One of the most underrated stories of NFL Wild Card Weekend will be an AFC South matchup between the Indianapolis Colts and division champion Houston Texans Saturday afternoon.
There’s something special about two division rivals duking it out for an opportunity to play in the divisional round. Given what we’ve seen from the Colts and Texans since both struggled to start the season, that takes on a whole new meaning.
Colts receiver T.Y. Hilton decided to give the home-standing Texans some bulletin board material before Saturday’s game at NRG Stadium in Houston, calling the venue his second home.
Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph was having none of it.
Johnathan Joseph on T.Y. Hilton calling NRG Stadium his 'second home: 'Sounds good, it's easily said. I could easily say that, too. We could call the division our division since I've been here last five out of eight years. It's not our first rodeo, so we'll be ready.'
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) January 3, 2019
Johnathan Joseph on what he thought about T.Y. Hilton trash talking: 'Nah man, that's for clowns. That's for TV. That's what they do. You put something in their face anybody can say it.'
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) January 3, 2019
Joseph is certainly entitled to his opinion, but it’s not like Hilton hasn’t backed up this trash talk with his performance against the Texans.
The four-time Pro Bowler put up nine catches for 199 yards in a 24-21 win over the Texans in Houston back in Week 14. Last season saw him tally a 5-175-2 split at NRG stadium.
In fact, Hilton’s success against the Texans has spanned his entire career. In 14 games against the division rival, the veteran has accumulated 76 receptions for 1,445 yards and nine touchdowns.
It’s now up to Joseph to contain him if the Texans want to advance this weekend.