Here is my preview and best bet for the 2022 NFL Week 1 game between the Colts and Texans.
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- NFL Week 1 Odds, Picks & Predictions: Patriots vs. Dolphins
- NFL Week 1 Odds, Picks & Predictions: Browns vs. Panthers
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- Kickoff: Sunday, Sep. 11, 2022, 1 pm ET
- Location: NRG Stadium
- TV: CBS
Colts at Texans: Consensus'Lines
- Spread: Colts -8
- Over/Under: 45.5
- Moneyline: Colts -385, Texans +295
Colts at Texans: Betting Percentages
- Spread: Texans – 45% bets, 98% money
- Over/Under: Under – 17% bets, 27% money
- Moneyline: Texans – 7% bets, 18% money
Colts at Texans: Key Injuries
Indianapolis Colts Injuries
- LB Shaquille Leonard (back) – questionable
- CB Isaiah Rodgers (concussion) – questionable
- P Rigoberto Sanchez (Achilles, IR)
Houston Texans Injuries
- WR John Metchie (leukemia, PUP)
- TE Pharaoh Brown (hamstring) – questionable
- LB Christian Harris (undisclosed, IR)
- CB Tavierre Thomas (quad, IR)
Injury Analysis
Leonard was activated from the PUP just last week after an extended absence.
Ballard won't touch the timeline question on Leonard, reiterating that he needs practice time. Hasn't been on the field since before Jax in Week 18.
“Might be Week 1,” Ballard said, “might be Week 6.” https://t.co/Gc7Jd8V09f
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) August 31, 2022
He’s far from guaranteed to play in Week 1, and his absence would be felt in the middle of the Colts defense. Rodgers was a rotational corner last year. As for Sanchez, he’s a punter.
A second-round rookie, Metchie would’ve been a Week 1 starter if not for his health. The Texans seem optimistic that he’ll be able to return to action in 2023.
Brown is an inline blocking specialist, and Harris and Thomas are rotational backups who are out for the year.
Colts at Texans: Situational Spots
Indianapolis Colts Situation
The Colts with new QB Matt Ryan open the season with winnable but divisional road games in Weeks 1-2. In Week 3, they play their home opener against the Chiefs, who have three extra days of rest. And then they have three more divisional games sandwiched around a road game at Broncos on short rest (elevation, Thursday Night Football).
That's five – FIVE! – divisional games in the first seven weeks of the season … and then they don't have another divisional matchup until Week 18 vs. Texans. In this first-half stretch, the Colts play the top-seeded Titans twice in the same month, with the rematch on the road and the Titans coming off the bye.
More than most teams do, the Colts need to win in Week 1.