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Texans' top plays: Rosencopter

James Lang/USA TODAY Sports

This is one of three nominations for the most memorable play in Houston Texans history. On Monday, we featured J.J. Watt's pick-six against the Cincinnati Bengals, which helped propel the franchise to its first playoff win, and tomorrow we'll feature Billy Miller's touchdown against the Cowboys in 2002, the franchise's first touchdown, leading to its first win. Please vote for your choice as the Texans' most memorable play.

Score: Colts 31, Texans 27

Date: Oct. 5, 2008 Site: Reliant Stadium

Some studies have shown that the human brain tends to remember negative events more than positive ones. Naturally, the most memorable moments in a franchise's history won't always be the happiest ones. For a 13-year-old franchise that has had only three winning seasons, that's especially true.

And so here we are with the Rosencopter as a nominee for one of the most memorable plays in franchise history.

It took a 21-point fourth quarter for the Indianapolis Colts to rally for this Week 5 road divisional win. It started with the Rosencopter.

The Texans were up 27-17 with 3:54 remaining in the game. Quarterback Sage Rosenfels had a simple task: gain a few yards and slide, bringing the game closer to its conclusion. Instead Rosenfels tried to hurdle a Colts defender. He didn't quite make it. Grasping the football in one hand, Rosenfels' body spun around in the air like the propeller atop a helicopter.

He fumbled the ball, Colts linebacker Gary Brackett grabbed it, returning the fumble 68 yards for a touchdown.

The Texans dropped to 0-4 to start a season they finished 8-8.

"For one play I made a really stupid mistake, and that started the downward spiral," Rosenfels told reporters at the time. "I feel like I let those guys down."