The Texans were just minutes removed from a 14-point win over the Jaguars, before Bill O'Brien reminded them of what was next.
"I'm going to say something negative," the head coach shouted in the visitor's locker room at EverBank Field. "We haven't ever won there. We've never won there. Let's change that. Let's change it."
After a Monday and Tuesday off, the Texans went back to work on Wednesday with the aim of winning "there". Indianapolis, of course, is the "there" O'Brien referenced in his postgame speech. Every since the franchise's first season of 2002, the Texans have traveled to Indianapolis. And every year they've flown home to Houston with a loss.
For seventh-year pro Duane Brown, it's about time that changed.
"I have a long history with the Colts," the left tackle said. "We've had some ups and downs against them for a long time, but we definitely want to get that accomplished. We've been so close and a lot of us have been here together for so long, we know the kind of ball game that we've been involved in out there. We definitely want to get it done sooner than later."
Houston lost by a field goal in both 2009 and 2011, and the Colts were better by six in Brown's rookie campaign of 2008. Other than those three contests, and a nine-point Indy win in 2003, the Texans absorbed double-digit losses the other eight times. The weight of those dirty dozen defeats is felt even by first-year Texan Ryan Fitzpatrick.
The Texans practiced on Wednesday at the Houston Methodist Training Center.
"It would be a huge win," Fitzpatrick said. "I think especially for those guys. I mean, there's a little added meaning. I don't know if we need any added meaning for the implications for us of this game and what it means to us already."
A 13th loss to the Colts would give Indianapolis the AFC South crown for 2014. It would also make a road to the playoffs via the Wild Card much tougher for the Texans.
"We know what's at stake," defensive end J.J. Watt said. "We need to go out there and we need to play our best game because if we don't, they are a very good football team."
Watt and the Texans will practice again on Thursday and Friday before heading to Indianapolis on Saturday. Kickoff is noon CT at Lucas Oil Stadium.
