TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Colts Offense Sharp Against Texans

ADVERTISEMENT

The Associated Press

Published: December 24, 2007

INDIANAPOLIS - The Indianapolis Colts are playoff ready.

Just ask the Houston Texans.

Peyton Manning looked sharp, Indy's running game was efficient, the defense forced three turnovers and there was no letdown Sunday in what's likely to be the Colts final postseason tuneup. Indy scored on six of its first eight possessions and had 38 consecutive points in a 38-15 rout.

"I think it says a lot about guys taking their jobs seriously and being professional by coming out and getting a win today," Manning said.

The result had little significance to the Colts (13-2), who had already clinched their fifth straight AFC South title, the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye. Instead, Indy was more concerned about working out kinks before it starts defense of its Super Bowl title.

Did it ever.

The Colts had a season-high 458 yards, tied the single-game franchise record with 33 first downs and three running backs helped produce Indy's first 100-yard rushing day since Thanksgiving night.

All that was accomplished without perennial Pro Bowl receiver Marvin Harrison, who was our for the ninth straight game, and with most of the starters pulled after three quarters.

Manning was his typical self, finishing 28 of 35 for 311 yards with three TDs and a rating of 132.3. Joseph Addai, Kenton Keith and Clifton Dawson finally got the Colts' sagging ground game back in sync. Indy ran 31 times for 120 yards, its highest total since Oct. 28.

Reggie Wayne caught 10 passes for 143 yards, and Dallas Clark broke two franchise records. With six catches, two for TDs, Clark surpassed John Mackey's single-season marks for tight ends in both categories. Clark has 57 catches and 11 TDs. Mackey's bests were 55 receptions and nine TDs.

"I made the announcement to the team after the game, and I don't think many of them know who John Mackey was," he said. "But I remember him, and to me, he's the gold standard, so that's something special."

It wasn't just the Colts offense dominating, either.

Bob Sanders, Matt Giordano and Melvin Bullitt all had interceptions. The Colts defense, playing for the second straight week without any of this season's projected starters on the defensive line, allowed Houston to drive as deep as the Colts 40 only once the first three quarters.

For Houston (7-8), trying to win a franchise record eighth game, it was downright ugly.

"We were dominated," coach Gary Kubiak said. "We had been playing some pretty good football, and we came in here expecting to continue to play well. We got outplayed, outcoached; we got our butts kicked big time."

Sage Rosenfels was 22 of 36 for 233 yards with two TDs and three interceptions. He closed out the scoring with a 6-yard TD pass to Andre Johnson with 1:07 left.

There were some flaws for the Colts, however.

They lost tight end Ben Utecht with a shoulder injury and receiver Anthony Gonzalez with a bruised foot in the first half. Defensive back Tim Jennings also left in the final minute of the game with an undisclosed injury. None of the three returned, and Dungy had no updates.

Addai played sparingly after the first quarter when he reportedly sustained back and shoulder injuries. The report was later denied by Colts spokesman Craig Kelley who said Addai was out because of a coach's decision.

After the game, Dungy said Addai and Gonzalez could have returned.

"Those guys are not nicked up too bad," Dungy said.

Manning led the Colts on first-half drives of 54, 92, 92 and 26 yards setting up a short field goal, Addai's 2-yard TD run and Clark's TD receptions of 6 and 11 yards to make it 24-7 at the half.

Hou-Walter 17 pass from Rosenfels (K.Brown kick), 11:14.

Ind-FG Vinatieri 29, 6:55.

Second Quarter

Ind-Addai 2 run (Vinatieri kick), 12:08.

Ind-Clark 6 pass from Manning (Vinatieri kick), 5:42.

Ind-Clark 11 pass from Manning (Vinatieri kick), 3:39.

Third Quarter

Ind-C.Dawson 4 run (Vinatieri kick), 10:20.

Ind-Wayne 7 pass from Manning (Vinatieri kick), 3:08.

Fourth Quarter

Hou-A.Johnson 6 pass from Rosenfels (Walker run), 1:07.

A-57,262.

RUSHING-Houston, Walker 19-66. Indianapolis, Keith 10-60, Addai 6-26, C.Dawson 10-21, Clark 1-15, Sorgi 3-(minus 1), Manning 1-(minus 1).

PASSING-Houston, Rosenfels 22-36-3-233. Indianapolis, Manning 28-35-0-311, Sorgi 3-5-0-29.

RECEIVING-Houston, A.Johnson 7-74, Walker 6-44, Walter 4-69, Daniels 2-27, Leach 2-12, Davis 1-7. Indianapolis, Wayne 10-143, Clark 6-60, Fletcher 5-25, Aromashodu 3-42, Utecht 2-35, Gonzalez 2-22, Keith 2-8, Addai 1-5.

MISSED FG-Houston, K.Brown 49 (WR).

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT