Published: November 26, 2009 10:34 pm         

Quick rematch: Colts travel to Houston looking to stay perfect

INDIANAPOLIS — Can National Football League teams change what they do in just three weeks?

That’s just one of the big questions facing both the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans heading into Sunday’s AFC South clash at Reliant Stadium.

Indianapolis and Houston played Nov. 8 at Lucas Oil Stadium with the Colts pulling out a 20-17 win. Texans placekicker Kris Brown missed a 42-yard field goal as time expired that allowed the home team to come away with the victory.

Since that initial meeting, Indianapolis has faced (and defeated) New England and Baltimore. Houston, meanwhile, had a bye week and then dropped a 20-17 decision to divisional opponent Tennessee last week.

Now, with the Colts having an opportunity to clinch the AFC South crown with a win (and a Jacksonville loss to San Francisco), the Texans would like nothing better than to play spoiler and get themselves back in the AFC wildcard hunt.

“I don’t know the last time we played a [divisional] team [again] this close, back-to-back. It’s really unique because they had a bye week after us and a Monday night game. There’s really only one additional game to study. Obviously, you can study a lot from the time we played [against] them,” quarterback Peyton Manning said earlier this week.

“They’ll be fresh. They’ve had a bye week. We’ve had two tough, emotional games. Going down there to Houston is always a tough place to play. We’ve always had close games down there. It will be a challenge. It is a team that we are familiar with, but they’re familiar with us. It’ll come down to who executes better.”

Indianapolis has won its last four games by a combined total of 10 points. Manning expects another close one on Sunday as well. Just don’t say that the Colts have been lucky, or fortunate, to have posted victories the last four weeks.

“That’s not really how I look at it. Guys have made some critical plays at critical times, especially late in the game in the fourth quarter. It’s made a difference in the ballgame,” he said.

“We know games will continue to get tougher as we go down the home stretch. I think our team, overall, needs to play better in order to keep winning.”

I I I

n Injury list — Manning (glute) saw limited work in practice Wednesday and Thursday. He is expected to start Sunday.

“It’s just a little soreness, really,” Colts coach Jim Caldwell said Thursday. “We’re just kind of being careful with it. But he’ll be fine.”

Caldwell added that he wasn’t certain how much Manning would take part in today’s practice.

Rookie quarterback Curtis Painter has been getting practice time with the Colts’ first team offense this week. Painter is now working as the primary backup to Manning since veteran Jim Sorgi continues to nurse a sore right shoulder.

“[Painter] is getting a little bit of work. He’s still got a chance to get a little seasoning. He’s doing fine,” the Colts coach said.

Free safety Antoine Bethea (foot), rookie linebacker Ramon Humber (calf), and wide receiver Reggie Wayne (foot) all practiced on Thursday and are expected to be play against the Texans. Offensive tackle Charlie Johnson (foot) was held out Thursday after seeing limited work a day earlier.

Defensive end Dwight Freeney (abdomen) missed a second day of practice. He is still expected to play on Sunday.

Cornerback Kelvin Hayden (knee) has not been able to practice this week. It had been hoped that Hayden might be able to see some limited work. He has been sidelined since suffering a sprained knee against Seattle on Oct. 4.

Free safety Aaron Francisco (ankle) is not expected to play against the Texans this week. Francisco has missed the last two games.

Defensive end Keyunta Dawson (knee) continues to nurse a sprained knee, which he hurt last week at Baltimore. Dawson is expected to be a game-time decision. He has not practiced the last two days.

Tight end Gijon Robinson (concussion) may be a game-time decision for the Colts. Robinson, who was hurt two weeks ago against New England, saw limited work on Thursday after missing Wednesday’s workout. He did not play last week at Baltimore.

The remainder of the Colts’ Thursday injury report remains the same as the one issued Wednesday.