Brian Cushing's seen a lot at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Disappointing losses on the field in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Despair as an injured player off the gridiron here in 2012 and 2013.
Anguish again between the lines in 2014.
But most recently, and happily, victory in the last two trips to Indianapolis.
"It's never easy coming up here and winning," the inside linebacker said after the Texans' 22-17 triumph. "Obviously they're always a good opponent and they always piece together a good team, and it's always a very competitive game. But to just grind and do it for all four quarters and get the win, it's huge."
The 8th-year veteran helped lead a defense that hammered away at Andrew Luck and the Colts offense. Luck threw 45 passes, but completed just 24. Twice he was picked off. 13 times he was hit.
Cushing finished second on the team in tackles with six.
But his fourth stop of the day was the 637th of his career, and it pushed him past DeMeco Ryans for the franchise's all-time lead. Cushing, who burst onto the scene with an AP Defensive Rookie of the Year performance in 2009, and a Team MVP 2011, reflected on what the accomplishment means.
"It's a lot of years," Cushing said. "A lot of practices and games, and injuries, too. Just a lot of perseverance. It's something I take a lot of pride in. I'm very happy about it and it's something I'm going to be proud of for a long time. It really does mean a lot to me."
To pass Ryans, his friend and a linebacker he helped patrol the middle of the field with from 2009 to 2011, was extra special.
"A real good friend of mine and just an awesome football player," Cushing said. "DeMeco taught me a lot about football and there's not another guy that I would've wanted to learn from. He was a great mentor and I know he's happy for me. It's something special to me, for sure."
Cushing, who's been nominated for the 2016 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, now has 639 tackles in his career.
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The Texans and Colts squared off at Lucas Oil Stadium in Week 14.
