Colts Win Title on Record Kick

The Indianapolis Colts couldn’t back into the AFC South title, so Mike Vanderjagt kicked them in.

Vanderjagt hit his NFL-record 41st consecutive field goal, a 43-yarder as time expired Sunday, leading Indianapolis to a 20-17 victory over the Houston Texans to clinch the AFC South.

“The uprights look pretty big right now,” Vanderjagt said. “I told myself, ‘If you hit it half-decent, it’s going to go in more likely than not.’ Doubt creeps in, but when you are hitting it this well, you kind of realize as long as you keep doing what you’ve been doing, it’s going to go in.”

The Colts play host to Denver in the first round of the playoffs next weekend. The Broncos, even without star running back Clinton Portis, won impressively at Indianapolis last weekend.

The Colts (12-4) were in trouble down the stretch, trailing 17-10 when Vanderjagt quick-kicked on a fake field goal try, pinning the Texans at their four-yard line. Two plays later, David Carr threw a tipped ball right to Indianapolis safety Donald Strickland.

Peyton Manning converted on the next play, a five-yard strike to a leaping Brandon Stokley with 3:55 remaining.

The Texans’ offense faltered, but a holding penalty on a punt return forced the Colts to start the final drive from the 10. Indianapolis drove right back, buoyed by a big third-down catch by Marvin Harrison, to set up Vanderjagt’s winner.

The Colts needed a win to secure their first division title since 1999 because Tennessee beat Tampa Bay on Sunday. Running back Edgerrin James, who ran for 171 yards and a touchdown in 27 carries, said the Colts kept their poise even when they trailed by two touchdowns in the third quarter.

Vanderjagt, whose streak began last year, finished the season 37 of 37. He eclipsed Gary Anderson’s record of 40 consecutive field goals set from 1997-98 with San Francisco and Minnesota.

Houston (5-11) finished its second season with a four-game skid. The Texans’ last seven home games were decided by less than a touchdown.