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Kickoff Weekend has arrived, and the defending AFC champion Indianapolis Colts begin their quest to do what no team in 38 years has been able to accomplish: Return to and win a Super Bowl the year after losing it.
Their first challenge in route to this goal is a much improved Houston Texans team looking to build on their solid 2009 season. The Colts have a 15-1 overall record against the Texans, with their one loss being at Reliant Stadium back in 2006.
Matt Grecco, writing at Stampede Blue, breaks down the match-up:
Defensively, both teams were almost identical in terms of Drive Success Rate (DSR), which means look for the Colts, who were significantly better than the Texans offensively in DSR, to keep drives alive and move the football. Look for long, sustained drives from both team as well, as both offenses are good in Yards / Drive....
The next biggest match-up will be Mario Williams vs. Charlie Johnson (?), just as shake n bake pointed out as well. If Johnson doesn't play, or isn't 100%, look for Brody Eldridge or Jacob Tamme to be playing a lot, helping out with Williams. Also expect more screens and quick slants to minimize the amount of time Manning actually has the ball in his hands.
Other analysis, via Sports Network:
In what could be the highest-scoring game in Week 1, this matchup could instead come down to which defense is able to push back the hardest. That edge goes to the Colts, who have more experience over a Texans club that will really miss Cushing. While Houston is trying to take the next step forward as a franchise, Indianapolis is all business and knows what is at stake, even in the opening week. Manning won't let his team get off to a slow start. Ultimately, the Colts' seasoning will win out over the Texans' up-and-coming talent. Houston's lone franchise win over Indianapolis did come at Reliant Stadium, but win No. 2 won't go down this Sunday.
Kickoff is at 1pm Eastern on CBS.
Houston, TX (Sports Network) – Arian Foster set a Texans franchise record with 231 rushing yards on 33 attempts, and Houston notched a rare victory over the defending AFC champion Colts, 34-24, at Reliant Stadium.
Foster scored three touchdowns and broke the single-game record for rushing yards against the Colts. The second-year Tennessee product appeared in just six games last year and nearly doubled his career rushing total after gaining 254 yards in 2009.
Matt Schaub threw for 107 yards and a touchdown with one interception on 9-of-17 passing for the Texans (1-0), who improved to just 2-15 all-time against the Colts. Andre Johnson caught only three passes for 33 yards, but Houston’s top-ranked passing attack from a year ago wasn’t needed with the emergence of its running back.
The Texans set a franchise record with 257 total rushing yards as a team.
Peyton Manning, the reigning league MVP for the fourth time, completed 40- of-57 passes for 433 yards and three touchdowns for the Colts (0-1), who have lost three consecutive regular season games and are coming off a loss to the Saints in the Super Bowl. Austin Collie set career-highs with 10 catches for 131 yards and a touchdown, while Reggie Wayne had seven receptions for 99 yards and a score.
Dallas Clark hauled in 11 balls for 80 yards and a touchdown in defeat, the Colts’ first to Houston since December 24, 2006.
Houston’s offense and defense both got off to a good start, scoring early and often to build a lead.
The Colts went three-and-out to begin the game, and Jacoby Jones returned Pat McAfee’s punt 39 yards to the Indianapolis 31-yard line. The Texans drove down inside the 10 before settling for Neil Rackers’ 30-yard field goal.
Manning and the Indianapolis offense sputtered once again on the next drive, and Houston got the ball back at its own 16. The first play of the series saw a 53-yard pass interference penalty, putting Houston as the Colts’ 31, and Rackers added a 49-yard field goal for a 6-0 lead.
The visitors finally seemed to get going on their next drive, with the ball on the Houston 28. A holding penalty forced the Colts into a 3rd-and-13, and Manning appeared to have a wide open Anthony Gonzalez near the 10-yard line, but the receiver’s left heel was out of bounds, forcing another punt.
The Texans then bridged the first and second quarters with their best drive of the first half, a seven-play, 80-yard march that ended on Schaub’s 22-yard touchdown pass over the middle to Kevin Walter for a 13-point advantage two minutes into the second. The set ended with three consecutive plays of over 20 yards.
The Colts were forced to punt yet again, but Melvin Bullitt jumped a route and intercepted a Schaub pass to put Indianapolis deep into Houston territory. Seven plays later, Manning found Wayne in the back left of the end zone from 14 yards away for a 13-7 contest.
The Texans went three-and-out, and Indianapolis quickly moved downfield to add an Adam Vinatieri 20-yard field goal seconds before halftime.
Houston went to its run attack to start the second half, running the ball 13 times on a 15-play drive. The strategy worked to perfection, as the Texans added a touchdown on Foster’s one-yard burst through the middle for a 20-10 lead eight minutes into the second half.
The Colts were able to get to the Houston 22 on their next drive, but a sack drove them out of field goal range, and they punted. On Indianapolis’ next drive, Manning hit Pierre Garcon at the Texans’ nine-yard line, but Garcon fumbled the ball away.
Houston responded by going to the running game again, needing only four plays to go 91 yards. Foster began the series with a 49-yard run and ended it with a 25-yard sprint to the end zone for a commanding 27-10 margin with 8 1/2 minutes to play.
Manning answered with a 10-yard touchdown toss to Clark, but the onside kick attempt failed, and the Texans quickly restored their 17-point lead on an eight-yard scoring run from Foster.
A Collie 73-yard touchdown reception in the final moments accounted for the final margin.
The Colts outgained the Texans, 463-355…Indianapolis defensive lineman Dwight Freeney recorded a sack, the fourth straight game against Houston in which he has done so…Dating back to last season, the Texans have won five straight games…These two teams were the top two passing offenses in the NFL last season…Houston’s Connor Barwin was carted off the field in the first quarter with a right leg injury…The Colts were 4-of-12 on third down conversion attempts, compared to 6-of-11 for Houston…Oft-injured Colts safety Bob Sanders exited the game with what was reported as an elbow injury. He was replaced by Bullitt.
Colts Fans Are Tired Of The Excuses
Stampede Blue is tired of the excuses being made for the Colts run defense:
The more things change, the more things seem to stay the same.Sep 13 10:27a by Brad Wells - 0 comments