HOUSTON - The Colts couldn't back into the AFC South title, so Mike Vanderjagt kicked them in.
Vanderjagt hit his league-record 41st consecutive field goal, a 43-yarder as time expired Sunday, leading Indianapolis to a 20-17 victory over Houston to clinch the division.
"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 host Denver on Sunday in the first round of the playoffs. The Broncos, even without star running back Clinton Portis, won 31-17 Dec.21 at Indianapolis.
The Colts were in trouble down the stretch, trailing 17-10 when Vanderjagt quick-kicked on a fake field-goal try, pinning the Texans at their 4-yard line. Three plays later, David Carr threw a tipped ball to Indianapolis safety Donald Strickland.
Peyton Manning converted on the next play, a 5-yard strike to a leaping Brandon Stokley with 3:55 left.
Houston's 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 the Bucs. Running back Edgerrin James, who ran for 171 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries, said the Colts kept their poise even when they trailed by two touchdowns in the third quarter.
Vanderjagt, whose streak began last season, finished the season 37-of-37. He eclipsed Gary Anderson's record of 40 straight field goals set from 1997-98 with San Francisco and Minnesota.
He had the winning, record-breaking ball tucked in his locker after the game, but he's not ready to memorialize it.
"I'm going to keep it until next season, when 42 comes," Vanderjagt said. "Then I'll throw it away."
Manning overcame a slow start to go 26-of-38 for 220 yards with one interception and the touchdown to Stokley, who had nine catches for 67 yards.
Houston finished its second season with a four-game skid, but was optimistic after taking Tennessee and Indianapolis down to the wire in the final two games. The Texans' last seven home games were decided by less than a touchdown.
"We've had our share of close games," Texans coach Dom Capers said. "It's a step-by-step process. You wish you could snap your fingers, but it's not that way."
Houston's Domanick Davis ran for 99 yards and two scores.
