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Surprising Texans look for 3-0 start

Sep 23, 2007 - 12:15 PM Indianapolis (2-0) at Houston (2-0) Sunday 1:00 pm EDT

HOUSTON (Ticker) - The Houston Texans can now measure their improvement against the NFL's best.

Looking to start 3-0 for the first time in their six-year history, the Texans host Peyton Manning and the Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

After beating Kansas City and Carolina in the first two weeks, Houston may have a more difficult time against Indianapolis, which has won nine of the 10 all-time meetings between the teams.

The Texans, who never had been 2-0 in their brief existence, have shown improvement this season thanks to the play of new quarterback Matt Schaub, who has completed 36-of-50 passes for 452 yards and four touchdowns with one interception.

Schaub completed 20-of-28 passes for 227 yards and two TDs in last Sunday's 34-21 win at Carolina.

Andre Johnson also has had a pair of big games for the Texans, catching 14 passes for 262 yards and three TDs. But he suffered a left knee injury last week, and will miss the contest.

Fast starts are nothing new for the Colts, who are 16-2 in September in the last five-plus seasons. Indianapolis started 13-0 in 2005 and won its first nine games last season.

Manning threw for 312 yards and a touchdown as the Colts escaped with a 22-20 win at Tennessee last Sunday. Joseph Addai added 81 yards rushing and his second TD of the season.

The only loss for the Colts against the Texans came in 27-24 setback here last December 24.