Indianapolis Colts moved to 11-0 with victory over Houston
(David J. Phillip/AP Photo)
The Indianapolis Colts are still the NFL's kings of the comeback, 2009 style.
They're also AFC South Champions. Again.
The Colts, with QB Peyton Manning throwing three touchdowns passes -- and with a defense that struggled in the first half playing big in the second -- stayed unbeaten and clinched a playoff appearance Sunday afternoon by rallying from a 17-0 deficit for a 35-27 victory over the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium.
The victory, along with a 20-3 San Francisco victory over Jacksonvile, secured the Colts' sixth AFC South title in the last seven seasons. They also won the South from 2003-2007.
The Colts, who won for the sixth consecutive time against Houston and the 15th time in 16 all-time meetings, won all five of their games played in November by rallying from fourth-quarter deficits. That's the longest such streak in NFL history.
“Our guys are pretty resilient," Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell, who moved to 11-0 in his first NFL head coaching season, told Colts Radio.
"They find a way to come out and get the job done.”
The Colts (11-0), one of two unbeaten teams remaining in the NFL along with New Orleans, trailed 17-0 in the first half, then outscored the 5-6 Texans 28-7 in the second half.
“Houston came out early and made a lot of plays,” Manning, who completed 27 of 35 passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns and two first-half interceptions, told Colts Radio. “Our offense, we had some missed assignments and mental errors.
“We didn't have many possession in the first half. We were much sharper there after the second series.”
The victory . . . CONTINUED
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