Find Running Game vs. Texans

The result was pretty much what everyone expected (outside of Houston, that is) when the hosted the Texans Sunday afternoon. What was discovered along the way to a 43-24 victory, however, was the pulse of a Colts running game many feared dead since the departure of Edgerrin James.For the Dallas Cowboys jersey
first time in six games, counting the four in preseason, the team was able to gain rushing yardage worthy of a championship-caliber football team. In all, Indianapolis backs totaled a respectable 125 yards from scrimmage, bringing some balance to an offensive attack heavy on passing yards in the team's season opener.Dominic Rhodes struggled a bit overall Sunday, averaging only 2.6 yards per carry, but he did get in the end zone from two yards out. He also gained tough ground when needed to keep the chains moving, and added two receptions for 22 yards.Rookie Joseph Addai fared even better, racking up 104 total yards (5.1 yards per carry rushing). He scored on a 21-yard pass play from quarterback Peyton Manning in the first quarter that -- for a minute -- had the Colt faithful forgetting about that guy who now plays in Arizona.The optimism for the team's rushing attack should be tempered somewhat in that its first success this season came against Houston, a team whose defense, despite adding No. 1 overall draft choice Mario Williams in April, is still a year or two away from respectability. Throw in that the game was Indy's home opener, and it's not hard to see why the backs ran the ball pretty well.The true measure of the team's backfield platoon of Rhodes and Addai will come this Sunday at 1 p.m., when the Jacksonville Jaguars visit the RCA Dome. The 2-0 Jags are coming off a dominating defensive performance against the 2005 Super Bowl champion Steelers, one in which they held Pittsburgh to a mere 26 rushing yards.Despite some fantasy gossip early Monday, hinting that Joseph Addai would see an increased workload out of the backfield, coach Tony Dungy said the platoon situation would continue. "Those guys are doing fine," he stated. "As 2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
I've said before, one guy may be hot one game. It may be a different type of game. Joseph had the better stats yesterday, but Dom played really well."When looking back at last year's rushing results versus Jacksonville (3.4 yards per carry), it's safe to say the Colts will need strong efforts from both backs Sunday to keep the positive momentum in the ground game going