Improved Defense Leads Colts

The Indianapolis Colts aren’t just winning shootouts anymore. Their defense is winning games too.

The Colts converted two first-quarter fumbles by Houston into 10 points, got two field goals from Mike Vanderjagt and used a late touchdown run by James Mungro as the defense dominated in a 19-3 victory over the Texans on Sunday.

Indianapolis (8-4) won its fourth in a row and stayed one game ahead of Tennessee, setting up the teams’ AFC South showdown next week in Nashville.

But with its usually productive offense bogging down, Indianapolis had to take a different tack -- relying on a vastly improved defense to shut down the expansion Texans (3-9).

Indianapolis allowed 165 yards, forced two turnovers deep in Houston territory, sacked David Carr six times and just missed getting its first shutout since December 1997. Marvin Harrison caught nine passes for 101 yards for the Colts and tied Raymond Berry’s franchise record for career receptions (631). Harrison also had his fourth consecutive 100-yard game.

However, Peyton Manning passed for only 190 yards, completing 15 of 28 attempts, and two-time NFL rushing leader Edgerrin James was limited to 65 yards in 20 carries and sat out the final few series after irritating his injured right ankle.

The Colts had only 267 total yards.