After Sunday's 22-17 win in Indianapolis, head coach Bill O'Brien's team improved to 4-0 in the division and a solidified their position at the top of the AFC South.
In a hard-fought victory with three forced turnovers, five field goals, big third-down plays, and key stops on defense, there wasn't just one game ball to be awarded.
"I'm going to give the game ball to the whole team," O'Brien said. "I know that sometimes people look at that as a copout but I think for a number of different reasons, for this organization, for the guys in that locker room, for the work that they put in, and I think that they all deserve a game ball. I am going to give a special game ball, though, to Brian Cushing because of the record that he broke and what that record means to him and to his family and to his teammates."
Cushing had six tackles in the game, bringing his career total to 639 to become the leading tackler in Texans history. The eighth-year veteran inside linebacker passed DeMeco Ryans (636) for the most career tackles.
"I just think, in this league, to be able to break a team record like that, the things that he's had to overcome in his career, the injuries, to be able to come back and be as productive a player and one of the top leaders of our team says a lot about him," O'Brien said. "I think everything that he does for the city of Houston, on the field, off the field, great guy, definite captain for us and just congratulations to Brian."
Cushing has led the Texans in tackles three times during his career (2009, 2011, 2015), earning All-Pro accolades following the 2009 and 2011 seasons. Cushing was named the Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year after posting 133 tackles and four sacks in 2009.
On Monday, Cushing was announced as one of eight finalists for the 2016 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award.
The Texans and Colts squared off at Lucas Oil Stadium in Week 14.
