Colts rack up 458 yards, 33 first downs in playoff tuneup

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts are playoff ready.

Just ask the Houston Texans.

Peyton Manning looked sharp, Indy's running game was efficient, the defense forced 3 turnovers and there was no letdown Sunday in what's likely to be the Colts final postseason tuneup. Indy scored on six of its first eight possessions and had 38 consecutive points in a 38-15 rout.

"I think it says a lot about guys taking their jobs seriously and being professional by coming out and getting a win today," Manning said.

The result had little significance to the Colts (13-2), who had already clinched their fifth straight AFC South title, the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye. Instead, Indy was more concerned about working out kinks before it starts defense of its Super Bowl title.

Did they ever.

The Colts had a season-high 458 yards, tied the second-most first downs in a game in franchise history with 33 and three running backs helped produce Indy's first 100-yard rushing day since Thanksgiving night.

All that was accomplished without perennial Pro Bowl receiver Marvin Harrison, who was out for the ninth straight game, and with most of the starters pulled after three quarters.

Manning was his typical self, finishing 28 of 35 for 311 yards with 3 TDs and a rating of 132.3. Joseph Addai, Kenton Keith and Clifton Dawson finally got the Colts' sagging ground game back in sync. Indy ran 31 times for 120 yards, its highest total since Oct. 28.

Reggie Wayne caught 10 passes for 143 yards, and Dallas Clark broke two franchise records. With 6 catches, 2 for TDs, Clark surpassed John Mackey's single-season marks for tight ends in both categories. Clark has 57 catches and 11 TDs. Mackey's bests were 55 receptions and 9 TDs.

"I made the announcement to the team after the game, and I don't think many of them know who John Mackey was," Colts coach Tony Dungy said. "But I remember him, and to me, he's the gold standard, so that's something special."

It wasn't just the Colts offense dominating, either.

Bob Sanders, Matt Giordano and Melvin Bullitt all had interceptions. The Colts defense allowed Houston (7-8) to drive as deep as the Colts 40 only once the first three quarters.