On Monday morning at the Methodist Training Center, the Texans practiced for the first time since last Wednesday.

In his last start at Reliant Stadium, left the field blowing kisses to cheering fans after running for the winning score in overtime.

"I think the bigger the game, the more important it is to him," Texans middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans said.

Vince Young remains a major work-in-progress as an NFL-worthy passer, but his scrambling skills can cover up a lot of other deficiencies.

Mario Williams has already earned the nickname "Super Mario" among Houston Texans fans.

Casey missed the Indianapolis game after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. "If comes out today and fine, I think all systems would be go," coach Gary Kubiak said about playing Monday against Tennessee.

The Texans have had tough losses in their history, but Sunday's setback to the Colts at Lucas Oil Field 20-17 may have been their toughest.

The Houston Texans find themselves in an unfamiliar position nine games into the season.

Trailing 13-0, the Texans had been dominated by the Indianapolis defense. It was the Texans ' fifth possession, and the offense finally got a first down and crossed midfield.

Houston had a chance for its first single-season, four-game winning streak on Sunday against the Colts.

The Texans had the Colts right where they wanted them. Kicker Kris Brown lined up for a 42-yard field goal with one second left in the game Sunday.

Linebacker DeMeco Ryans shook his head. He thought the Texans' defensive strategy against Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts, who entered Sunday's 20-17 victory averaging a little more than 28 points per game, was sound, focusing on turnovers to provide the offense with a short field.

Although Tom Brady would likely get some votes, Peyton Manning is the major bane of the Texans' existence because of the AFC South thing.

That's how many times the Houston Texans have beaten the Colts. When the Texans visit Indianapolis on Sunday, they will carry a 1-13 mark against the Colts since Houston joined the NFL as its most recent expansion team in 2002.

Houston's defense has a new attitude. Some might call it confidence, but the Texans prefer to call it something else.

It's hard to imagine a new defensive coordinator getting off to a worse start than Frank Bush.

Make sure you check back in this evening as I will have some film study including a cool wrinkle to the zone scheme that helped Ryan Moats gain 14 yards and I'll also have a film study session that shows you how the Jets snuffed out the Dolphins "Wildcat" offensive sets.

Because today is Halloween, Texans coach Gary Kubiak watched a horror film. It was the Texans' 24-21 loss to Buffalo in 2006, Kubiak's first season as coach.

Today is Halloween, so fullback Vonta Leach appeared on the practice field in a skin-tight, all-red outfit.

What do they all have in common? They are the only quarterbacks in NFL history to throw for 300 yards in their NFL debut.