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INDIANAPOLIS— Chuck Pagano is back on the sidelines and the Colts are continuing to win for their head coach.
A complete, three-phase effort led to the Colts (11-5) closing out the regular season with a 28-16 win over the AFC-leading Houston Texans (12-4).
Indianapolis led for nearly the entire afternoon before Houston ran off 10 points to start the second half and took a 16-14 lead with 5:22 to go in the third quarter.
That lead only lasted for 12 seconds as kick returner Deji Karim took the ensuing kickoff and went 101 yards, untouched, into the end zone for the touchdown.
Leading 21-16, the Colts offense struck up another big play. On a third-and-23, Colts quarterback Andrew Luck placed a perfectly thrown ball into rookie wide receiver T.Y. Hilton's hands for a 70-yard touchdown.
The touchdown catch was Hilton's seventh on the season and the longest offensive play of the season for the Colts.
Luck threw for two touchdowns and now has gone 14 straight quarters without an interception.
Cornerback Vontae Davis had a pair of interceptions with the Colts defense also sacking Houston quarterback Matt Schaub four times on the afternoon.
The Colts finished the season with a 7-1 record at home.
Indianapolis will learn its opponent in the Wild Card round later this afternoon. The Colts are penciled into the five-seed in the AFC with games being played on Jan. 5 or Jan. 6.
SCORING RECAP
FIRST QUARTER (7:51 remaining)
With Chuck Pagano back on the sideline, the Colts ran a flawless, 13-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Tight end Coby Fleener scored on a one-yard touchdown reception, his second of the season. The drive included quarterback Andrew Luck connecting with five different receivers and he broke Peyton Manning's Colts rookie record of 326 completions on the season. Kicker Adam Vinatieri hit the extra point.
Colts 7, Texans 0
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FIRST QUARTER (0:06 remaining)
A rapid-fire first quarter continued with Houston kicker Shayne Graham connecting on a 51-yard field goal. The Texans answered the Colts scoring drive with a 14-play one of their own that included a third-and-13 conversion. Houston quarterback Matt Schaub was six-of-seven for 39 yards on the drive. Colts 7, Texans 3
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SECOND QUARTER (10:22 remaining)
Similar to the team's meeting two weeks ago, Houston is having trouble converting in Colts territory. Graham converted a 37-yard field goal, his seventh in the last six quarters between these two teams. Houston wide receiver Andre Johnson hauled in 39-yard reception off a play-action pass to begin the drive but the Texans drive stalled when a third-and-two was stopped by Colts outside linebacker Dwight Freeney. Colts 7, Texans 6
SECOND QUARTER (2:00 remaining)
Indianapolis cornerback Vontae Davis' first interception as a Colt paved the way for another Indianapolis scoring drive. Running back Vick Ballard got things going with a 20-yard run and finished off the touchdown drive with a one-yard score. The drive began at the Houston 39-yard line after Davis ran underneath a Matt Schaub pass attempt to haul in the interception and return it 26 yards. Vinatieri added the extra point. Colts 14, Texans 6
THIRD QUARTER (9:25 remaining)
Houston started off the second half converting three third downs and running back Arian Foster scoring from 13 yards out. The Texans got a chunk of production from Johnson on the drive and the Pro Bowler now has eight catches for 88 yards on the afternoon. Graham connected on the extra point. Colts 14, Texans 13
THIRD QUARTER (5:22 remaining)
The Texans took their first lead of the afternoon behind another 37-yard field goal by Graham. Houston running back Arian Foster sparked the drive with a 39-yard run and the Pro Bowl back is approaching the 100-yard mark. Graham is now eight-of-nine on field goals over the last seven quarters against the Colts. Texans 16, Colts 14
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THIRD QUARTER (5:10 remaining)
Houston's lead lasted just 12 seconds with Colts kick returner Deji Karim taking the kickoff 101 yards for a touchdown. Karim, who has been a productive returner since joining the roster three weeks ago, went untouched right up the middle of his return unit. Vinatieri hit the extra point.Colts 21, Texans 16
FOURTH QUARTER (11:22 remaining)
Big plays and T.Y. Hilton continue to go hand-in-hand. Hilton got behind the defense on a third-and-23 and Luck found the rookie speedster for a 70-yard touchdown. The 70-yard score is the longest on the season for the Colts offense. Vinatieri hit the extra point. Colts 28, Texans 16
