Colts LB ready to get another shot at Houston Texans QB CJ Stroud

The AFC South will go through H-Town this year after the Houston Texans beat their division rivals in 2023, advancing to the divisional round of the playoffs last season.

Before the Texans won the division in 2023, they had not done so since the 2019 season. Since the division’s inception in 2002, the Texans have won the AFC South a total of seven times, behind the Colts in ‘Indianapolis, who have won the division nine times.

Things won’t get any easier for the Texans, however, as all teams appear to have improved from last season. The Texans have one of the best teams in the NFL on paper, but they will need to translate that onto the field.

As is tradition in the NFL, the divisional opponents play each other twice a year, meaning the Texans will face the Colts, who are looking to move closer to their overall victories in the AFC South. With these games being so important, Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin spoke on Chris Long’s podcast about who he’s struggling with and is ready to see the 2024 season come.

“No, because I already hit them a few times,” Franklin said on the Green Light with Chris Long Podcast when asked if he had any “beef” with the Titans. “It’s really Houston. I’m not going to lie to you, I love CJ, man, I support all our younger brothers at quarterback, but CJ, he said a lot of crazy things to me in our matchups. … He feels good…I need to see this boy again.

Franklin didn’t hold back. Last season, the two teams split the series, each winning on the other’s home court, and Franklin had big games in both cases. However, he was unable to reach Stroud in the backfield. Stroud, on the other hand, didn’t light things up, but he played well enough to give his team a chance without turning the ball over.

Things are clearly starting to heat up as we enter rookie mini-camps and OTAs, and quotes like these will likely stick in our minds during the regular season. The Texans-Colts matchup will be one to watch in 2024, primarily with the return of quarterback Anthony Richardson after dealing with a serious injury for most of his rookie season.

Stay with TexansGameday for more coverage on the Houston Texans throughout the 2024 season.

Follow Caleb on Twitter