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| ARI at BAL | BUF at NE | CAR at ATL | CIN at SEA | CLE at OAK | DAL at CHI | DET at PHI | IND at HOU |
| JAX at DEN | MIA at NYJ | MIN at KC | NYG at WAS | SD at GB | SF at PIT | STL at TB | TEN at NO |
Week 3 Game Recap: Indianapolis Colts 30, Houston Texans 24
What you need to know
| Indianapolis Colts |
The Colts offense put on display the reasons they are considered one of the elite teams in the NFL. Peyton Manning was his usual efficient self in guiding the Colts to three touchdowns on the day. He showed outstanding pocket presence and accuracy, and was only sacked once.
Joseph Addai provided the bulk of the rushing offense, allowing the Colts to control the clock and keep the Texan defense on the field during the first three quarters of play. He was able to provide consistent runs of about three yards that allowed the Colts to move the chains.
The Colts receivers showed why they are one of the best units in the league. They were open on multiple pass plays and Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, and Anthony Gonzalez were frequently targeted by Manning.
| Houston Texans |
Matt Schaub was efficient, but erratic. For three quarters he was able to guide the Texans down the field, but was undone by two costly interceptions in the third quarter that led to ten Colts points.
The Texans were not able to muster any type of consistent rushing attack during the game. Ahman Green left the game twice with leg injuries and was replaced by the committee of Samkon Gado and Jameel Cook.
The only receivers that were able to get open with any consistency were the tight ends on routes over the middle and receivers on quick slant patterns. Owen Daniels provided Schaub with a reliable target over the middle.
What you ought to know
| QB Peyton Manning, Pass: 20 - 29 - 273 - 1 TD / 0 INT |
Manning opened the game by guiding the Colts on touchdown drives on their first two possessions. He was ten of 12 on the first two drives, with his only incompletions coming on a dump off pass to Addai to avoid a sack and ball thrown into coverage. The Texans were not able to apply any consistent pressure on Manning without blitzing, but when they blitzed Manning would hit his open receivers on quick slants and screens. Manning targeted six different receivers during the game, completing passes to all six. Manning did almost have one interception on a pass thrown to Marvin Harrison that was into double coverage, but the Texans defenders were unable to come up with the interception.
| RB Joseph Addai, Rush: 22 - 72 - 2, Rec: 3 - 19 - 0 (4 targets) |
Addai had an outstanding day running the ball, allowing the Colts to control the flow of the game. The statistics show that he only averaged 3.3 YPC on the day, but that was due to the majority of his runs coming between the tackles. He was able to gain good yardage on plays that went to the outside of the tackles. His first touchdown of the day will be the one that will show up on the highlight films as he was hit while leaping over a defender at the one yard line and flipped into the end zone.
| RB Kenton Keith, Rush: 7 - 20 - 0 |
Keith saw time in relief of Joseph Addai. He fumbled the ball in Colts territory on the first Colts possession of the fourth quarter with the Colts holding a 27-17 lead. Fortunately the ball was recovered by Reggie Wayne. Keith did not see any action after the fumble.
| WR Marvin Harrison, Rec: 6 - 53 - 0 (8 targets) |
Harrison showed why he is Manning's favorite target, catching six of the eight passes thrown his way. He was the focus of the passing game in the fourth quarter when the Colts were moving the ball and trying to extend their lead after the Texans scored to make it 27 - 17 at the start of the fourth quarter. Harrison was able to get open and was in sync with Manning all game.
| WR Reggie Wayne, Rec: 4 - 84 - 0 (5 targets) |
Wayne was only targeted once in the first half as Manning got Gonzalez involved in the offense. Wayne saw four of his five targets in the third quarter as the Colts scored 13 points to open up a 27-10 lead. His key catch was a 64 yard reception on the first play following Matt Schaub's second interception. That reception gave the Colts a first and goal on the seven, but the Colts were only able to gain a field goal on the possession.
| WR Anthony Gonzalez, Rec: 2 - 39 - 0 (5 targets) |
Gonzalez was targeted five times, catching two, all in the first half. He caught Manning's first pass of the game for a 15 yard gain, and was open on his second reception. He dropped one pass that was catchable, and had another that bounced off of his hands that was thrown into coverage.
| TE Dallas Clark, Rec: 4 - 58 - 1 (6 targets) |
Clark was open on pass plays over the middle during the game, providing Manning with a reliable outlet. His touchdown came on a two yard pass in the back of the end zone on the first Colts drive.
| TE Ben Utecht, Rec: 1 - 20 - 0 (1 targets) |
Utecht caught the only pass thrown his way.
| PK Adam Vinatieri 3 - 3 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 12 points |
Vinatieri was a perfect three for three on extra points and converted three field goals, all from less than 40 yards.
| IND Rush Defense |
The Colts rush defense played well against the Texans, allowing only 40 rushing yards. Texans runners were not able to get any type of penetration against the Colts defense, with their longest run of the day coming on a quick draw handoff in the first half.
| IND Pass Defense |
The Colts were able to get consistent pressure on Matt Schaub all game, but were only able to sack him once. Schaub was forced to rush his throws, or find his receivers on medium routes, outlet passes, or screen passes. They did intercept Schaub twice, once on a tipped ball and once on a throw into coverage.
| QB Matt Schaub, Pass: 27 - 33 - 236 - 1 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 1 - 5 - 0 |
Schaub was under pressure by the Colts defense all game. He was forced to move around in the pocket in order to find time to hit his receivers on deeper routes, or he would target his tight ends and backs on short routes. He only made one bad decision, throwing an ill advised pass into double coverage while in the red zone that was intercepted. He followed that interception with 13 straight completions to end the game.
| RB Samkon Gado, Rush: 6 - 12 - 1, Rec: 3 - 9 - 0 (3 targets) |
Gado was the primary ball carrier for the Texans when Ahman Green went down with an injury in the first half. He ran hard, even though there was little room to run. As a good indicator of how hard of a game the Texans had rushing the ball, it took Gado two attempts to get the ball in the end zone at the end of the third quarter.
| RB Jameel Cook, Rush: 5 - 15 - 0, Rec: 2 - 12 - 0 (2 targets) |
Cook saw time as a part of a committee back approach in the first half when Ahman Green went out with a leg injury. It appeared that the Texans went away from the committee and more toward a feature back system in the second half. He led the team in rushing and had the longest run of the day.
| RB Ahman Green, Rush: 4 - 5 - 0, Rec: 2 - 11 - 0 (2 targets) |
Green did little in the game before leaving with a knee injury in the second quarter. He did appear to be injured on the first offensive play of the day, but came back in to play one additional quarter.
| RB Vonta Leach, Rec: 1 - 1 - 1 (2 targets) |
Leach was only involved in the passing game for the Texans, dropping an easy catch on first down during the second offensive series. He made up for his drop by catching a pass in the flat and taking the ball in on first and goal for the last score of the game.
| WR Andre Davis, Rec: 4 - 70 - 0 (5 targets) |
Davis was the most targeted wide receiver on the Texans squad as the team tried to compensate for the loss of Andre Johnson. He had one big play, catching a 41 yard pass from Matt Schaub to give the Texans first and goal from the one on the first offensive touchdown drive of the game.
| WR Jacoby Jones, Rush: 1 - 3 - 0, Rec: 3 - 26 - 0 (4 targets) |
Jones received the start due to the injury to Andre Johnson and was inconsistent. He caught three of the four passes thrown to him, but the one he did not catch was costly as he bobbled the ball leading to the first Colts interception. Jones had to leave the game when he injured his the third quarter.
| WR Kevin Walter, Rec: 2 - 17 - 0 (4 targets) |
Walter did not see many balls thrown his way, but was the intended target on Matt Schaub's second interception of the game. Walter did have one 18 yard reception in the third quarter called back due to offensive holding.
| WR Jerome Mathis, Rec: 1 - 15 - 0 (1 targets) |
Mathis began the game with a bang by returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown. He only saw game action when Jacoby Jones went out with a shoulder injury in the third quarter.
| TE Owen Daniels, Rec: 7 - 56 - 0 (7 targets) |
Daniels was the primary target for Matt Schaub. He was consistently open over the middle and provided an excellent target when Schaub was in trouble. Daniels was tackled just short of the end zone on his last catch of the game, leading to the second Texan touchdown.
| TE Jeb Putzier, Rec: 2 - 19 - 0 (3 targets) |
Putzier provided a good complement to Owen Daniels. He caught both passes thrown his way in the fourth quarter on the last Texan touchdown drive of the game.
| PK Kris Brown 1 - 1 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 6 points |
Brown was a perfect three for three on extra points and added a 33 yard field goal in the first half.
| HOU Rush Defense |
The Texans rush defense performed well against the Colts offense, only allowing Colts runners to gain decent yardage on runs to the outside. Colts backs had little room to run inside as the Texans young defensive front showed that they are an improving unit against the rush.
| HOU Pass Defense |
The Texans failed to get any type of consistent pressure on Manning. Colts receivers were open for most of the game, and Manning had plenty of time to throw and hit the open receiver. The defense did come close to getting one interception on a pass that was underthrown to Harrison.
