Stokley: Texans matchup the Broncos shot to fix run game

In Week 15 of the 2012 season, Vick Ballard rushed for 105 yards for the Indianapolis Colts in a game against the Gary Kubiak’s Houston Texans.

Four years and 56 games later, Colts running back Frank Gore rushed for 106 yards against Bill O’Brien’s Texans on Sunday.

The streak’s end has some significance not only in its length — think Peyton Manning’s first season in Denver to his first season being retired — but also in indicating Houston’s ability, or lack thereof, to stop the run.

And if there’s any week to break out of a rushing slump, “C.J. and Stokley” co-host Brandon Stokley said Wednsday, this is it for the Denver Broncos.

“If you’re going to be successful, this is the week to run the football and to get the running game back on track because this defense, they can get after the quarterback, they can get after the passer, but their rush defense is a little bit suspect,” Stokley said.

The Texans rank 13th in team defense through the first six weeks of the NFL season, relying heavily on a strong pass rush. They have held opponents to 1,136 yards through the air while grabbing 16 sacks.

However, Houston’s among the bottom of the league in terms of rush defense, 29th in total yards (758) and touchdowns against (8).

On the opposite side of the ball, Denver’s put up middling stats on the ground, ranking 16th in rush offense with 591 yards and 4 touchdowns.

“I think that right there may be the challenge in this game for Denver. Can you get well quick enough? Can you fix this thing quick enough to take advantage of what this Texans defensive will give you,” said Stokley’s co-host Charles Johnson.

And Stokley believes if Denver doesn’t fix its rushing woes Monday night, it could be a long season.

“Right now they’re just in a little bit of a rut, but this is the week to get out of that rut,” Stokley said. “But if not this week, I don’t see much hope for this running game.”

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @Johnnyhart7.