No Quarter - Texans 34 Colts 7

Make no mistake about it. The Texans did what they were expected to do. The Colts came to town with octogenarian Kerry Collins. For the first time in Texans vs. Colts history, Peyton Manning didn't answer the bell. Nursing what I consider a career threatening injury, Manning's streak of 277 game started ended.

The Colts limped into town primed for a thrashing. They crawled back to Indianapolis after a 34-7 battering. A couple of second half turnovers saved the Colts from a 40 point beat down.

From start to finish, the Texans physically abused the Colts. The offense moved the ball at will. The Colts best defense was the Texans offense making mistakes and turning over the ball. Defensively the Texans blitzed early and often. Even special teams got in on the act.

How bad was it for the Colts? They knew exactly what the Texans were going to do on both sides of the ball. The Texans did everything but email the playbook and game plan to Jim Caldwell. Even if they did, I doubt Caldwell would know what to do with it.

The only bright spot for the Colts? Reggie Wayne is still Reggie Wayne. Wayne produced 106 yards and the single Colt touchdown.

3-4 Unveiled

The Texans unleashed the new 3-4 front to devastating results. Two early turnovers gave the offense two early short fields. Without Manning, the Colts huddled up. Collins lost a fumble during a sack and also dropped an exchange from center. The results put the Colts in an early whole and they never recovered.

Mario Williams abused TE Dallas Clark on two plays that resulted in two sacks. Rookie JJ Watt and Antonio Smith wreaked havoc on a makeshift Colts offensive line. With the front seven chasing the aging Collins, the Colts offense never really settled into any rhythm.

Joseph Addai scratched out 39 yards and the Colts only managed 69 rushing yards. Collins passed for 172 yards.

The Colts were an abysmal 1-9 in 3rd down conversions.

Foster Lite
Rushing champ Arian Foster sat the game out with a hamstring injury. Last season, he destroyed the Colts defense with over 200 yards rushing. No Foster, no worries. Derrick Ward started the game but left the game injured. No Ward, no problem. Insert second year running back Ben Tate. Even lost man Steve Slaton briefly jumped in on the action.

The Texans racked up 167 rushing yards with Tate leading the way with 116. Interceptions aside, Matt Schaub used rollouts effectively and to flow away from Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis and the speed of the Colts defense. Andre Johnson finished with a strong 95 yards receiving and a touchdown. He caught a tipped passed on a play action that fooled even the camera man. He's simply an amazing athlete.

The defense applied the body blows with blitzes. The offenses delivered the head shots with touchdowns. The special teams and Jacoby Jones delivered the knock out blow. Jones ran back a punt 79 yards for a touchdown that finished off the Colts and any hope of salvaging the game. The Texans went into the locker room with a 34-0 lead.

What To Like
The Texans pretty much telegraphed the game plan on both sides of the ball. Blitz defense, run and rollouts on offense. The Colts were helpless.

Schaub managed the game and made long throws down field to keep the Colts on their heels. The offense played hard and did not change the plan to run. Coach Gary Kubiak committed to the run despite Foster not suiting up. Ward and Tate filled in effectively.  Johnson continues to show why he is an elite wide receiver.

The defense thrashed and abuse the Colts offensive line.  When there was a mismatch, the Texans punished the Colts for it.  Either stupidly or by mistake, Clark had no business taking on Williams one on one.

What Not To Like
Turnovers. Schaub threw two picks and Tate fumbled once. They need to take care of the ball better. In close games, turnovers kill and there will be some close games this season. Clean it up.

Again some of the play calling blows the mind. On one possession inside the 20, Kubiak calls some pass plays when you want to kill the clock and get out of the half. Yes you want touchdowns but you also want to keep the opponent's offense off the field and give the defense some extra rest before the half.

James Casey = Nasty
Before the season, I doubted the idea of Casey at fullback. As the preseason progressed, I started to come around to the idea. Casey adds another dimension a potent offense. He presents match up problems. He can stay and block at fullback or he can motion out to the slot, halfback, TE or even WR spot.

I imagine as the season progresses they will add more to his already full plate. Make no mistake about it, Casey is a football player but also a scholar. As much as I think rice is insignificant, it is one of the few college teams where student athletes must meet same academic requirements of the student body. No free passes or easy classes.

Now for the nasty.




On Tate's TD run, Casey lines up at fullback. Watch how he blows up #41 Antoine Bethea. Casey completely takes Bethea out of the play and Tate runs in untouched.

There is another play later in the game where Casey lines up at fullback. He runs down field full speed, lowers his shoulder and wipes out a linebacker. Without missing a beat, Casey keeps running his route. It was so effortless that I don't even remember the result of the play.

Just nasty on both plays and hopefully we will see more as the season progresses.

Man of the Match
Without a doubt, Ben Tate takes this week's award. Third on the depth chart, he moved up to second with Foster out and then took the load fulltime when Ward went out injured. He put up great numbers for a third back. As a result the Texans never abandoned the game plan.

Conclusion
The Texans did what they had to do. They beat a bad team. The Colts were built for Peyton Manning on both sides of the ball. Offensively the Colts expect to play with the lead early due to Manning and a potent offense. Due to an early big lead, they know teams throw to catch up so they defend with speed not size.

The Texans instead imposed their brand of football. They attacked early, forced turnovers and build a big lead. In turn, they ran the ball to against and a speedy but smaller than usual defense.

The Texans now must keep up the intensity defensively next week against Miami. Chad Henne put up over 400 yards on offense. Brandon Marshall will test the secondary. Can the Texans handle success and a team better than the one they whipped last Sunday?

The Future of Peyton Manning?

The saying goes "To be the best, you have to beat the best." What is left unsaid is "To be the best, you just have to outlast the rest."

I hate Peyton Manning as the signal caller for the Colts. Why? Really? Manning only owns the Texans. Yet as much as I hate Manning, I respect the hell out of him for the way he approaches the game. Also I hate that if he leaves the NFL it's on an injury and not his own terms.

Manning commands the field like no other player I've seen live. His presence on the field is absolutely commanding. Manning isn't a quarterback...he's a field marshal. He commands, he directs, he analyzes the defense, he attacks. Of course, Colts management surrounded him with talent to do that. However if the skills aren't there the Manning couldn't do.

Despite all that, Manning is still human. As super as he maybe, age respects no one. Manning is 35. He had trouble with his neck this offseason and again had another procedure done on his neck. At this point it becomes a fair question...is Manning done?

I don't know if Manning will play another down. The media reports that he may play late in the season. My question is why? If the Colts are in the playoff race down the stretch, I might consider it if I were the Colts brain trust. If the team is totally out of it, why risk Manning? Why risk a more serious injury?

My View on the Situation
The goal in football isn't to beat the best. The goal is to win every game. If Peyton Manning isn't lining up tomorrow under center, I don't care. The Texans must go out there and take advantage of his absence. The goal right now is to win the division and make the playoffs. What better time to start than striking against a weakened enemy?

Every team wants to win the Super Bowl. What you do is beat the team that lines up across from you. You show no mercy. Spare them not just because they don't have their best player...you for all the marbles and you do it now at the expense of your enemy.

So all the naysayers who say if the Texans win it's a cheap win...I say no it's not...it's outlasting your enemy.