INDIANAPOLIS – INDIANAPOLIS – It may have been goodbye, but it was a memorable one.

As Reggie Wayne, Jeff Saturday, Robert Mathis and Ryan Diem walked off the field Thursday night, having defeated the AFC South-champion Houston Texas 19-16 in the waning seconds, they did so with the knowledge that they may never play at Lucas Oil Stadium again as members of the Colts. Their contracts expire at the end of the season.

Wayne, one of the most productive receivers in NFL history, bid adieu with the drama of a 1-yard, game-winning touchdown – a leaping catch with 19 seconds remaining, after which he hoisted his arms in the air and got mauled by teammates and TV cameras.

“There are question marks of what could happen in his future,” said quarterback Dan Orlovsky, who completed 23 of 41 passes for 244 yards and the touchdown. “I was thinking if there was a moment where someone needed to make a play, it probably wasn’t going to go anywhere but to him. He deserved the opportunity.”

A 31-yard Neil Rackers field goal had put the Texans up 16-12 with 1:56 remaining in front of 64,159 fans. The Colts then orchestrated a 12-play, 73-yard scoring drive aided by three Houston penalties and a 34-yard pass to Wayne.

“It was as good a catch as I’ve seen in a long time,” said Orlovsky, who had gone through seven years and 18 games in the NFL before getting his first victory Sunday, 27-13 over Tennessee at Lucas Oil Stadium.

“We try not to look back,” Colts coach Jim Caldwell said. “This team has been very good at looking ahead. Today was a pretty special day in this locker room. The guys fought like battle-tested individuals, who have been through a lot in preparation for the games and having toughness in the ballgames. The opposition was just so good tonight … and the guys just stiffened and kept it close and just did a heck of a job.

“I’m not certain I’ve been around a group of guys, especially when things aren’t going well, that will fight you like this group (of Colts).”

There is one more game left in this dismal season – Jan. 1 at Jacksonville – but then free agency will descend, and the Colts could revamp their roster, as well as their coaching staff, after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2001.

It’s unknown if the Colts will retain quarterback Peyton Manning, the 35-year-old four-time MVP, who hasn’t played this season after three neck surgeries in 19 months.

The Colts (2-13) are still in the fray for the top pick in the upcoming NFL draft and would get it with a loss at Jacksonville. That could offer the chance to take star Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, and they will have to decide whether to pick up Manning’s $28 million option March 8 or let him become a free agent.

“I think that there is a lot of speculation about the draft pick and all those sorts of things,” said owner Jim Irsay, whose team is two years removed from playing in the Super Bowl. “But I think what people have to realize is this: Is the likes of Peyton Manning to be seen again? It is not coming, if ever, for a very, very long time. You’re not going to go in this draft or the next draft and get another Peyton Manning.”

Wayne, a 33-year-old, five-time Pro Bowler, had eight catches for 106 yards Thursday, extending his streak of regular-season games with at least one catch to 95. With 854 catches, he surpassed Rod Smith for 18th on the NFL’s all-time list.

“We kept fighting. We kept playing hard,” Orlovsky said. “The guys up front (on the offensive line) were picking up some pressures being thrown out at us. A guy (Wayne) who has made so many great plays for this organization, and in this building, he made another one tonight.”

Saturday, 36, is a five-time Pro Bowl center, while Diem, 32, has been an 11-year starter at tackle and guard.

The Colts’ offense was outgained 320 yards to 283 yards by the Texans (10-5), who got 158 rushing yards and a touchdown on Arian Foster’s 23 carries. He scored after Orlovsky fumbled on a Brian Cushing sack during the first play from scrimmage. Rackers made three field goals, his longest from 44 yards.

“Beyond that (Orlovsky fumble), we were pretty good at protecting the ball and our defense played extremely well,” Caldwell said. “Foster is a tough guy to stop completely. All in all, our guys did a nice job. It was a bend-but-don’t-break (night) and we stopped them in the red zone and made them take field goals.”

Mathis, 30, a three-time Pro Bowl defensive end, had two sacks, giving him 8½ for the season. He ranks second in franchise history with 82½, behind only Dwight Freeney’s 101½.

Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri made 4 of 5 field goals – his longest was from 47 yards – but he missed one late in the first half that snapped his streak of 33 consecutive successful kicks in the regular season at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Joseph Addai rushed 19 times for 59 yards for Indianapolis. Teammate Antoine Bethea had eight solo tackles.

Houston quarterback T.J. Yates, who grew up in Indianapolis, completed 13 of 16 passes for 132 yards. Cushing had seven solo tackles.

jcohn@jg.net