"Joseph Addai is home for the holidays, back in Houston.

"It's nice because I get to see my folks,'' the Indianapolis Colts' veteran running back said. "I get a chance to go to my momma's house and just be lazy, lay around a little bit.

"It always feels good to go home, see my mom, my brothers, my sisters, whoever's in town.''

The mini-reunion was on the docket for Saturday evening, after the Colts arrived in Houston for an AFC South clash with the Texans at Reliant Stadium and before meetings back at the team hotel.

As much as Addai will enjoy kicking back on a sofa in Joyce's living room -- his mom's home is about 15 minutes from Reliant Stadium -- he realizes he's on a business trip.

The Colts are in Houston in search of an 11th straight win to open the season and a 20th consecutive regular-season victory. With a win over the Texans and a Jacksonville loss at San Francisco later in the day, they would clinch their sixth AFC South title in seven years and an eighth consecutive playoff berth.

"The good part of it is being able to go home,'' said Addai, an all-state quarterback at Houston's Sharpstown High School. "But as far as trying to do something extra playing against the Texans, it's just another game you've got to bring your 'A' game.''

Addai usually does against Houston. He has averaged 74.1 yards per game and 4.6 yards per attempt in seven appearances against the Texans, well above his averages in his other 46 regular-season appearances. Two of his seven career 100-yard games have come against Houston.

Raw numbers, though, don't begin to tell Addai's value to the Colts. That's especially true this season: averages of 51.4 yards per game, 3.5 per attempt.

"The numbers don't show it, but he's done a great job,'' team president Bill Polian said. "He's running hard. He's running downhill. He's getting what's there, and more.''

Addai is reluctant to talk about himself, preferring to focus on the team.

"That's what it comes down to,'' he said. "You do your part to help the team.''"