John McClain, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, is in his 48th year of covering the NFL in Houston, including 45 seasons at the Houston Chronicle.

In a game both teams are desperate to win, the Texans should have learned some valuable lessons in their 29-27 season-opening victory at Indianapolis that could be beneficial on Sunday when the Colts visit NRG Stadium.

The Texans (5-2) have won three of their last four games, but they're coming off a disappointing three-point loss at Green Bay. The Colts (4-3) have won four of five and come to Houston with back-to-back victories.

Head Coach DeMeco Ryans, his coaches and his players know how important this game is. The Texans are trying to sweep the Colts for only the second time in the 23-year history of their AFC South rivalry. If they win, the Texans will own a two-game division lead over Indianapolis that's actually three because of the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Colts' Head Coach Shane Steichen is reminding his players the Colts haven't lost at NRG Stadium since the 2019 season, and Sunday is no time for them to ruin that streak. Win the game and tie the Texans for first place.

A first-place tie could be advantageous for the Colts. Ryans and Steichen warn their players about looking ahead, but that doesn't keep the rest of us from doing it.

Over the last five games – the stretch run in the NFL – the Colts play a much easier schedule than the Texans. Currently, Indianapolis opponents have a combined record of 10-24. Denver (4-3) is the only team the Colts play that has a winning record.

In their last five games, the Texans' schedule includes opponents that are a combined 16-16. They play Kansas City (6-0) and Baltimore (5-2) and Miami (2-4) with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, assuming he's healthy.

First, though, the Texans have to take care of business against Indianapolis.

Ryans was asked this week how much their victory over the Colts almost eight weeks ago will help in Sunday's game.

"You look back at Week 1, and it seems so far away for me, so far removed, especially being the first game of the season," he said. "Everybody's trying to figure themselves out in that first game. You throw that game out the window, and you see where (Colts) moved in these last four games."

Now, about those lessons the Texans should have learned in the two-point victory on Sept. 8. Let's start with defensive coordinator Matt Burke's side of the ball.

The defense did an outstanding job against its nemesis, running back Jonathan Taylor, who has a knack for tormenting the Texans the way Derrick Henry used to when he played for the Titans and could do on Christmas Day when his new team, the Ravens, visits NRG Stadium.

The Texans limited Taylor to 48 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. He averaged 3 yards a carry. Needless to say, the defense needs that same kind of performance that bottled up Taylor on the inside and kept him from bouncing outside and getting around the corner.

On Sunday, Ryans and Burke have to figure out a way to tone down second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson. This is the third time they've faced him, so they know the damage he's capable of inflicting as a passer and runner.

As a rookie in 2023, Richardson played the first half of the second game of the season before he got injured, but he ignited the Colts to a 31-20 victory over the Texans. He completed 6-of-10 passes without a touchdown or interception, but Richardson got the maximum from his 35 yards rushing by scoring two touchdowns.

In the first game this season, Richardson was the Colts' leading rusher with six carries for 56 yards (9.3 average) and a 3-yard touchdown on which he bullied his way into the end zone with three defenders all over him.

Richardson had an unusual game passing. He completed only 9-of-19 (47.4 percent), but he fashioned a 101.2 rating because he had three completions for 171 yards.

Richardson completed a 60-yard touchdown pass to Alec Pierce, who had another reception for 57 yards. Ashton Dulin caught one pass against the Texans, but it was good for a 54-yard touchdown. Take away those three long completions, and the Colts generated only 132 yards.

If the defense puts too much emphasis on containing Taylor again, Richardson will burn them running. In six quarters against the Texans, he has three touchdowns rushing and a 10.1-yard average per carry.

"You see their style of play and who they want to be," Ryans said. "First and foremost, they want to run the football. Getting Taylor back (from an injury), he's an exceptional playmaker. He has the stop-start ability, home run speed (and) contact balance. They have to rely on the run game, and they have really good guys who can run it with JT and Richardson."

In their loss at Green Bay on a field goal with no time remaining, the Texans were missing five defensive starters, four of whom were injured. Rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter, who missed the last two games because of a shoulder injury, returns at a good time.

The defensive backs can't have a repeat performance and allow Richardson to complete three long passes for 171 yards, including two to Pierce, who averaged 41.7 yards on his three catches.

"That's where to start, with the explosive passes -- we know we gave up some in our first game," Ryans said. "We have to be disciplined in our coverage and play the defense the proper way. We try to eliminate those explosives.

"We'll see how they try to attack us. They're getting some guys back. It's going to help them with their run game. We'll be ready for whatever they throw out."

The Texans were able to escape Lucas Oil Stadium with the victory in the first game because the offense was terrific, starting with Joe Mixon, who carried 30 times for 159 yards and a touchdown.

The Texans accumulated 417 yards, including 213 rushing that allowed them to control the ball for 40 minutes to the Colts' 20. The offensive line did an excellent job of run blocking.

C.J. Stroud threw for 234 yards and two touchdowns with a 115.9 rating. Stefon Diggs caught both touchdown passes. The Colts sacked Stroud four times in that game.

The Texans had serious protection issues against the Packers they believe have been cleaned up. They can't afford another performance like that if they plan to sweep the Colts.

The only time the Texans defeated the Colts two times in one season was 2016 when Brock Osweiler outdueled Andrew Luck in both games. We'll find out Sunday if Texans' history is going to repeat.