November 9, 2009 in Sports

Colts edge Texans, now 8-0

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Associated Press photo

Colts safety Tim Jennings celebrates after Texans kicker Kris Brown missed a 42-yard field goal attempt that would have tied the game as time expired.
(Full-size photo)

INDIANAPOLIS – The Colts have no problems with close games – as long as they keep winning them.

Peyton Manning delivered a milestone performance, Joseph Addai produced a second straight winning score, and the Colts found a way to win when Houston’s Kris Brown missed a 42-yard field goal as time expired, keeping Indy’s winning streak intact with a 20-17 win.

“I think that’s the mark of a great football team,” center Jeff Saturday said, referring to the close calls. “We’ve won eight games so far, and we’re ahead in our division, which is really our main focus and goal.”

The implications of Sunday’s victory are monumental.

Indy is the fourth team in league history with 17 straight regular-season wins. New England did it twice – winning a record 21 straight from 2006-08 and 18 in a row from 2003-04. Chicago won 17 straight from 1933-34.

Next week, the Patriots come to town with a chance to prevent Indy from matching its original record.

A week after rallying the Colts with a fourth-quarter TD pass, Addai caught a touchdown pass, then ran 2 yards for the winning score with 7:11 to go.

Indy holds a commanding 3 1/2 -game lead in the AFC South over second-place Houston.

Jim Caldwell became the NFL’s first rookie coach to start 8-0 since Potsy Clark in 1931.

Colts 20, Texans 17

Ind—Addai 7 pass from Manning (Stover kick)

Ind—FG Stover 22

Ind—FG Stover 37

Hou—FG K.Brown 56

Hou—Moats 1 pass from Schaub (K.Brown kick)

Hou—Slaton 1 run (K.Brown kick)

Ind—Addai 2 run (Stover kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Houston, Moats 16-38, Schaub 3-21, Slaton 6-17, Jones 1-5. Indianapolis, Addai 14-63, Clark 1-4, Simpson 2-3, Manning 1-2.

PASSING—Houston, Schaub 32-43-2-311. Indianapolis, Manning 34-50-1-318, Wayne 0-1-1-0.

RECEIVING—Houston, A.Johnson 10-103, Walter 5-67, Jones 4-67, Anderson 3-19, Moats 3-15, Slaton 3-12, Dreessen 2-15, Hill 1-9, Leach 1-4. Indianapolis, Clark 14-119, Wayne 8-64, Garcon 5-60, Addai 5-49, Collie 2-26.

MISSED FIELD GOALS—Houston, K.Brown 42 (WL).

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