Colts stay perfect; escape with 20-17 win

No one knows for sure what the outcome of the game would have been if Kris Brown's field goal attempt would have been good as time expired in Indianapolis on Sunday. But we do know that the game would have been extended to overtime; and the way the Texans’ offense was clicking, chances are, they probably would have found the end zone.

Brown had already made good from 56 yards out before halftime and had been as reliable as any kicker in the NFL from 40-44 yards over the past few years. But even Mr. Reliable could not keep the Texans from losing their eight straight game against Indianapolis.

Three-time MVP Peyton Manning and the Colts appeared to be on the verge of a blowout early, scoring on two of their first three possessions to jump out front 10-0.

“Offensively, we were very sloppy in the first quarter, and we didn’t play with poise, but our defense kept us in the game,” Coach Gary Kubiak said. “We were a little out of sync. To put our defense out there that many times, especially in their stadium, we were lucky we were down only 10-0.”

The Texans were on the verge of drawing within a touchdown during the waning moments of the first half, but Ryan Moats fumbled the ball inside the one yard line which culminated into a touchback giving the ball back to the Colts. But Bernard Pollard picked off the first of his two Peyton Manning interceptions on the day, leading the Texans their first points with a 56 yard field goal from Kris Brown.

As bad as the Texans played during the first half, being down 13-3 didn’t seem all that bad.

The Texans opened the third quarter with a nice drive that ended with a 1 yard touchdown pass from Matt Schaub to Ryan Moats. Schaub finished the day 32 of 43 for 311 yards and a touchdown, but his two critical interceptions hurt the Texans badly.

A Steve Slaton 1-yard plunge with less than seven minutes remaining, put the Texans ahead for the first time all day at 17-13. But Manning answered in Manning-like fashion to put the Colts back into the lead (20-13) with under four minutes left in the contest.

The Colts appeared to put the game away after applying the heat to Schaub and forcing his second interception, but the Colts were unable to run out the clock and turned the ball back over to Schaub and the Texans with 1:46 left, no time outs and the ball at the Texans 15 yard line. But after leading the offense to a magnificent 10 play drive and well within field goal range for the dependable Brown; it was all for not.

“It’s very painful to come this close against a good opponent on the road and not win. They’ll make you pay if you turn the ball over,” Matt Shaub said dejectedly after the game.

The Texans have their bye next week before taking on Vince Young and the Tennessee Titans for their nationally televised match up at Reliant Stadium Monday November 23rd. The Titans have now won two straight with Young entrenched as the starter.