Associated Press
For the first time since 1990 and the third time overall, the NFL has two 10-0 teams, the Colts and Saints. Even juicier, Indianapolis has won 19 in a row, two short of the league mark set by New England early last season.
And even better ó at least for the Colts ó is their opponent today, the Houston Texans. To say Indy has owned Houston since the Texans were born in 2002 is like saying Peyton Manning ain’t a bad quarterback.
The Colts are 14-1 against the Texans, and their victory earlier this month, 20-17, was typical: Manning and his mates made the big plays and Houston didn’t, including Kris Brown missing a 42-yard field goal as time expired.
Can Indy sweep Houston within a three-week span?
“It’s different. I don’t remember the last time we played a team this close to back to back,” Manning said. “They had a bye, so they’ll be fresh. We’re coming off two tough, emotional games, so it will be a challenge.”
Maybe more of a challenge for the Texans, no? Like, say, climbing Everest?
“It’s going to be a big test for us,” star receiver Andre Johnson said. “We played them close the last few times we’ve played them and hopefully Sunday we can get over the hump and get a win.”
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Also today ó in an abbreviated schedule thanks to three Thanksgiving Day matchups ó it’s Miami at Buffalo, Seattle at St. Louis, Tampa Bay at Atlanta, Cleveland at Cincinnati, Washington at Philadelphia, Chicago at Minnesota, Arizona at Tennessee, Kansas City at San Diego, Jacksonville at San Francisco, and Pittsburgh at Baltimore.
On Monday night, New England is at New Orleans in the Patriots’ latest opportunity to spoil an unbeaten season.
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Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will miss tonight’s game at Baltimore because of a concussion, an unforeseen development that forces the inexperienced Dennis Dixon to start one of the Super Bowl champions’ biggest games this season.
Dixon, the former Oregon star, has spent most of the season as the No. 3 quarterback running the Steelers’ scout team during practice. He has thrown only one NFL pass in two seasons, but must play because both Roethlisberger and backup Charlie Batch were hurt during a 27-24 overtime loss to Kansas City last week.
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Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith are among 25 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Former Raiders receiver Tim Brown and Cardinals and Rams defensive back Aeneas Williams were the only other players selected in their first year of eligibility.
Rice and Smith hold some of the NFL’s biggest records. Smith is the league’s all-time leading rusher with 18,355 yards for the Cowboys and Cardinals from 1990-2004. Rice is the all-time leading receiver with 1,549 catches for 22,895 yards with the 49ers, Raiders and Seahawks from 1985-2004.