Folks around the Houston area won't be quick to use the word "disastrous" when it comes to the exploits of a football team.

The destruction and unspeakable tragedy of Hurricane Ike fits that description much more appropriately, especially among those who are still picking up the pieces from that awful event.

That said, whatever the best word is for a football-related calamity of the highest order, it should be applied to what happened to the Houston Texans last Sunday.

The Texans were moments away from their first win of the 2008 season, what was to be a message-sending, double-digit romp over the perennial division-winner Colts in what had become the team's home opener due to the impact of Hurricane Ike on the NFL schedule.

Houston led the game, 27-10, with fewer than five minutes to play. A Peyton Manning touchdown pass got the Colts within 10 at the 4:04 mark, but that TD looked to be meaningless when the Texans recovered the ensuing onsides kick.

Just then, backup Texans QB Sage Rosenfels, subbing for the ailing Matt Schaub (viral infection) fumbled while attempting to leap for extra yardage just seconds later, and Colts linebacker Gary Brackett returned the errant football 68 yards for a touchdown.

Rosenfels fumbled again on a sack by the Colts' Robert Mathis with under three minutes to play, and Manning and Indianapolis cashed the miscue in for a game- winning touchdown in what became a 31-27 stunner.

The game marked the first time in league history that a team had recovered from a 17-point deficit to win in the final five minutes of regulation.

It also took the Texans, who entered this season with high expectations after last year's encouraging 8-8 campaign, even further off their playoff course.

Looking to continue Houston's misery this week will be the Miami Dolphins, who come to Reliant Stadium seeking to keep an impressive winning streak alive.

Miami has won a modest two consecutive games, but since those wins came over the participants in last year's AFC Championship - New England (38-13) and San Diego (17-10) - the Dolphins and their long-frustrated fan base have begun to think big again.

The Fins - who have already surpassed their entire win total from the 2007 season - enter Week 6 a game back of Buffalo (4-1) and New England (3-1) in the AFC East loss column.

SERIES HISTORY

Houston has won all three meetings between the Texans and Dolphins all-time, claiming a 22-19 home win in Week 5 of last season, a 21-20 decision at Dolphin Stadium in 2003 and a 17-15 tilt at Reliant Stadium in Week 4 of the 2006 campaign. Miami is looking for its first win in Houston since 1996, when they beat the Oilers, 23-20, at the Astrodome.

Texans head coach Gary Kubiak is 2-0 in his career against Miami. The Dolphins' Tony Sparano will be meeting both Kubiak and the Dolphins for the first time as a head coach.

WHEN THE DOLPHINS HAVE THE BALL

The Dolphins' rise to prominence has coincided neatly with the return to the starting lineup of running back Ronnie Brown (286 rushing yards, 6 TD, 7 receptions). Brown has been exceptional during the Fins' two-game win streak, totaling 238 yards on 41 carries (5.8 yards per attempt) with five touchdowns scored and one TD pass. His emergence has kept the pressure off of quarterback Chad Pennington (817 passing yards, 3 TD, 1 INT), who has been a steady 39- of-49 (79.6 percent) for 454 yards and a touchdown without an interception in the two victories. Ted Ginn, Jr. (15 receptions) and Greg Camarillo (17 receptions, 1 TD) have begun to come into their own at the wide receiver positions, while tight end Anthony Fasano (14 receptions, 2 TD) has developed into a frequent option for Pennington over the middle. Camarillo posted a team-best 68 receiving yards and scored a touchdown against the Dolphins last week.

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