Colts get kicks from Vanderjagt

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

The Colts earned the No. 3 seed in the AFC and will host sixth-seeded 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) needed a win to secure their first division title since 1999 because Tennessee routed Tampa Bay, 33-13, in Nashville.

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 the Texans by two touchdowns in the third quarter.

"We could have had people cursing each other on the sidelines. That never happened," James said. "The defense gave us a chance, and what better opportunity could Vanderjagt have?"

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. Two plays later, David Carr threw a tipped ball right to Indianapolis safety Donald Strickland. Peyton Manning converted on the next play, a 5-yard strike to a leaping Brandon Stokley with 3:55 remaining.

Indianapolis got the ball back, and buoyed by a big third-down catch by Marvin Harrison, drove to set up Vanderjagt's winner.

Vanderjagt, whose streak began last year, 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.

The Titans, meanwhile, gave themselves the best confidence boost possible by winning with their best player on the sideline, resting his aching legs for the postseason.

Steve McNair dressed but didn't play, and veteran Neil O'Donnell threw two touchdown passes to Derrick Mason in his first start since Sept. 23, 2001. Gary Anderson kicked four field goals as the Titans routed the reeling Buccaneers.

The Colts' victory left Tennessee as the AFC's No. 5 seed, with a trip to Baltimore in the wild-card round next weekend. Baltimore has won the past five games in this series and six of the last seven.

"Off to Baltimore," Titans left guard Zach Piller said as he gave a thumbs-up in the locker room. "Let's go, let's go."

Titans coach Jeff Fisher said McNair could have played, but he chose to avoid risking another injury to a quarterback who already has a strained right calf and a sprained left ankle with a cracked bone spur. McNair played last week at Houston but has not practiced for three straight weeks.

The Titans turned to O'Donnell, the man they cut twice this year for salary cap reasons, but re-signed after backup Billy Volek lacerated his spleen in his only NFL start in place of the injured McNair. O'Donnell finished 18 of 27 for 232 yards.

The loss made Tampa Bay (7-9) the first defending Super Bowl champion with a losing record since Denver in 1999.

Houston (5-11) finished its second season with a four-game skid, but was optimistic after taking AFC South powers 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.