even when the Indianapolis Colts were losing games in September and early October.The Indianapolis Colts' first-year coach insisted that even in an increasingly pass-happy league Ryan Grant Color Rush Jersey , a balanced offense would turn them into real AFC contenders.Over the past 11 weeks, the perfect one-two combination has landed plenty of scoring punches, propelling the Colts into an improbable divisional-round matchup at AFC West champion Kansas City."To me, it's imposing your will on the defense and what that is, is running when you want to run and throwing when you want to throw and being effective at it," Reich said on a conference call Sunday. "Always use the boxer analogy, it's not just throwing punches wildly, it's landing punches."Few teams have delivered more big blows since Indy's 1-5 start.On Saturday, second-year running back Marlon Mack carried 24 times for a career-high 148 yards and one touchdown, leading the Colts (11-6) to a 21-7 victory at Houston. They hurt the league's No. 3 run defense for a playoff franchise-record 200 yards, breaking the previous mark of 191 from their Super Bowl win over Chicago in February 2007.Mack also broke Zack Crockett's single-game franchise playoff rushing record (147), set in 1995.And this week, Mack could again become the feature attraction against a defense that finished No. 27 against the run this season.If all this sounds eerily familiar to longtime Chiefs fans, it's understandable given the previous results.Edgerrin James ran for 125 yards, the third-highest postseason total in franchise history, in a 38-31 victory at Kansas City in January 2004. Joseph Addai rushed for 122 of the Colts' 188 yards, now the third-highest total in franchise history, in a 23-8 wild-card round victory over Kansas City. That win jump-started Indy's title run following the 2006 season."It's December football into January https://www.coltsfanshop.com/Marshall-Faulk-Jersey ," tight end Eric Ebron said Saturday. "That's what we've got to try to do. We pass it when we have to, but we're going to try and dominate the run game and try to dominate the line of scrimmage. That's the kind of football you have to play now."Even if it deviates from Indy's longtime image. With Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck behind center for most of the past two decades, the league-wide perception has largely been the Colts are a pass-first team.But Reich has spent this season trying to find balance, and after a ragged start the Colts have seen the benefits.With All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson, a rookie, solidifying the left side of the offensive line and the emergence of right tackle Braden Smith, another rookie, Indy has been able to run effectively across the field.And when Mack returned after missing four of the first five games because of a hamstring injury, the Colts hit their groove.Mack has run for 1,022 yards and 10 touchdowns in the past 11 games, topping the 100-yard mark five times and establishing career highs in four of those games, including Saturday's. He ran for 119 yards and a score in the Colts' Week 17 playoff-clinching victory at Tennessee and is now the first Indy player since James in 2005 to run for a TD in five consecutive games.Not surprisingly, the Colts have gone 10-1 during that stretch, becoming the third team in league history to make the postseason after starting 1-5 and just the second to win a playoff game. The Chiefs also won a wild-card game in the 2015 season before losing at New England in the divisional round.If the Colts can follow the script once more this weekend, they would become the first 1-5 team to play for a conference championship 鈥?and there's no doubt inside this locker room they can."We know, and Frank has preached this, in any football game whether it's playoff or not, you need to control the line of scrimmage Eric Ebron Jersey ," Luck said."By no means was it perfect (Saturday), but man, the positive run yards we got were great and we know that as an offense when we can do that, we can have a great balance. We can throw it a bunch. We can huddle up. We can go up tempo. We can slow down the tempo. We can run it."97View Gallery Gallery:2018-19 NBA cheerleadersJoe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports | Joe Camporeale Marlon Mack, Colts offensive line pave way to playoff win vs. TexansMarlon Mack sets Colts' playoff record with 148 rushing yards in 21-7 victory over HoustonColts Deliver Record-Setting Rushing Performance To Drop TexansThe Houston Texans went the entire 2018 regular season without allowing a 100-yard rusher. Marlon Mack took care of that in Saturday’s Wild Card Round matchup, however, as the Indianapolis Colts set playoff records for total rushing yards, and Mack ran foColts’ notebook: Marlon Mack sets tone with team record 148 yards | FOX59INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – They’ve been in playoff mode for the better part of two months, and have rolled out their playoff blueprint when it’s mattered the most.Just like in ’95, Colts run to opening road playoff win, head to K.C. | FOX59INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Jim Irsay was having flashbacks. “Everyone remembers ’95,’’ the Indianapolis Colts’ exuberant owner said outside his team’s locker room Saturday evening at NRG Stadium. “We remember other times, big playoff wins on the road. “Couldn’t be happier, man.Colts' Defense Puts The Clamps On Texans In Wild Card WinThe Indianapolis Colts held the Houston Texans to just seven points at home in the opening round of the playoffs, advancing to the Divisional Round, where they'll need to remain strong against the top offensive attack in the NFL Matt Slauson Color Rush Jersey , the Kansas City Chiefs.Colts shedding finesse identity by playing true playoff football – The AthleticThe Colts delivered a physical beating to the Texans, dominating the line of scrimmage on offense and defense en route to their first playoff win since the 2014 season.Colts beat up Texans 21-7 in NFL playoffs, advance to play Chiefs nextA franchise that once embraced finesse football, the Indianapolis Colts have embraced their inner bully and unleashed it on the Houston Texans, 21-7.Kravitz: This is no clown show — the Colts continue to show they’re the real deal – The AthleticThe Colts are on one of those inexplicable and wondrous rolls you sometimes see in sports, and they are enjoying it to no end.Dopey Report Card: Colts stampede the Texans on both offense and defense – The AthleticGrades and takeaways from the Colts' dominate 21-7 win over the Texans.Frank Reich leads Colts to comprehensive beatdown of Texans - NFL.comAfter a thorough beatdown of the Texans on Saturday, Frank Reich's Colts have now won 10 of their last 11 games and face off against the Chiefs in the Divisional Round. Michael Silver writes how Reich's steady hand has been everything Indy could've hoped for.Colts winning a new way, ugly and in the trenchesColts tight end Eric Ebron: 'Why would be scared? I like our chances against anyone' Kansas City is up next on Saturday at 4:35 p.m.Andrew Luck, red-hot Colts dispatch Texans, set sights on Chiefs - Indianapolis Colts Blog- ESPNAfter passing the test of Houston's stingy defense, sizzling Indianapolis now heads to Kansas City to face the NFL's highest-scoring offense.Andrew Luck Leads, Colts Provide Support In Playoff Victory Over Texans | 1070 the FanOn Saturday night in Houston, Andrew Luck did the leading and his teammates supported him to the tune of a 21-7 victory over the Texans.5 Things Learned: Colts Off To Kansas City After Impressive Wild Card Victory | 1070 the FanThe Colts are moving on in the playoffs after their 21-7 victory over the Houston Texans on Saturday afternoon. What was learned from the Colts’ Wild Card victory?Five Things Learned: Colts-Texans (Wild Card Round)What were the main takeaways from Saturday’s Indianapolis Colts 2018 Wild Card Round victory over the Houston Texans? Here are Five Things Learned.Colts beat Texans 21-7 in AFC wild card playoff game | FOX59INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Colts dominated the Texans en route to a 21-7 victory in an AFC wild card game in Houston Saturday afternoon. They'll now take on the top-seeded Chiefs on Saturday at 4:35 p.m. in Kansas City in the divisional round.Indianapolis Colts TE Jack Doyle gives magical party to homeless kidsJack Doyle and several Indianapolis Colts teammates offer an evening to remember for 15 homeless kids staying for now at the Dayspring Center shelter.By The Numbers: Colts 21, Texans 7 (Wild Card Round)Check out a list of stats and notes from the Indianapolis Colts’ 2018 Wild Card Round victory over the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.Snap Counts: Colts-Texans, Wild Card RoundThe Indianapolis Colts and the Houston Texans met up for their 2018 Wild Card Round matchup on Saturday at NRG Stadium. What were the snap counts for the Colts players in the matchup?COLTS MEDIA