Indianapolis Colts clinch sixth AFC South title by rallying past Houston Texans, 35-27 (part two)

Indianapolis Colts WR Pierre Garcon scores on a 9-yard touchdown
reception (David J. Phillip/AP Photo)

(INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 35, HOUSTON TEXANS 27 | CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE. PART ONE: HERE)

. . . meant the Colts for a second time in as many seasons Indianapolis won after trailing the Texans in Houston by 17 points. They trailed Houston, 27-10 with less than four minutes remaining last season before winning, 31-27.

“We came out kind of flat,” Colts S Antoine Bethea, whose third-quarter interception helped the Colts stifle Houston throughought the second half, told Colts Radio. "We knew we had to control the line of scrimmage. Once we stopped that, we made them one-dimensional.

“You don't want to come out flat, but it happens. It's a 60-minute game. You want to come out and play 60 minutes, and that's what we do.”

The Colts, who now have made the postseason an NFL-high eight consecutive seasons, also extended their franchise-record regular-season winning streak to 20 games, the second-longest such streak in NFL history. The NFL record for consecutive regular-season victories is 21 by the 2006-2008 New England Patriots.

The Colts, who play host to Tennessee (5-6) Sunday, held Houston to 154 yards and a touchdown in the half, with 75 yards coming on a touchdown drive with Indianapolis leading by 15 points late in the fourth quarter.

The second half rally came slow at first -- then the Colts rushed past the frustrated Texans quickly in the fourth quarter.

A four-yard touchdown pass from Manning to WR Reggie Wayne with 11:20 remaining in the third quarter made it 20-14, Houston, then the teams were scoreless until a little less than nine minutes remained. Then, a six-yard touchdown pass from Manning to TE Dallas Clark with 8:24 remaining in the fourth quarter, with LB Clint Session returning an interception two plays later for a 27-yard touchdown. That gave the Colts an eight-point lead.

After a sack/fumble by Pro Bowl DE Robert Mathis, playing without four-time Pro Bowl DE Dwight Freeney on the other side for first time this season, a 23-yard touchdown run by reserve RB Chad Simpson made it 35-20 with 2:52 remaining.

The Texans' final touchdown came on a 10-yard pass from QB Matt Schaub to wide receiver WR Jacoby with :18 remaining.

“Really, to be honest with you it wasn't any different than any other halftime,” Caldwell said when asked his halftime message. “We make adjustments the exact same way. We point out the issues and what we'd like to do in the second half."

The Texans produced 16 first-half first downs, with Schaub completing 14 of 17 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown. The Texans also rushed for 90 first-half yards and did not commit a turnover.

In the second half, the Texans rushed for 32 yards, produced 11 first downs – three in the third quarter, with Schaub completing 17 of 28 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown. Schaub was also intercepted twice in the second half, and 76 of his second-half passing yards came on the final drive.

“Unfortunately, we've been in those situations before,” Colts MLB Gary Brackett told Colts Radio. “Things worked out. We made a couple of adjustments, switched up a couple of things, and it worked.”

Said Caldwell, "It's one of the things that has been kind of a hallmark of our team through the years, that you can't count us out. Even when things don't look really good, you don't find any panic on the sidelines.

"This is something, I think, that is special about our group.”

COLTS-TEXANS PREVIEW. PART ONE. HERE

COLTS-TEXANS PREVIEW. PART TWO. HERE

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DOES PEYTON MANNING GET TOO MUCH RESPECT? HERE

MANNING: TOO EARLY TO TALK PLAYOFFS. HERE

POLIANS' CONTRACTS EXTENDED. HERE

REVIEWING BILL POLIAN'S WEEKLY RADIO SHOW

Bill Polian’s Weekly Radio Show | Part One | “Peaking not an issue for us”

Bill Polian’s Weekly Radio Show | Part Two | Media and team in parallel worlds

Bill Polian’s Weekly Radio Show | Part Three | RB Joseph Addai having “terrific year”

Bill Polian’s Weekly Radio Show | Part Four | Victory over Ravens “courageous performance”