Week 1 Highlights: Colts Vs Texans

This game was all about a power shift, and it turned-out to be a seismic one at that. The Indianapolis Colts rule the roost in the AFC South and have done for the past decade. Occasional flashes of brilliance from the Titans and Jaguars have, although threatened Indy’s position as top dog (resulting in them actually losing the division to the Titans in 2008) never really deposed the playoff staples.

But all of that was thanks to one man, or so it would seem. The season-long absence of regular starter and Pro Bowl frequenter, Peyton Manning, has well and truly exposed the weaknesses of the Colts depth chart. Couple that with the emergence of the Houston Texans – a team that has been knocking on the door of the playoffs the past few seasons – and you have a new divisional dynamic.

Oddly, though, the absence of Manning can’t really be blamed for the team’s haplessness, especially in the first half. Veteran back-up Kerry Collins (a man used to the AFC South after playing for the Titans for the past few seasons) didn’t lose the game for the Colts and, in fact, had a better game statistically speaking than his counterpart, Houston’s Matt Schaub.

What happened here was a total collapse of the frontal defence. There was no cohesion, absent was the usual tightness, gone was the quickness that has for so long typified this undersized, but overbearing unit.

The offense didn’t get on the board until the second half (during which the D suddenly turned up and shut-out the rampant Texans) but that touchdown was all but incidental. Houston took their foot off the gas after jumping out to a 34 point lead and coasted over the finish line, making sure they absorbed the time on the clock without allowing the Colts any real foothold in the game.

They may have won the battle, but have they won the war? More importantly, have the Colts lost the ability to compete? Yes and yes. Something is seriously wrong with the Colts and it isn’t jus the absence of Manning, although maybe his layoff is the reason they seem to have collapsed mentally. They will get better; they will win games, but not enough to make them contenders.

Ironically, if when the Colts find some form (which I am certain they will) a fairy godmother offered them a free pass into the playoffs, I almost think they would be better without Manning. The great man has a shocking record with playoffs – his mettle is clearly somewhat lacking. A gritty workhorse like Kerry Collins might be able to steer the expectant Colts through the stresses of Postseason more effectively than the man many consider the greatest to play the game simple because Manning is expected to win every game and Collins none. And that weighs on your mind.

The Texans should go on to win the division with style assuming the effervescent Titans remain low-key all season. The Colts are in the a rough first 8, but look to them for a sudden epiphany when it’s too late.


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