Daniel Jones’ fractured fibula an opportunity for Houston’s playoff chances

The AFC South-leading Indianapolis Colts received a gut punch yesterday when news broke that starting QB Daniel Jones suffered a fractured fibula (the bone in the back of the lower leg). Even though he plans to play against the Texans, the playoff implications loom large over the impending matchup.

Jones’ Herculean effort and gutsiness comes after their bye week and tough loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Colts are second in the NFL with 384 yards per game and Jones has them seventh in the league in passing yards per game. Their run game has been their calling card with Jonathan Taylor leading the league in rushing yards with almost 1,200. With a limp Jones, Houston will be able to tee off on rushing the passer while prioritizing the run with their defensive tackles.

Houston has a +10 turnover differential and Jones has thrown four interceptions over the past two games. He’s also taken 16 sacks over the past four games, increasing in number each game over that span.

Jones has always relied on his running to get him out (or in his time in New York, into) trouble, but this season he’s only racked up 159 rushing yards. He does have five rushing touchdowns, but Indianapolis and Jim Bob Cooter have turned the once-considered complete bust of a QB into one of the most efficient QBs this season.

Colts backup quarterback is rookie Riley Leonard. Leonard has only played one game against the Tennessee Titans in a blowout win. He threw two incomplete passes in his first outing. He was drafted in the sixth round at the 189th pick out of Notre Dame.

Leonard was expected to be the third string QB and sit behind prodigal QB Anthony Richardson. Richardson is still on injured reserve and doesn’t appear to be coming back any time soon. He is rapidly entering ‘bust’ territory after being passed up by Daniel Jones this offseason before his eye injury due to a pre-game warm up malfunction with an elastic pole/band that struck him in the face. Even before his injury mid-October, Jones has been the clear-cut starter on the 8-3 Colts.

The Texans are currently two games behind the Colts in the AFC South. A win against the Colts would bring them within reach of the division leaders and instantly make the division a dead heat. The Jaguars play the Titans in another AFC South game, but with far less on the line. The Colts have yet to lose at home, which could be a deciding factor in Sunday’s contest.

AFC South

Wins

Losses

Percent

Home

Away

Division

Points For

Points Against

Indianapolis Colts

8

3

0.727

6-0

2-3

2-0

341

229

Jacksonville Jaguars

7

4

0.636

4-2

3-2

1-1

267

250

Houston Texans

6

5

0.545

4-2

2-3

3-1

243

182

Tennesee Titans

1

10

0.091

0-6

1-4

0-4

167

303