Colts-Texans Preview

SCOUTING REPORT

Texans need squeaky-clean play from SchaubThis is a critical AFC South showdown between teams both desperate for a win. The Texans' offense, led by QB Matt Schaub, got back on track last week with an efficient performance. The Colts hope their defense is ready to regroup after a bye week. Houston must build on last week and continue to find ways to finish drives in the red zone. Indianapolis' defense must show better gap integrity against shifty rookie RB Steve Slaton. Expect Colts offensive coordinator Tom Moore to maintain an up-tempo style that allows QB Peyton Manning to attack a banged-up Texans secondary and help get RB Joseph Addai going early.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
IND	12-4	377	298	6-2	6-2	4-2	10-2
HOU	8-8	366	394	6-2	2-6	2-4	5-7
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Indianapolis Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Mannin... 68.8 4500 33 16 Painte... 28.6 83 0 2

Houston Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Schaub 67.9 4770 29 15 Grossm... 33.3 33 0 1

Indianapolis Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Addai 219 828 3.8 10 Brown 78 281 3.6 3

Houston Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Slaton 131 437 3.3 3 Moats 101 390 3.9 4

Indianapolis Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Wayne 100 1264 12.6 10 Clark 100 1106 11.1 10

Houston Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Johnso... 101 1569 15.5 9 Walter 53 611 11.5 2

Full Player Stats: Indianapolis | Houston

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	IND	336.0
	HOU	382.0
Yards Passing	IND	255.9
	HOU	266.7
Yards Rushing	IND	79.6
	HOU	115.4
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	IND	310.9
	HOU	336.6
Pass Yds Allowed	IND	188.1
	HOU	213.9
Rush Yds Allowed	IND	122.9
	HOU	122.6

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Indianapolis leads 13-1
Dec 23, 2007	IND 38, @HOU 15
Sep 23, 2007	IND 30, HOU 24
Dec 24, 2006	IND 24, HOU 27
Sep 17, 2006	IND 43, @HOU 24
Nov 13, 2005	IND 31, @HOU 17
Oct 23, 2005	IND 38, HOU 20
Dec 12, 2004	IND 23, HOU 14
Nov 14, 2004	IND 49, @HOU 14
Dec 28, 2003	IND 20, HOU 17
Oct 26, 2003	IND 30, @HOU 21
Dec 1, 2002	IND 19, @HOU 3
Sep 22, 2002	IND 23, HOU 3

A shaky start through the first few weeks of the season has the Indianapolis Colts in an unfamiliar position in the AFC South. Another disappointing beginning for the Houston Texans has again relegated them to the division's cellar.

The Colts will try to turn things around and even their record on Sunday afternoon as they seek their 12th win in 13 tries against the winless Texans, who will finally play their first home game of the season.

Slow starts are very uncommon for Indianapolis (1-2), which has opened each of the last three seasons 7-0 or better. The Colts, winners of five straight AFC South titles, haven't finished lower than second in the division since 2001, when a 6-10 mark left them in fourth place.

Although they bounced back from a season-opening home loss to Chicago with an 18-15 road victory at Minnesota in Week 2, the Colts couldn't keep their momentum going as they fell 23-21 at home to division foe Jacksonville on Sept. 21.

Currently in third place in the division, Indianapolis sees no reason to panic yet despite sitting ahead of only the lowly Texans (0-3).

"We're not desperate in this locker room," cornerback Marlin Jackson said. "We've just got to get back to doing what we do, and that's playing consistent football."

To do that, Jackson and the rest of the defense must try to re-establish their dominance. After allowing the third-fewest total yards last season, the Colts have surrendered the eighth-most (1,021) through three games, including 403 in their most recent loss.

They have particularly struggled to stop the run, yielding an average of 199.3 yards after giving up 236 versus Jacksonville.

"Unacceptable," linebacker Gary Brackett said. "We have to get the ball back for our offense."

Adding to those woes has been the absence of star safety Bob Sanders. The NFL's defensive player of the year in 2007 has been limited to two games this season due to a sprained right ankle. He had arthroscopic surgery on a knee last Friday and could be sidelined at least another month.

Two-time league MVP Peyton Manning, meanwhile, is still working to regain his timing after undergoing surgery to remove an infected bursa sac from his left knee.

Although the perennial Pro Bowler ranks among the league's best with a 261.3 yard passing average, he wasn't sharp in the loss to Jacksonville, going 15-for-29 for a season-low 216 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.

"You have to keep your poise, keep your focus and focus on the things that count," Colts coach Tony Dungy said. "Whether you win or lose, you have to keep things in perspective and that's hard when you're used to winning a lot. But you have to zero in on just doing your job."

Dungy and the Colts will try to avoid losing three straight division games for the first time since Dec. 3-24, 2006, while improving to 12-1 all-time against the Texans. Indianapolis has won the last two meetings overall and five of six matchups in Houston.

Sunday will mark the first game of the season at Reliant Stadium for the Texans, who were forced to play their first three contests on the road due to the effects of Hurricane Ike. They finished that stretch with a 30-27 overtime loss Sunday at Jacksonville.

Houston has won eight of its last 10 home games, and is slated to play its next four at Reliant Stadium.

"It's been a hard month life-wise and football-wise for a lot of people," said Texans coach Gary Kubiak, whose team has dropped four of six home openers in team history. "We get to settle down here, we're not going anywhere for the next month."

Kubiak's team finished with a promising 8-8 mark last season, but now hopes to avoid its first 0-4 start since it opened 0-6 in 2005.

Houston's Matt Schaub rebounded from a three-interception game in a loss at Tennessee the previous week with a strong performance against the Jaguars. He was 29-for-40 for 307 yards and a career high-tying three touchdowns as the Texans racked up a season-best 386 yards.

Schaub was 27 of 33 for 236 yards and a TD in a 30-24 home loss to the Colts on Sept. 23, 2007 in his only appearance against the division rivals.

"Our mindset is no different than any other week," Schaub said. "We are approaching this game the same way we would any other game."

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