Yes, your beloved Blue are 8-0.
But if you watched this game you certainly came away with the opinion that the Colts were indeed fortunate to win this contest.
Peyton Manning wasted little time in turning up the Colts hurry up offense a notch and was past happy from the opening bell.
Manning who would throw the ball a gaudy 40 times in the first half, led the Colts to 10 first quarter points.
Joseph Addai would take a short Manning pass out of the shotgun formation to give the Colts a 7-0 lead and when Matt Stover connected on a 22 yard field goal, the home team appeared to be on the way to a big offensive day leading 10-0 at the end of the first period.
The Houston defense had other ideas in mind and would rear it’s head in the second period, holding the Colts to just a field goal.
The Texan’s Kris Brown connected on a field goal from a whopping 56 yards out just before the half ended, and the Texans went to the locker down 13-3.
The third quarter would be all Houston as they would hold the Indianapolis offense in check, and by virtue of a one yard touchdown pass from Matt Schaub to Ryan Moats, to pull a field goal trailing just 13-10.
Houston would continue to cause the Colts concern as they then marched 84 yards in 12 plays to take a 17-13 lead and appear to be on their way to an upset while quieting the sell out crowd at Lucas Oil Stadium in the process.
The Colts however would need just 3:49 to strike back.
Propelled by key completions to Dallas Clark and rookie Austin Collie, Manning would cap off the scoring by handing off the pigskin to Addai who would power in from two yards out for his second touchdown of the game to give the Colts a 20-17 lead with 7:11 still remaining in the contest.
Houston’s next drive would be thwarted by a Clint Session interception and with just 2:13 left in the game the Colts looked to be in a position to run out the clock and claim their eighth victory of the season. But Houston’s defense had other thoughts and aided by a Colts penalty and sacking Manning, would turn the ball back over to their offensive unit with 1:46 left on the clock on their own 15 yard line.
Houston quarterback Matt Schaub would slice the depleted and highly suspect Colts secondary to shreds, moving the ball quickly in to position for a 42 yard field goal attempt by the normally dependable and accurate Brown.
Brown’s kick sailed left and the Colts escaped with a victory that could have just as easily belonged to the opposition.
Notes: The Colts special teams units enjoyed a productive day that did not escape the eye of first year Head Coach Jim Caldwell after the game. “Houston has one of the most talented return teams in the NFL, and we controlled them today,” stated a obviously pleased Caldwell. Caldwell deflected the credit to first year special teams Coach Ray Rychleski who coached last year at the University of South Carolina.
While Peyton Manning completed 34 of 50 passes for 318 yards, only nine of those completions came in the second half.
The Colts secondary was cut up in a precision fashion by Houston quarterback Matt Schaub, who at times made it look way too easy. This unit, while depleted by injuries, must step up if the Colts are to have any hope whatsoever in the playoffs.
In a move that can only be described as classy, Jim Irsay hosted several members of the 1975 Baltimore Colts at the Houston game. Irsay was just 15-years- old when he served as a ball boy on the 1975 team that his late father owned. Kudos to Irsay for this magnificent gesture. In speaking with ESPN 1070 The Fan radio host Eddie White before the game, he stated that he felt Irsay was the best owner in the NFL. White should know, after serving as a vice president for Reebok for many years and working closely with every NFL owner.
Danny Bridges, who feels the Colts are indeed in trouble next week against the New England Patriots, can be reached at (317) 578-1780 or Bridgeshd@aol.com.
