Nine months later, the undefeated Colts return to the site of the shocker to face an upstart Texans team that is 2-0 for the first time in franchise history. It’s a matchup for the early lead in the AFC South.
The Colts haven’t lost since and went on to win the Super Bowl. Houston started its first extended winning streak with that victory and has won four in a row.
Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy remembers that last meeting well.
“They just outplayed us,” Dungy said. “They were more physical than we were. They got the takeaways . . . we just have to try to match their intensity this year, tackle a little bit better and control the ball when we have it.”
In that game, the Texans used a Ron Dayne-led attack to gain 191 yards rushing and control the time of possession by more than 10 minutes to keep Peyton Manning and the Colts offense off the field.
Veteran center Steve McKinney said that win, which broke a streak of nine losses to the Colts, should help Houston today.
“I think the fact that we beat them last year gives you that little bit of confidence knowing that you can beat them,” he said. “They had had our number nine straight games, so you finally get that monkey off your back and now we can go and prepare for this game.
To be successful today, the Texans likely will use a similar plan because Pro Bowl receiver Andre Johnson said he won’t play as he recovers from a knee sprain. This year, Houston has the combination of Dayne and starter Ahman Green to run the ball.
Some Texans are calling it their first big game in the NFL and the most important game in team history. But first-year starting quarterback Matt Schaub wants his team to keep perspective, reminding the players it’s only one game.
“It’s a divisional opponent, we’re both 2-0, but at the same time, it’s one game and we have to just prepare the best we can so we can go out Sunday and play well,” he said.
Texans coach Gary Kubiak is curious if he’ll see a different defense without Johnson, who is fourth in the NFL with 262 yards receiving. Johnson has missed just three games in his five-year career.
“As a coach, you wonder,” he said. “People tend to play Andre a certain way and if you don’t have him, how do they play you?”
Schaub has been sacked just twice but hasn’t yet faced a defense like the Colts’, with ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis and safety Bob Sanders. Sanders is tied for third in the league with 2 1/2 sacks.
The Texans defense has allowed an average of 12 points through the first two weeks but now faces a team averaging 31.5 points and that has averaged 30 points in 10 previous meetings between the two.
Kubiak knows the test his defense will face. He gushed about Manning.
“I’ve never seen anybody better,” he said. “He’s got total command of the game of football, not just their offense. It may be a long time before we ever see that again."
