianapolis Colts (4-3) are over .500 for the first time this season after getting an ugly win over the Miami Dolphins (2-4) in a 16-10 game in Week 7.

The Colts’ home win sets them up for their first three-game winning streak this year, and they are now the No. 6 seed in the AFC playoff picture entering Week 8. 

Indianapolis has a great opportunity in front of them heading into the middle part of the schedule. They will be on the road for the second and final matchup against the Houston Texans (5-2) during the regular season.

A win for the Colts would tie up the lead for the AFC South heading into Week 9.

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Indy could bolster the troops heading into this contest with their divisional rival. Shane Steichen is optimistic that DeForest Buckner and Jonathan Taylor will return to practice this week. 

The Colts open the week as six-point road underdogs against the Texans, and the NFL experts all lean towards Houston covering the spread. 

NFL picks, predictions Week 7: Colts vs. Dolphins

Bill Bender, Sporting News: Texans 24, Colts 17

Bender: “The Texans beat the Colts 29-27 in Week 1 in an entertaining duel between C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson. The rematch should be fun, too, and the Colts are 1-2 S/U on the road this season with a pair of one-score losses. Stroud is so much better at home this season with a 103.8 QB rating, nine TDs, and two interceptions. Richardson has a 50-percent completion percentage and 41.8 passer rating on the road. The Texans get the season sweep.”


Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: Texans 24, Colts 14

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Iyer: “The Colts need Jonathan Taylor (ankle) back to lift the offense with Anthony Richardson not getting it done in the passing game. The Texans are running very well with Joe Mixon, and this should be a big rebound home affair for C.J. Stroud, as Indianapolis’ secondary has plenty of holes for him to exploit.”


Jeremy Cluff, USA Today Sports: Texans 27, Colts 17

Cluff: “A Colts win in this game would tie them with the Texans for first in the AFC South. But Houston is 3-0 at home this season. Anthony Richardson won’t be able to keep up with C.J. Stroud.”


Matt Johnson, Sportsnaut: Texans 34, Colts 24

Johnson: “Coming off a career-worst performance in a heartbreaking loss, C.J. Stroud has a “get right” game in Week 8. The Indianapolis Colts run defense is abysmal, which will set up Joe Mixon for a big first half. With a strong run game backing him, Stroud comes through for 200-plus yards and 2 touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Texans’ pass rush forces Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson into multiple turnovers as Houston rolls to victory.”

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Ben Rolfe, Pro Football Network: Texans 27, Colts 17

Rolfe: “Considering only one game separates the Indianapolis Colts and the Texans in the standings, there appears to be a wider gap than that between them when you look at the underlying numbers. They actually fall very close together in nEPA/G, ranking 16th and 17th. However, in PR+, the Texans are 14th, while the Colts are 23rd.

Taking Houston to cover at home is the play here. They narrowly beat Indianapolis on the road but are the more consistent team. Houston’s losses have come against two very good teams (Vikings and Packers), so we shouldn’t be too concerned with the Texans’ Week 7 loss on the road in Lambeau.

The line being at -6.5 does give you the option to tease it down close to a pick ’em if laying nearly a touchdown with Houston makes you a bit nervous after some mixed performances this year.”


More Indianapolis Colts News

Breaking down the Colts’ 2024 schedule
Should the Colts bench Anthony Richardson for Joe Flacco?
Colts vs. Vikings flexed to SNF in Week 9

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Indianapolis, IN

‘It’s all gonna go great’: Pat McAfee, Colts fans react to Ballard, Steichen returning

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‘It’s all gonna go great’: Pat McAfee, Colts fans react to Ballard, Steichen returning


Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay is as frustrated as the fans. He understands the desire for change. But he believes in his team’s leaders.

Irsay posted on social media Sunday night, saying Chris Ballard will remain general manager and coach Shane Steichen will remain coach for 2025. The Colts just finished an 8-9 season and they haven’t made the playoffs for four straight years.

Steichen has an 17-17 record in two seasons as coach. Ballard has been with the Colts for eight seasons. The Colts have gone 62-69-1 over that span with two playoff appearances and no division titles.

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“I know fans who want an immediate change in leadership will be disappointed,” Irsay wrote. “That means we all have a lot to prove, so we’ll get back to work and keep doing what we can to earn your support and make you proud to be a Colts fan.”

Many Colts fans — notably former punter Pat McAfee — aren’t pleased.

Indianapolis Colts fans react to Jim Irsay’s statement that he’s retaining general manager Chris Ballard and coach Shane Steichen



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How much snow has hit Indiana? See snowfall totals around the state.

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How much snow has hit Indiana? See snowfall totals around the state.


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This story will be updated.

Meteorologists were predicting as much as 12 inches of snow in certain parts of Indiana as a strong winter system hit the state on Sunday.

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The day’s first snowfall measurements began to trickle in as snow continued to plummet on Southern and Central Indiana into Sunday afternoon. Southern Indiana got the bulk of the storm, recording measurements up to 8.5 inches of snow as of 2:30 p.m.

Snow is expected to go through the area into Monday, meaning snow totals are likely to rise.

See how much snow the National Weather Service has recorded for cities in Indiana.

How much snow is on the ground Sunday?

As of mid-afternoon, these cities had the highest recorded snowfall totals in Indiana:

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  • Ferdinand: 8.5 inches (1:20 p.m.)
  • Petersburg: 7 inches (11:29 a.m.)
  • Saint Anthony: 7 inches (1:49 p.m.)
  • Shoals: 5.6 inches (2:26 p.m.)
  • Monroe City: 5 inches (2:12 p.m.)
  • Bicknell: 4.5 inches (2 p.m.)
  • Washington: 4 inches (2:31 p.m.)
  • Indianapolis NWS site: 1.4 inches (1 p.m.)
  • Speedway: 1 inch (1:45 p.m.)

Contact Alysa Guffey at amguffey@gannett.com.



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Colts vs. Jaguars Week 18 Predictions & Picks Revealed

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Colts vs. Jaguars Week 18 Predictions & Picks Revealed


The Indianapolis Colts (7-9) have one more opportunity to garner positive vibes as they close out the season against the AFC South division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12) at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday.

It’s been a disappointing season for the Colts, to say the least. On one hand, the playoffs are not a possibility, and there is an expectation from the outside that big changes need to be made in the offseason. There’s not much positivity to squeeze out of this matchup. On the other hand, outside of their captains, there are some guys who have every reason to put on a big performance as free agency awaits them.

Here’s how the Horseshoe Huddle staff sees things unfolding for the Colts in their Week 18 season finale matchup against the Jags. It appears the Colts “lost our locker room,” so to speak. What would’ve likely been a sweep in favor of the Colts prior to last week’s embarrassing loss to the New York Giants, two analysts picked the visiting Jaguars in an upset.

Sean Ackerman (@shnackerman): Going one game under .500 seems like a fitting record for the Colts this season. Inconsistency and poor decisions have cost the team playoff football, but they can still beat some bad teams. The Jaguars aren’t great, and it feels like the Colts could split for the season.
Pick: Colts 17, Jaguars 13

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Jake Arthur (@JakeArthurNFL): After last week’s debacle against the Giants, the Colts lost any trust I had left, but they do get another subpar opponent on Sunday, and it is at home. I’m incredibly reluctant to pick the Colts, but I do think they’ll get strong performances from guys like Jonathan Taylor, DeForest Buckner, and Kenny Moore II (who needs a bounce-back), while guys who could be playing their final game in Lucas Oil Stadium such as Ryan Kelly and Julian Blackmon, also give it all they’ve got. Against another bad team, that’ll be enough.
Pick: Colts 23, Jaguars 20

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Jared Koch (@jjaredkoch): The Colts got embarrassed last week vs. the Giants to effectively kill their slim hopes of a playoff appearance for yet another season, and it feels like the current gloomy feelings around Indianapolis could snowball into another ugly loss during their final bout of the year. Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones is fresh off a solid performance in a win against the Tennessee Titans, and he could continue that momentum against a lacking Indianapolis defense– especially when facing a team looking unmotivated and demoralized after the events of Week 17. I’ve got the Jaguars making the surprise upset over the Colts.
Pick: Jaguars 24, Colts 20

Andrew Moore (@AndrewMooreNFL): The result of this game holds almost no weight for the Colts other than ending on a slightly high note for a victory. Instead, we should be focused on the performance of the younger players to gain momentum heading into 2025. Laiatu Latu, AD Mitchell, and JuJu Brents will all have my eye for this matchup. The Colts should get the victory before heading into an offseason that will likely be full of changes.
Pick: Colts 27, Jaguars 20

Drake Wally (@DWallsterDrake): The Colts are spiraling and don’t appear to have continuity or drive in that locker room. After falling to the worst team last week, nothing changes with a slightly better opponent despite playing at home. The Jaguars will defeat the Colts in their final game of 2024
Pick: Jaguars 23, Colts 21

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