Drew Brees on the AFC competition between Chiefs, Ravens and Texans
Nobody knows better than Drew Brees how tough it is to play quarterback in the NFL. He shares the pressure quarterbacks are facing across the league this season and also talks about his partnership with Sports Illustrated Tickets.
The first football Sunday of the 2024 NFL season is here and the Houston Texans head north to face the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1.
The Texans enter 2024 having been arguably the surprise package of the entire NFL last season. Coming off a three-win season, Houston – led by new coach DeMeco Ryans and rookie quarterback CJ Stroud – would have welcomed any kind of progress. Instead, Houston won the AFC South before crushing the Cleveland Browns in the first round of the playoffs.
An aggressive offseason that included the signing of wide receiver Stefon Diggs, running back Joe Mixon and defensive end Danielle Hunter means the Texans aren’t simply satisfied with this big leap forward.
Highest paid quarterbacks in the NFL: Salaries of the 32 highest-paid NFL quarterbacks
Indianapolis finished third in the AFC South, but was just one game behind the Texans at 9-8. The Colts are looking for revenge after Houston lost a dramatic Week 18 loss to the playoffs. The Colts focused primarily on keeping the team together, re-signing four key defensive players. With quarterback Anthony Richardson and running back Jonathan Taylor healthy after missing most of last season, the belief in Indy is that the team was already close to making the playoffs.
Texans vs. Colts odds, moneyline, over/under
The Texans are favorites to win away from home according to BetMGM’s NFL odds.
Want to bet? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NFL betting promotions in 2024, including the ESPN BET app and Fanatics Sportsbook promo code.
PLAY TO WIN $5,000: USA TODAY’s Pro Football Survivor Pool is free to enter. Sign up now!
- Spread: Titans (-3)
- Money line: Titans (-160), Colts (+130)
- Over/Under: 49 points
Not interested in this game? Our guide to NFL betting odds, tips and spreads has you covered with Monday Night Football odds.
New to sports betting? USA TODAY readers can get exclusive promo and bonus codes at the best online sportsbooks and sports betting sites.
Odds, predictions and tips for the first NFL week
USA TODAY: Texans 24, Colts 22
Jordan Mendoza writes: “Houston has all the power in the world to win another division title. The offense will be exciting to watch, but the Colts also have a lot of talent that isn’t that good yet. Expect this game to be exciting until the end and the Texans to leave Indianapolis with a win.”
Bleacher report: Texans 28, Colts 22
Brent Sobleski writes: “The Texans should hit the ground running with CJ Stroud fully integrated after a full offseason and the addition of Stefon Diggs as a wide receiver. Last season, Stroud shredded the Indianapolis secondary with 648 yards and four touchdowns. The Colts have done nothing to improve that unit.”
CBS Sports: Colts 24, Texans 23
Pete Prisco writes: “This is a rematch of the game the Texans won in Week 18 last year to get into the playoffs. The Colts didn’t have Anthony Richardson then, but he’s back at quarterback now. CJ Stroud will build on his rookie season in 2023, but the road opener is tough. The Colts will hang on here and find a way to win it late.
The 33rd team: Texans 27, Colts 20
Marcus Mosher writes: “This will be another tough battle, but with Anthony Richardson lacking experience and a lot of injuries on defense, we can expect the Colts to struggle on offense from the start. The game could go either way, but we can expect the Texans to ultimately win, as they have all the tools to become a superpower in the AFC.”
