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Manning, Colts use second-half surge to top Texans

Nov 17, 2008 - 1:05 AM INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts awoke from their slumber in time to pick up a much-needed win over a divisional foe.

Manning orchestrated four consecutive scoring drives in the second half as the surging Colts overcame a sluggish start Sunday to defeat the pesky Houston Texans, 33-27.

It was the fourth consecutive win for Indianapolis (6-4), which remained in contention for a wild card in the competitive AFC.

"That was nice today," said Manning, who quarterbacked a Colts offense that gained 474 yards from scrimmage. "All along, we've said that's what we wanted to do - be a balanced team."

The Colts, who entered Sunday four games behind first-place Tennessee in the AFC South, have the same record as non-division leaders Baltimore (6-4), New England (6-4) and Miami (6-4).

Indianapolis did not have an easy time defeating the lowly Texans (3-7), who raced to a 13-9 halftime lead behind the running of rookie Steve Slaton.

But thanks to Manning, the Colts reached the end zone on their first three drives of the second half to take a 30-20 fourth-quarter lead.

Houston clawed within 30-27 on Ahman Green's 2-yard touchdown run, but Indianapolis responded with a 16-play drive that took up nearly seven minutes and ended with Adam Vinatieri's 31-yard field goal with 1:52 remaining.

"There was a lot of great effort there which allowed for some of those extra yards," Manning said. "It's all about winning and finding different ways to win."

Manning completed 30-of-46 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns. The two-time league MVP gave the Colts their first lead of the game at 16-13 with his first TD of the contest, a 23-yarder to running back Joseph Addai that capped a 10-play drive to open the second half.

Houston regained the lead at 20-16 on Slaton's 71-yard TD run, but Indianapolis answered on Addai's 7-yard TD run that punctuated an 80-yard drive.

After forcing a three-and-out, the Colts struck again with a methodical 11-play, 73-yard drive that ended with Manning's 10-yard TD to Marvin Harrison, who broke a tackle and stretched over the goal line to make it 30-20 just four seconds into the fourth quarter.

"Our offense kind of saved us in the second half with those long drives and touchdowns," Colts head coach Tony Dungy said.

Playing without injured safety Bob Sanders, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Indianapolis failed to protect the 10-point lead as Houston marched 77 yards in 10 plays and drew within 30-27 on Green's second TD of the game.

After Vinatieri's field goal, the Texans advanced the ball to midfield with 38 seconds remaining.

But Sage Rosenfels, who almost single-handedly squandered a fourth-quarter lead the last time these teams met, was intercepted by Melvin Bullitt - Sanders' replacement - with 32 seconds remaining, ending Houston's comeback bid.

"Melvin's doing a good job," Dungy said. "He's playing for Bob and making things happen and learning as he goes and he's getting better, and better every week."

Addai, who has been slowed by a hamstring injury this year, finished with season highs of 105 yards on the ground and 48 yards receiving.

"(Addai) was feeling better," Dungy said. "He was running the ball well and running hard."

Reggie Wayne had seven catches for 90 yards while Harrison hauled in nine receptions for 77 yards for the Colts.

Slaton ran for a season-high 156 yards on just 14 carries while Green ran for two TDs for Houston, which has lost 13 of 14 all-time meetings with Indianapolis.

The Texans dropped a 31-27 decision to the Colts last month in the first meetings between these AFC South rivals.

Rosenfels lost two fumbles and was intercepted in the fourth quarter as Indianapolis scored 21 points in a two-minute span to erase a 17-point deficit in the final period.

Rosenfels completed 13-of-18 attempts Sunday for 192 yards.

"We had a good effort," Texans head coach Gary Kubiak said. "We came up a couple of plays short. It is very disappointing, but we are going to keep battling."