Quick Turnaround For Kris Brown, Texans Dogs Against Indianapolis Colts

NFL News - November 24th, 2009 - Written by John

Poor Kris Brown.

Just as he tries to shake off a miserable memory from the missed kick on Monday Night Football, he has to relive another this week. In a game that will certainly press him to answer more and more questions about his failing foot, the Houston Texans host the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday with a chance to stay in the playoff race on the line.

Brown was set up for a potential game-winning kick against the Tennessee Titans on Monday Night Football, but sailed the kick wide left and the Houston Texans lost 20-17. The result was even worse considering he had done exactly the same thing against Indianapolis, although the kick would have won the game instead of simply forced overtime.

"The frustrating part for me is, we have 44 guys out there, busting their tails, and one guy out there not doing his job, which is me," Brown said after losing to the Titans. "That's the reason we lose the game. That's hard. I've got to figure out what the heck's going on, and I need to figure it out pretty quick."

For that, among other reasons (not the least of which being Indianapolis' 9-1 record against the Texans), the Colts are 3 1/2-point favorites on the road, according to DSI Sportsbook, with a total of 48 1/2 as listed in the Week 12 NFL Betting Odds.

Houston has only beaten the Indianapolis Colts once in franchise history, a 27-24 win in 2006, but recent history suggests that Houston will be able to keep it close. The Colts have had trouble pulling away from really anyone in the AFC South, going 6-13 ATS in the last 19 divisional games.

Whenever the division rivals get together, it seems to be a shootout. They have hit the over in eight of the last nine games, the lone exception being the 14-12 game earlier this year. The Texans are 20-8 hitting the over in their last 19 games against divisional opponents.

The main reason has been mondo performances by two of the best quarterbacks in the league. Peyton Manning is a likely front-runner for the NFL MVP, along with Brett Favre, and Matt Schaub would be in the conversation if not for a pedestrian record. Schaub threw for 305 and two touchdowns in the loss to Tennessee, and will probably be the next passer to crack the 3,000-yard mark with a current total of 2,958.

Manning leads all passers with 3,171 yards and has 21 touchdowns, is in line for his fourth-straight 4,000-yard season, and has Indianapolis off to it's second 10-0 record with him as starter.

Reggie Wayne has 968 yards receiving on 76 catches with eight touchdowns.