Defense bails out defending champion Colts

Football Betting Lines

09/18/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Even though Peyton Manning played up to his usual standards on Sunday, it was the Indianapolis Colts' defense that saved the day in a 22-20 win over the AFC South-rival Tennessee Titans at LP Field.

Colts defensive coordinator Ron Meeks had his thinking cap on snug in the latter stages of the game, as Titans elusive quarterback Vince Young was flustered on the final play thanks to a furious push from the line. As defensive tackle Darrell Reid and left end Josh Thomas crashed the pocket, middle linebacker Gary Brackett was able to break through and grab Young by his legs.

Young then flipped the ball to offensive lineman Jacob Bell, who had trouble tucking the ball away before watching it fall to the ground and into the hands of Reid with four seconds remaining on the clock.

"As a defensive unit, that's what you want," said Colts safety Bob Sanders, who recorded 2 1/2 sacks and a team-best 11 total tackles on Sunday. "You don't want to be put in those situations, but when they do come up, you want to be able to stop them. You want to have your offensive team lean on you and say, 'All right, go out and get the job done.'"

For so long that hasn't been the case for the Indianapolis defense. Since Manning has been on the team, most of the talk is about the offense and which of the team's two star wide receivers will break out. Sunday was a different story, one the Colts needed to become familiar with because they can't rely on Manning every week.

A Manning interception led to a Tennessee touchdown and ended his streak of consecutive passes without a pick at 190 in the third quarter, when Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan grabbed a pass intended for Reggie Wayne.

Afterward, Manning questioned whether or not Finnegan made illegal contact with Wayne during the play.

"I've got to bite my tongue until I see, but I've got to see that interception again," said Manning, who threw for 312 yards and a touchdown on 28-of-42 passing. "Something wasn't right about (it). Reggie's running the route on a post and you feel pretty good when you throw a pass and think it's going to hit him in stride. All of a sudden I think one of their players might have had a little contact with one of our players."

Manning's favorite target was tight end Dallas Clark, who contributed a team- high 69 yards and a score on seven receptions. Clark was the leading receiver, since the Titans were able to contain and keep Marvin Harrison and Wayne out of the end zone and off the highlight reel.

The trio will be on display this weekend in Houston for a showdown with the unbeaten Texans at Reliant Stadium.

A RUNNING BACK TO ADDAI FOR

There's a long list of great Colts running backs, including Lenny Moore, Lydell Mitchell, Eric Dickerson, Marshall Faulk and Edgerrin James.

So where does Joseph Addai fit?

Yes, I know, it's too early to assume such great status for the former LSU star, but it's going to be talked about soon. Addai emerged on the scene during his rookie campaign last year while splitting time with Dominic Rhodes. Now that Rhodes is suspended and playing in Oakland, Addai is now left alone to carry the load and the ball.

So far, so good for head coach Tony Dungy and his ground attack. Addai had 118 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries in a Week 1 win over New Orleans before compiling 81 yards and another score on 20 touches this past Sunday.

Not to be a dark cloud on Addai's parade, but the Houston Texans are next on the schedule and have played superb run defense in two games this season. The Texans shut down Chiefs running back Larry Johnson in Week 1 before denying both DeAngelo Williams and DeShaun Foster of greatness last Sunday in Carolina.

Addai will make sure a third time is no charm in Houston.

KICK 'EM TO THE CURB

Colts veteran placekicker Adam Vinatieri had an outing he would like to put in the back of his head for some time.

The often-reliable Vinatieri had a PAT blocked and was wide left on a 36-yard field goal try in Sunday's 22-20 win over Tennessee. Vinatieri, who has made 44-of-49 field-goal attempts since joining the Colts last season, admitted he was bothered by the errant try.

"I pride myself on not letting things get into my head," Vinatieri said, "But on that missed field goal, I think that's what happened."

Vinatieri will put this performance behind him. That's what the best players do. Why else does he sport four Super Bowl rings?

UP NEXT: COLTS GALLOP TO HOUSTON

The top spot in the AFC South is up for grabs on Sunday at Reliant Stadium, where the 2-0 Houston Texans will host unbeaten Indianapolis.

The Colts are 9-1 in the all-time series with Houston, which is the last team to send Dungy and Indianapolis into the loss column. The Texans recorded a 27-24 win at home in Week 16 of the 2006 season, as Ron Dayne rushed for a career-high 153 yards with two touchdowns and Kris Brown nailed a 48-yard field goal as time expired.

Manning, Harrison and Wayne will make sure a scenario like the last matchup doesn't occur this time around. The trio must not take the Texans lightly or they will be another victim of Houston head coach Gary Kubiak, who will try to ride the wave of his early success.