Read More: Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans

The Indianapolis Colts are actually moving up some of the weekly power rankings. Not only did they upset the division rival Tennessee Titans a couple week ago, they went ahead and beat the division winners, the Houston Texans on Saturday. On top of all of that, they looked good doing it. This is all nothing more than proof that the NFL does not and has never made any bit of sense whatsoever. It’s odd to see a 13-loss team suddenly winning games, but at the very least, they’re now moving up the rankings.

ESPN, for instance, bumps the Colts up one spot:

31. A painful/annoying week ahead for players and coaches dealing with the world asking them if they really want to win. (Kuharsky)

It’s also entertaining to see Kuharsky so obviously silenced by this, that nothing about the Colts themselves is actually written in the spot to give reasoning as to why the Colts are ranked there. Either way, that’s where they fall, ahead of just the lowly St. Louis Rams.

Feel free to leave your comments below.

Even though they won two games in a row, the Indianapolis Colts can still secure the first overall pick in the NFL Draft if they lose their final game. They defeated the Houston Texans 19-16 on Thursday, December 22. However, the team is still on track to earn that first pick. Many expect that pick to be Stanford Quarterback Andrew Luck. Over the years, the Colts franchise has had a checkered relationship with the number one pick. Here is a look at the top overall picks in Colts history.

George Shaw

Shaw was drafted first overall in 1955. He spent four seasons with the Colts and another four with various teams. He made 17 starts in his first two seasons with the Colts at quarterback. He only made 12 starts in the rest of his career after that.

Bubba Smith

Smith was chosen first overall in 1967. He was not a Hall of Fame player but he did have a nice career in the NFL. He spent five years with the Colts and reached the Pro Bowl two times. He was also part of a Super Bowl winning team. Smith is remembered as one of the more popular defensive linemen in the NFL.

John Elway

Elway had a Hall of Fame career and is regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks in league history. Unfortunately, he never played a down for the Colts. Elway refused to play for the team out of college and was traded to the Denver Broncos.

Jeff George

George came out of college with a lot of hype. When the Colts selected him first overall, the hope was the he would be a franchise quarterback. But in his four seasons with the team, George never quite lived up to the billing. He did have a long NFL career as a journeyman but never really did enough to make his pick warranted.

Steve Emtman

Emtman was a much hyped defensive lineman when the Colts took him first overall. He was chosen after a strong college career in Washington. After three disastrous years with the Colts, his time was done there. He spent three more years in the league. Emtman had just five sacks in his three seasons with the Colts.

Peyton Manning

There is no question that Manning has been a huge hit as the top overall pick. The Colts chose him in 1998 over Ryan Leaf and they have never looked back. He is on track to break passing record and also brought the team a Super Bowl title. Manning will go down as one of the greatest ever.

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There is the quick update of the day.

In week 6, I ran the table with a perfect 3-0 mark with my picks for the AFC South division and I was in position to accomplish the feat again in week 7. As predicted, the New Orleans Saints beat up on the Indianapolis Colts and the Houston Texans defeated the Tennessee Titans. With the Jacksonville Jaguars playing against the Baltimore Ravens, I figured another perfect week was in the bag. However, the Jaguars played very well defensively and beat the Ravens 12-7. Despite being in a state of disbelief, I have to put it behind me and look ahead to week 8, where all four teams in the division will face each other.

Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans:

Both teams are coming off disappointing losses from last week. With first place on the line in the division, the Titans were defeated at home by the Texans 41-7 while the Colts were completely dominated by the Saints, to the tune of 62-7. Everyone figured the Colts would be a different team without Peyton Manning(notes) under center, but to lose a game by 55 points is just unacceptable.

The Colts have yet to win a game this season and they will face a Titans’ team that will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss at home. Simply put, the Titans should win big in this one and maybe Chris Johnson will finally have that big game that everyone has been waiting for. Maybe.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans:

The Jaguars made me look bad last week to say the least. I gave them absolutely no shot against the Ravens but they proved me wrong. I guess anything is possible when you hold a team to -1 passing yards in the first half. Despite a decent showing against Baltimore, I think the Texans are more than capable of moving the ball efficiently against a Jaguars’ defense that has been average at best this year.

Arian Foster(notes) caught and ran for over 100 yards against the Titans last week and I think it’s safe to say, he will have another good game against Jacksonville. Look for the Texans to win their second straight game against a divisional opponent.

James Tillman is a resident of the Chicago-land area who has been watching NFL games for over 20 seasons. For interesting discussions about the NFL, NBA and MLB, follow on him on Twitter @jtillman9693.

Sources:

Week 8 Picks and Predictions

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Read More: Derrick Ward (RB – HOU), Tim Bulman (DE – HOU), Anthony Gonzalez (WR – IND), Jamey Richard (G – IND), Steve Slaton (RB – HOU), Arian Foster (RB – HOU), Jerry Hughes (DE – IND), Thomas Austin (G – HOU), Kevin Thomas (DB – IND), Ben Tate (RB – HOU), Blair White (WR – IND), Brandon Harris (CB – HOU), Darren Evans (RB – IND), T.J. Yates (QB – HOU), Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans, Sep 11, 2011 1:00 PM EDT

Houston Texans running back Arian Foster will be inactive for today’s game against the Indianapolis Colts. The Texans announced the news moments ago via Twitter.

Derrick Ward will start in place of Foster today.

The Colts allowed an average of 127 rushing yards per game last year. In the preseason this year, they allowed more than 146 yards per game, the third worst of any team.

Ben Tate will backup Ward. Steve Slaton is expected to see some action on third-downs.

The other inactive players for the Texans today include: QB T.J. Yates, CB Brandon Harris, CB Roc Carmichael, G Thomas Austin, T Derek Newton and DE Tim Bulman. The Texans are at home today against a Peyton Manning-less Indianapolis Colts team. The Colts’ other inactive players include: WR Blair White, WR Anthony Gonzalez, DB Kevin Thomas, RB Darren Evans, OG Jamey Richard, DE Jerry Hughes.

For more perspective on Arian Foster, visit SBNation’s Houston Texans site, Battle Red Blog. For more on the Indianapolis Colts, visit SBNation’s Colts site Stampede Blue. 

That’s all for today.

Read More: Peyton Manning (QB – IND), Indianapolis Colts

The surgeons who performed Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning’s third neck operation in 19 months say the operation ”very well, without complication” and that the prognosis on his recovery is good, the Associated Press reports.

Los Angeles-based father and son doctors Robert Watkins Sr. and Robert Watkins Jr. of Watkins Spine performed the procedure at Marina Del Rey Hospital.

Manning underwent a procedure to repair a bulging disk in his neck at Northwestern Memorial in Chicago on May 23. That procedure, his second in 15 months, was expected to have a six-to-eight week recovery time. Thursday’s procedure, a “single level anterior fusion” will keep the four-time league MVP out for two-to-three months, and could sideline Manning for the entire 2011 season.

The Colts had already ruled Manning out for this Sunday’s season opener against the Houston Texans, ending Manning’s 227-game consecutive start streak. Veteran Kerry Collins was coaxed out of retirement during training camp and be the first quarterback other than Manning to start in the regular season since 1997. Despite the grim prognosis of Manning’s availability this season, the Colts are not ready to end Manning’s season.

“Rehabilitation from such surgery is typically an involved process,” the Colts official statement on Manning read. “Therefore, there will be no estimation of a return date at this time.  We will keep Peyton on the active roster until we have a clearer picture of his recovery process.”

For more reaction on the suddenly Manning-less Colts, visit Stampede Blue.

Gotta run!.

The last game Indianapolis Colts quarterback Kerry Collins played in, he completed 70 percent of his passes for 300 yards, two touchdowns and a passer rating of 111.1. Those are strong numbers.

Too bad he’s not going against the Colts defense this week.

Collins’ two best games as a member of the Tennessee Titans last season were against the Colts. Oddly, he completed an identical 28 of 39 passes in each game. He had a combined 544 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. So there’s relatively recent evidence that Collins can still deliver the goods.

Further, the Houston Texans – Indy’s opening-day opponent on Sunday in Houston – ranked dead last in pass defense a year ago. All hope may not be lost, even with Peyton Manning sidelined.

“I feel comfortable with the offense,” Collins said. “I feel like I’ve come a long way in a short time since I’ve been here. I’ve really buckled down and grinded on it. Certainly, I’ve got a lot to learn, but as far as my comfort level, it’s pretty high”.

Collins, 38, became the likely starter at quarterback for the Colts when the team announced Monday that Manning is doubtful to play for the first time in his career. Manning is recovering from neck surgery and his rehabilitation has slowed, the team said.

Collins joined the Colts two weeks ago, and played in the final preseason game, a win at Cincinnati. He didn’t put up great numbers (5-of-10 passing for 45 yards) but he also played without starters Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Pierre Garcon and Joseph Addai.

“We had only had three practices up until then, and I think he’s done a good job of working and learning the offense,” Colts center Jeff Saturday said. “I can’t imagine trying to learn something as complicated as quickly as he has. He did a great job and put the ball where it needed to be. There are little things that we need to clean up, but other than that, I’ve got full confidence that if he’s the guy, we’ll be ready.”

Colts coach Jim Caldwell has known Collins for 20 years. The two were at Penn State when Collins was a player and Caldwell was the quarterbacks coach. So there’s a comfort level and rapport between them that has returned in their reunion.

Caldwell feels this week of practice should give Collins a dose of confidence heading into Sunday’s game.

“I don’t expect him to be perfect,” Caldwell said. “We have to have some other guys step up and give him some assistance here and there, which we have a lot of guys who can do that, and I think he’ll be fine.”

Collins won’t likely have the Colts’ full weapons at his disposal, as receiver Anthony Gonzalez is not expected to play and receiver Austin Collie is questionable. It’s also uncertain whether receiver Blair White will be available.

But Collins will have Wayne, a good place to start. The two have talked and no hard feelings remain over Wayne’s comments supporting Curtis Painter when Collins was signed. Collins will also call on Clark, Garcon and Addai – key players who did not join him on the first-team offense in the Cincinnati preseason game.

“Obviously, the more reps I can get the better,” Collins said. “I’ve worked in a situation before where it does come down to the latter part of the week. To know sooner rather than later will definitely help my mindset going throughout the week.”