There is plenty of talk about the Indianapolis Colts offense leading the charge into the playoffs, but the defense has had an equal share in being a monumental driving force for success.

In Saturday’s wild-card win over the Houston Texans, the Colts defense showed why that unit makes them the most dangerous team in the AFC playoffs entering the divisional round.

Holding the Texans to just seven points, the Colts defense was extremely stout in stopping drives before they could even get started. Only four of the Texans’ nine offensive drives Saturday entered Colts territory. Two of them resulted in a turnover on downs while another was capped by a Kenny Moore interception.

Something that quarterback Andrew Luck has been lacking throughout his career is a defense capable of consistently getting off the field to give the franchise player a chance to add to a lead.

That hasn’t been a problem for the Colts defense since the second half of the regular season started. Saturday’s win was another example of that as the Texans converted just three of their 13 third-down attempts. The latter’s first third-down conversion came in the third quarter.

A stingy unit in the red zone, the Colts were also one of the best units in keeping opposing offenses from scoring touchdowns inside the 20-yard-line.

Led by first-year defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, the Colts defense is a unit that relies on execution, effort and discipline rather than deception. A zone-heavy scheme capable of stopping big plays, the Colts defense is turning into a unit that can get off of the field and put the ball in the hands of their elite quarterback.

With a front seven led by All-Pro rookie linebacker Darius Leonard, the Colts defense is among the elites when it comes to stopping the run. Including the regular season and playoffs, the Colts have yet to allow a 100-yard rusher in a single game.

Couple that with veterans Margus Hunt and Jabaal Sheard anchoring the defensive line both on the interior and on the edge, and the Colts find themselves capable of stopping any rushing attack they face.

Allowing the sixth-fewest yards per carry (3.9) to opposing offenses during the regular season, the Colts have turned their opponents into a one-dimensional unit, which plays perfectly into their scheme of an attacking front with a secondary keeping their eyes on the quarterback.

The Colts offense has proven to be an elite unit. With a defense competing at the highest level at the right time, Indy finds themselves as the AFC’s most dangerous team entering the divisional round.