Colts surviveTexans 20-17 as late FG bid sails wide

INDIANAPOLIS - The Colts have no problems with close games - as long as they keep winning them.

Peyton Manning turned in a strong performance, Joseph Addai produced a second straight winning score and the Colts won 20-17 when Houston's Kris Brown missed a 42-yard field goal attempt on the final play.

"I think that's the mark of a great football team," center Jeff Saturday said, referring to the close calls. "We've won eight games so far, and we're ahead in our division, which is really our main focus and goal."

Tight end Dallas Clark caught 14 passes, the third-highest single-game total by an NFL tight end, and with eight receptions, Reggie Wayne moved past Hall of Famer Raymond Berry and into second on the Colts' career reception list.

A week after rallying the Colts with a fourth-quarter TD pass, Addai caught a touchdown pass, then ran 2 yards for the winning score with 7:11 to go.

The biggest impact: Indianapolis (8-0) hold a 3½-game lead in the AFC South over second-place Houston (5-4) and is 3-0 against its division rivals.

But this loss was easily the most frustrating of the series.

After shrugging off the Colts early run and fighting back to take the lead, the Texans had two chances to win it or force overtime. Both failed. Matt Schaub (U.Va.), under pressure from Gary Brackett, was intercepted by Clint Session in Colts territory with 2:13 to go.

Then after forcing a rare three-and-out, Matt Schaub moved Houston into scoring position again only to see Brown push his field goal attempt to the left.

"I missed the kick," Brown said. "I was going through my routine, and I felt good walking on the field. I take a lot of pride in kicking, especially in these situations. To have that happen is very disappointing."