Were expecting a tough fight, but were confident of getting the job done

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis Colts tight end Dwayne Allen embraces Sundays game against Houston.Yes, he and his teammates realize the winner takes control of the AFC South and has the inside track to the playoffs. He also knows the loser could spend the rest of the season playing catch-up.To Allen, this is football at its finest.A lot of people came up to me before the Monday night game and asked me if it was exciting to play on `Monday Night Football. Its an exciting stage to be on, but its just another game, he said.Now this game, its exciting. Its like (receiver) T.Y. Hilton said, its a Game 7 atmosphere. You win this one, you take first place and you control your destiny so to speak.While the Colts and Texans are tied with Tennessee (6-6) for the division lead, nobody understands the significance of these late-season matchups better than Indy and Houston.Each of the past four years, the winner of the mid-December game won the AFC South title.Because of the tiebreakers, it could be more of the same this season. Indy has already swept the Titans, Houston won Round 1 with Tennessee and the Texans used a frenetic comeback to beat the Colts in overtime in October.So although this may be the next chapter in a growing rivalry, the players on both teams acknowledge this week will have a different atmosphere.It certainly feels like a playoff game. I know personally our football team knows how important this game is, said Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler, who played on Denvers Super Bowl-winning team last season.We know that its a must-win game if we want to accomplish the goals that we set out.But the Colts may actually have more at stake.Theyve been chasing everyone since starting 0-2 and finally got back into contention by winning three of their past four.If they intend to stay in the playoff hunt, they cant afford to get swept by the Texans and cede the head-to-head tiebreaker, especially against a team that has lost three in a row.We know how big of a test this Houston game is, said Andrew Luck, who attended high school in Houston.We know how stingy of a defense, I think they are top five in the league, No. 1 against the run and at least the last four weeks have been playing really good football. We will have our hands full.Here are some other things to watch Sunday:THE HILTON EFFECT: Hiltons success always seems to be a big factor in these games. In his first five games against Houston, Hilton had 31 catches for 611 yards and six TDs. In the past four, his numbers dropped to 15 receptions, 216 yards and no TDs.In 2016, Hilton is having the best season of his career and leads the AFC with 1,088 yards, but the Colts need him to revert to the early form he had against Houston.TAKING A PASS: Perhaps Osweiler hasnt had the kind of season the Texans anticipated. Hes thrown 14 TD passes and 13 interceptions, and the Texans are ranked No. 30 in yards passing and still dont have a 300-yard game.Perhaps facing a Colts secondary that has been battered most of this season will be the cure.THE INSIDERS: With inside linebacker DQwell Jackson suspended for the final four regular-season games for violating the NFLs performance-enhancing substance policy, the Colts need to replace their top tackler. Indys depth chart is short on experience. Edwin Jackson, who did not play in an NFL game until this season, and rookie Antonio Morrison will call signals.The other options are Josh McNary, who has played primarily on special teams; Deon King, who was claimed off waivers Nov. 15; and Luke Rhodes, who was promoted from the practice squad earlier this week.INJURY WATCH: Even the Texans arent sure which defensive players will be on the field. Former No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney (elbow and wrist) missed Sundays game and, similar cornerback Jonathan Joseph (ribs) is considered day to day.Linebackers Brian Cushing (back and ankle) and Bernardrick McKinney (thigh), cornerback Kareem Jackson (hamstring) and nose tackle Vince Wilfork (groin) all were limited in practice earlier this week. Getting some or all of those players back would certainly help.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL . Wholesale Avalanche Jerseys . Jane Virtanen scored two, and Alex Roach and Elliott Peterson rounded out the offence for the Hitmen (40-15-6). Brady Brassart chipped in with three assists. Colton McCarthy scored twice, Brayden Point had a goal and two assists, and Jack Rodewald also scored for the Warriors (15-35-9), who were 2 for 5 on the power play. Custom Colorado Avalanche Jerseys . Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2. https://www.cheapavalanche.com/ . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Avalanche Jerseys 2020 . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. Cheap Avalanche Jerseys . After a replay, the winner will meet Sunderland in the quarterfinals. Sagbo did well to control Sone Alukos right cross and fire past Brighton goalkeeper Peter Brezovan. Aluko was making his first start in four months after recovering from an Achilles injury. Ricky Burns is not dismissing the lack of big names on challenger Kiryl Relikhs record ahead of Fridays title defence.Burns (40-5-1, 14 KOs) makes a first defence of his WBA world light-welterweight title against Relikh at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow with the possibility that victory will set up a money-spinning fight with American Adrien Broner, who may be ringside.The 33-year-old became Scotlands first three-weight world champion when he stopped Michele Di Rocco in May to revive his career following three defeats in his previous six bouts.Belarusian Relikh, who is trained by Britains former two-weight world champion Ricky Hatton, has compiled an impressive unbeaten record of 21 wins, 19 by stoppage.My trainer Tony Sims and I have watched a few rounds of Relikh and hes got a lot of KOs on his record so he can obviously punch a bit, but its the level of opposition that hes been knocking out, said Burns.He can dig a bit but were not treating this any differently to any other fight Ive had. Ive had a good long camp for this one so theres no fears for me.This is my 48th fight now and Ive been in with big punchers before, I always wind Tony up and say that its a good job I dont mind being hit in the face, but my chin has always coped OK.Were expecting a tough fight, but were confident of getting the job done. There were some big fights offered to me. They fell through for this one but now weve got the mandatory to get out of the way.Thats not to disrespect to Relikh -- hes got our full attention -- but theres some massive fights out there. I boxed Di Rocco for the vacant belt [after Broner was stripped of it for failing to make the weight in April] so Ive had to do this mandatory sstraight away.dddddddddddd We get this win and it leads to massive fights.You have to take notice of the record he brings. They might not be top names that hes been facing, but hes been knocking them out regardless.Burns has put all thought of fighting Broner (32-2, 24 KOs) to the back of his mind until after the fight.But if the brash 27-year-old from Cincinnati, who was last in action in April when he stopped Londoner Ashley Theophane, is ringside in Glasgow he is sure to let Burns know about his presence.Everybody seems to be looking past Kiryl but he has my full attention and if I dont come through this then these big fights are not going to happen, said Burns.Burns promoter Eddie Hearn says a future fight is possible with four-weight world champion Broner.Adrien contacted me and said he is coming to Glasgow on October 7 to watch the fight and if Ricky defeats Relikh I expect that fight to get made without any problems, said Hearn.All money made from remaining ticket sales for the Burns-Relikh show will be donated to the family of boxer Mike Towell.Scotsman Towell, 25, died in hospital with severe bleeding and swelling to his brain caused by injuries in a fight against Dale Evans in Glasgow on Thursday night.One week from Mike Towells final fight, we will be donating 100 per cent of all ticket sales from midnight tonight to midnight on Thursday to the family of Mike Towell, said Hearn.Hatton also started an online fundraising appeal for father-of-one Towell and the former champion donated ￡5,000. The JustGiving appeal has raised over ￡41,000. ' ' '