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Posted at 10:32 a.m., Sunday, September 23, 2007

NFL: Addai helps Colts run over Texans, 30-24

Associated Press

HOUSTON - The Houston Texans aren't quite ready to contend with the Indianapolis Colts for AFC South supremacy.

At least not with their two top offensive weapons on the sidelines.

Joseph Addai ran for two touchdowns and Adam Vinatieri added three field goals to lead the Colts (3-0) to a 30-24 win over the injury-ravaged and mistake-prone Texans to remain undefeated today.

Houston (2-1) entered the game without star receiver Andre Johnson, who sprained his knee last week, and lost running back Ahman Green to a knee injury on the first series of the second quarter. Backup Ron Dayne was inactive because of bruised ribs, so the Texans had to rely on third-stringer Samkon Gado for the rest of the game.

Rookie Jacoby Jones, who started for Johnson, left in the third quarter with a shoulder injury, and center Steve McKinney left with an apparent knee injury in the fourth quarter.

And defensive tackle Cedric Killings was taken off the field on a stretcher after a headfirst collision with Indianapolis receiver Roy Hall. The 310-pound Killings, playing special teams, hit Hall on a block as Jerome Mathis was returning a kickoff in the second quarter. The Texans said Killings suffered a neck injury, but had feeling in his extremities. Killings was taken to a hospital.

Still, Houston got within 30-24 when Vonta Leach caught a 1-yard pass from Matt Schaub with 2:49 remaining in the game. The Texans got the ball back with 19 seconds left, but Schaub was sacked and time ran out.

Houston cut the lead to 27-17 on a 1-yard run by Gado early in the fourth quarter. That score was set up by a 41-yard catch by Andre' Davis. Vinatieri's third field goal of the day had pushed the Colts' lead to 30-17 in the third period.

Schaub was 27-of-33 for 236 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Houston finished with just 40 yards rushing and Gado had 12 yards rushing and a fumble.

The Texans had a chance to cut the lead to seven with about 5 minutes left in the third quarter when a 74-yard punt return by Jones got Houston to the Indianapolis 29. But on the next play, Schaub threw into triple coverage and was intercepted by Gary Brackett.

Peyton Manning found Reggie Wayne for a 64-yard pass, but was sacked on third down and the Colts settled for a field goal that made it 27-10.

Manning was 20-of-29 for 273 yards and a touchdown. Addai finished with 22 carries for 72 yards.

In the third quarter, a pass from Schaub bounced off the hands of Jones and Rocky Boiman made a diving interception. Four plays later, Addai bolted past DeMarcus Faggins and into the corner of the end zone for an 8-yard score to make it 24-10.

The Colts took their first lead when Addai jumped over a diving Faggins for a 4-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to make it 14-10. It capped an 11-play, 65-yard drive.

Houston used a 33-yard field goal by Kris Brown to go ahead 10-7 early in the second quarter. Green caught a short pass and was tackled after a 9-yard gain by Colts safety Bob Sanders on the play before the field goal. Green hopped up, but limped off the field.

The Colts were forced to redo the opening kickoff after an offside penalty on the first try. Mathis, only got to the 20 on the first one, but returned the second 84 yards for a touchdown. Mathis, who returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in 2005, broke away from the pack and then cut to the outside to outrun the last two defenders and stroll in for the score.

Dallas Clark got in front of Michael Boulware for a 2-yard reception in the back of the end zone to tie it at 7 midway through the first quarter.