That’s 2 in a row
After 13 straight losses, Colts win again 19-16
INDIANAPOLIS – Reggie Wayne will always remember Thursday night’s catch.
The man with the expiring contract caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Dan Orlovsky with 19 seconds left, giving the Colts their only lead of the game in a 19-16 victory over AFC South champion Houston 19-16.
It’s the second straight win for the Colts (2-13). Orlovsky, who played the last two seasons with Houston, also won his second straight game after losing his first nine NFL starts.
“Reggie certainly had a spectacular game. Caught it well, was active in the running, just all around a terrific game,” Colts coach Jim Caldwell said.
Houston was in a position to come to Indianapolis and simply tune up for the postseason.
Not a chance.
The Texans looked anything but playoff-ready. They settled for two field goals in the red zone, didn’t convert a third down until getting a lucky bounce late in the fourth quarter, its running game was stymied late, and the defense helped the Colts with three penalties on the decisive drive.
Houston (11-4) is 0-10 in Indianapolis and still hunting for a first-round bye. The Texans still haven’t scored more than 20 points in a game since Nov. 27.
When Brian Cushing broke through the line on the game’s first play, sacking Orlovsky and stripping the ball, it looked like it might be a replica of the teams’ first meeting, a 34-7 blowout. Arian Foster ran for 8 yards on the next play, then scored on a 9-yard burst off the left side to give Houston a 7-0 lead.
Foster carried 23 times for 158 yards, but the Colts repeatedly stopped the Texans’ runners in the red zone.
“We didn’t turn the ball over nearly as much as we did in that (first) game,” Caldwell said. “But beyond that, I think we were pretty good at protecting the ball. I think our defense played extremely well even though they ran for 171 yards. It was kind of a bend-but-don’t-break defense, but when they had to stop them in the red zone, they stopped them in the red zone.”
Nobody got into the end zone again until Orlovsky took the Colts 78 yards in the final 2 minutes, thanks in part to three costly Houston penalties, two of them against rookie defensive end J.J. Watt. After a pass interference call against Glover Quinn put the ball at the Texans 1, Orlovsky lobbed the ball into the corner of the end zone and Wayne beat the coverage to make the catch.
| Houston | 10 | 0 | 3 | 3 | – | 16 |
| Indianapolis | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 | – | 19 |
Hou – Foster 9 run (Rackers kick)
Ind – FG Vinatieri 23
Hou – FG Rackers 44
Ind – FG Vinatieri 32
Hou – FG Rackers 35
Ind – FG Vinatieri 47
Ind – FG Vinatieri 31
Hou – FG Rackers 31
Ind – Wayne 1 pass from Orlovsky (Vinatieri kick)
A – 64,159.
| Hou | Ind | |
| First downs | 14 | 24 |
| Total Net Yards | 283 | 320 |
| Rushes-yards | 31-171 | 32-95 |
| Passing | 112 | 225 |
| Punt Returns | 3-16 | 1-20 |
| Kickoff Returns | 1-33 | 1-17 |
| Interceptions Ret. | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Comp-Att-Int | 13-16-0 | 23-41-0 |
| Sacked-Yards Lost | 4-20 | 3-19 |
| Punts | 6-42.2 | 5-41.8 |
| Fumbles-Lost | 2-1 | 2-1 |
| Penalties-Yards | 11-84 | 4-35 |
| Time of Possession | 27:05 | 32:55 |
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – Houston, Foster 23-158, Jones 1-15, Tate 6-(minus 1), Yates 1-(minus 1). Indianapolis, Addai 19-59, D.Brown 11-35, Orlovsky 1-2, Carter 1-(minus 1).
PASSING – Houston, Yates 13-16-0-132. Indianapolis, Orlovsky 23-41-0-244.
RECEIVING – Houston, Dreessen 4-38, Walter 3-47, Foster 3-16, Jones 2-27, Daniels 1-4. Indianapolis, Wayne 8-106, Garcon 6-50, Collie 3-49, D.Brown 2-13, Eldridge 2-8, Tamme 1-10, Addai 1-8.
MISSED FIELD GOALS – Indianapolis, Vinatieri 42 (WL).