HOUSTON — Headed for another early-season loss, Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts staged a stunning comeback thanks to a colossal collapse by the Houston Texans.
Manning’s late-game poise — and the lack of it by Houston quarterback Sage Rosenfels — helped the Colts score 21 points in a late span of 2:10. Two touchdowns came thanks to fumbles by Rosenfels, then Indianapolis intercepted Rosenfels’ last-ditch comeback attempt for a 31-27 win Sunday.
Manning threw two touchdown passes, connecting with Reggie Wayne on a 5-yarder with 1:54 remaining for the decisive points.
Linebacker Gary Brackett returned a fumble by Rosenfels 68 yards for a score in between Manning’s TD throws.
“All of our team played great football today, played winning football, and I made those mistakes that cost football games,” Rosenfels said. “There is no reason we should have lost that game.”
But they did, in incredible fashion.
Rookie Tom Santi caught the other late score, a 7-yarder to bring the Colts (2-2) within 27-17 with 4:04 to go. It was his first NFL touchdown.
Backup Rosenfels — playing for Matt Schaub, who was ill — had the winless Texans (0-4) ahead by 17 points before losing two fumbles and throwing an interception. Texans fans had wanted to see Schaub replaced all season, and Rosenfels was nearly flawless for three quarters. Then came one of the worst meltdowns in the history of the young franchise.
After Manning found Santi for his touchdown, Indianapolis attempted an onside kick, but Houston recovered. On the next drive, Rosenfels ran right at defensive back Marlin Jackson, who upended him and knocked the ball loose. Brackett ran it in to make it 27-24.
“For one play, I made a really stupid mistake and that started the downward spiral,” Rosenfels said. “I feel like I let those guys down.”
On the ensuing drive, Robert Mathis sacked Rosenfels and stripped the ball at the Houston 19. Manning hit a leaping Wayne in the corner of the end zone, and the call was upheld after review.
Houston got the ball back with almost two minutes remaining, but Rosenfels was intercepted by Melvin Bullitt.
Mario Williams had two sacks as he stayed in Manning’s face most of the day.
“I’ve never seen anything in my life like that,” Williams said of the fourth quarter. “For that to happen, I can’t even remember seeing anything like that growing up. It’s just devastating.”
