Let the Colts-Patriots hype begin

The Colts have today off before they gear up for another week of pregame buildup and hype for their trip to New England. The Patriots' convincing win over the Vikings on Monday Night Football sets up another classic Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady showdown.

One of the game's subplots, of course, will be the return of kicker Adam Vinatieri, the Patriots' former Super Bowl hero now with the Colts. In my story today, Vinatieri said he expects to hear some cheers and some boos when he returns to Foxboro, Mass. Vinatieri played 10 years with the Patriots.

“It’s one game in 16 games, but I’ll be interested to see (the reaction),” he said. “A few people might give me a high-five type of thing, but when the game starts, it is what it is. I expect them to be loud and crazy and yelling against me.”

After losing some key players from last season, the Patriots (6-1) have shown that Brady and coach Bill Belichick remain one of the most dangerous duos in the NFL today.

What else is new? Colts still unbeaten

The good news for the Colts is they proved they could take down one of the NFL's best defenses on the road in their 34-31 win over the Broncos. The bad news -- or at least the challenging news -- is they have to turn around and play at New England this Sunday.

Peyton Manning was simply brilliant again in the Colts win, this time using Reggie Wayne as his main weapon. The Colts are the team to beat in the NFL, if only because of their cool under pressure.

Here's my quick analysis of the latest win:

Passing game: Nearly flawless. In fact, it would have been perfect if Manning hadn't slightly missed Dallas Clark on 3rd-and-1 on the first drive, resulting in a punt. The offensive line did a great job of protecting Manning. He seemed to be forced out of the pocket the fewest times all season. Wayne was spectacular. He's proving worth every bit of the money the Colts used to keep him in No.87.

Running game: Colts coach Tony Dungy plans to stick with the Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai combination, but it seems increasingly clear Addai is the more effective runner.

Pass defense: This area will remain somewhat incomplete until Bob Sanders returns, presuming he does. An emphasis on stopping the run early in the game forced Jake Plummer to pass and he was fairly effective, particularly to Javon Walker. Making Plummer look good was not real encouraging. Dwight Freeney got his first sack (OK, half-a-sack, but it's better than nothing.)

Run defense: Where do we start? The Colts allowed 227 yards (180 in the second half). Dungy took the blame, saying the Broncos made adjustments and he failed to make a counter adjustment. I'm beginning to think the make-up of the Colts' defense won't allow for many "adjustments" at this point and they may have to live with the glaring deficiency and hope for the best.

Special teams: I believe this game illustrated why the team signed Adam Vinatieri. Four field goals, including the game-winner, and five touchbacks on kickoffs.

Coaching: Dungy's greatest asset is his ability to keep his players poised on the sideline, no matter what the score. I didn't care for the trick play with Addai throwing to Wayne, although Wayne made a great move by interfering to prevent a possible interception.

The more the Colts change, the more they stay the same. They'll go as far this season as the offense will take them.

One final note: Dungy said today that Montae Reagor has been released from the hospital after recovering from surgery following his automobile accident. The Colts players dedicated Sunday's win to Reagor, who came to Indy from Denver in 2003.

Sanders won't play in Denver

The Colts' official injury report today downgraded safety Bob Sanders' status from "questionable" to "out." That's the bad news. The good new is the Colts are playing against Jake Plummer tomorrow, not Tom Brady. Another week on the road without Sanders could spell trouble, however.

Still-depleted Colts ready for Denver

Bob Sanders is apparently the new Corey Simon, in that we keep hearing that he'll return soon, and it keeps getting pushed back. Sanders did not practice on Friday and it now seems more than questionable whether he'll play on Sunday. While the secondary has performed well without him, his presence is missed. Sanders brings an intimidation, not to mention some bone-jarring tackling skills, to the defense. Players like Nick Harper (right) will have to step up again. Marlin Jackson might be called upon for safety duty, since the Colts already lost Mike Doss for the season to a torn ACL.

"It's a long season and you never know who's going to be in and who's going to be out," Harper said. "When you have backup guys come in and contribute just like the guys in front of them, that's always going to be huge."

As for playing in Denver on Sunday, the Broncos' home-field advantage can't be ignored, but the Colts have shown they can often play as well on the road as at home. They'll be prepared for anything, as I wrote in my column today.

The environment can't be any more electric than the ones the Colts dealt with against the Giants and Jets in the Meadowlands already this year. It might be colder. It might not be. But if the Colts perform adequately on defense and well on special teams, they should come home 7-0.

Who's stronger, who's weaker?

Everyone's talking about the matchup between the high-powered Colts offense and the hard-hitting Broncos defense. But this game could come down to which team's weakness gets exploited, as I wrote about in my column today:

Isn’t it possible the pivotal Colts (6-0) vs. Broncos (5-1) factors will be the weaknesses? Isn’t it possible, if not likely, that the game will hinge on a poor pass under pressure by Denver quarterback Jake Plummer or a familiar gaping hole in the Colts’ run defense?

These are two good NFL teams, but, like every team in the NFL, they’re flawed. Whose primary imperfection makes it more vulnerable, Denver’s plight of Plummer or Indianapolis’ bending on the verge of breaking defense? Like the game itself, it’s a close call.

Also, check out the breakdowns on who has the edge in a variety of categories. This game has the feel of a playoff atmosphere already.

Reagor doing well after surgery

The Colts released a written statement from defensive tackle Montae Reagor on his status after undergoing facial surgery on Wednesday:

“I want to thank everyone for the concern and support in the days after my accident. I am resting and feeling fine after surgery yesterday. I feel fine and am in good spirits. I know there is a road of recovery ahead, and I am looking forward to the comeback. The surgery was successful, and, again, I am very grateful for the wonderful show of concern and well-wishes from our fans. I appreciate the great support of my teammates and the Colts organization.”

On the road...to where?

These next two weeks will go a long way toward revealing the personality and power of the Colts. Back-to-back games at Denver and New England should determine the AFC's balance of power at mid-season, too.

The Broncos are riding a 13-game home winning streak and have a defense that rivals the Bears as the staunchest in the NFL. Only one team -- St. Louis, in an 18-10 opening-day win -- has been able to score in double figures against Denver. Granted, the Broncos haven't faced an offense of Indy's potency. The Colts, led by quarterback Peyton Manning and the dynamic wide-receiver duo of Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne (above, left), are making sure to let everyone know they're suitably impressed by Denver.

"Just the fact they're keeping teams out of the end zone -- that's the one that kind of jumps out at me," Manning said. "All the other passing and rushing statistics are impressive, but when you're keeping teams out of the end zone, you're probably winning a lot of football games. That's what they're doing."

The Colts' defense will be making adjustments again after the loss of Mike Doss and the now-extended absence of Montae Reagor. If all goes right, safety Bob Sanders will be back in the lineup this week, and that could be a real energy boost. Playing in rabid Denver, they're going to need it.

Doss out for the season

Colts safety Mike Doss will undergo knee surgery in the next few days for an ACL tear and will be lost for the rest of the season, coach Tony Dungy confirmed on Monday. Doss was hurt in the Colts' 36-22 win over the Redskins on Sunday.

"It's tough because you just don't expect it. You're playing great and all of a sudden one play. That's life. But the big thing about it is that you can bounce back. You can come back. But the finality of being out for the year is tough," Dungy said after Monday's practice."He had played well for us. And when we needed it. When Bob (Sanders) was out. He had gotten two game balls in five games. He'll be back. But not being able to play is the worst part of it."

Sanders is listed as questionable for this Sunday's game at Denver, but Colts officials are hopeful he will play. Defensive tackle Montae Reagor, who suffered a head injury in an automobile accident before the Redskins game, is not expected to play this week.

The loss of Doss is a tough one. After losing his starting job to Antoine Bethea, Doss worked hard for playing time and made the most of his time filling in for Sanders.

Can't keep a good Manning down

Peyton Manning subscribes to the "don't get mad, get even" philosophy. After being beat around, and then some, by the Washington Redskins in the first half of Sunday's game, Manning came out with vintage precision in the third quarter. He's apparently indestructible, as I wrote in my column today.

Here's how I saw the Colts' overall effort in their 36-22 win over Washington:

Passing game: Not much needs to be said. Manning was on target, throwing for four touchdowns, using a variety of receivers, including tight end Ben Utecht, who returned to the lineup in strong fashion with four catches for 51 yards. Marvin Harrison (7 catches, 73 yards, two touchdowns) and Reggie Wayne (7 for 122, one score) are the best and most reliable receiving duo in the NFL, even if few analysts seem to regularly recognize that. Pass protection wasn't perfect, as evidenced by Manning getting roughed up, but those things happen from time to time.

Running game: A good day was turned in by Joseph Addai (11 carries, 85 yards) on an off-day by Dominic Rhodes (13-26), but Tony Dungy says he'll stick with his rotation. Rhodes has bounced back strong after tough games this season.

Pass defense: The absence of safety Bob Sanders has opposing receivers hearing fewer footsteps these days. When he returns -- and regains his peak form -- this part of the defense will pick up. Dwight Freeney's first sack of the season was wiped out by penalty. Freeney is starving for a sack now, which should translate to some heavy hunting of Denver's Jake Plummer this week.

Run defense: Anthony McFarland gave the team a nice boost, psychologically as much as anything. We won't know how much his addition will help until Montae Reagor returns, hopefully, from the injuries he suffered in his SUV accident Sunday afternoon. But the Colts slowed Clinton Portis much better than most people, including Portis, thought they would.

Special teams: Good to see Adam Vinatieri back. Bad to see Antwaan Randle El exploit deficiencies in coverage once again.

Coaching: Dungy and his staff prepared a solid game plan. The Colts aren't built to deliver surprises. When they execute, particularly on offense, it's a surprise when they're slowed down.

Dungy seemed pleased by the team's play against Washington, and he should be pleased. The Colts took a step forward on both sides of the ball. They'll need near-perfection the next two weeks to stay unbeaten, however, with back-to-back trips to Denver and New England.

Reagor in hospital after accident

Colts defensive tackle Montae Reagor was involved in an automobile accident this afternoon prior to the game against Washington. WISH-TV, Indianapolis, reported that Reagor's SUV had flipped:

"Reagor was driving eastbound on 56th Street toward I-465 when a vehicle slammed into his SUV flipping it over," the WISH report said. "Reagor, along with a female passenger were transported to the hospital. Police report that Reagor's injuries include a severe cut to the head. He was not wearing his seat belt."

The Colts reported that Reagor "sustained facial lacerations and is resting comfortably at Methodist Hospital."

Newly acquired defensive tackle Anthony "Booger" McFarland started in Reagor's place.

Colts make timely move with McFarland

Colts fans should appreciate the effort and risk team president Bill Polian took in acquiring defensive tackle Anthony "Booger" McFarland from Tampa Bay. Trades during the middle of the NFL season are always noteworthy because they're so rare. But this one actually brings a big-time player to fill a big-time need on a Super Bowl contender.

As I wrote in my column today, the Colts made a statement with their deal:

That statement: The Colts (5-0) are serious about winning a Super Bowl now. Not in the next couple years. Not sometime during a loosely defined "window of opportunity." This season, here and now.
The Colts gave up a precious second-round draft pick next year, and picked up McFarland's contract, at a remaining $15.25 million, through 2008. Colts president Bill Polian parts with second-round picks about as often as he lines up at wide receiver.

I'm eager to see what McFarland can do to help the Colts' shaky run defense. He'll give them another needed body, and his familiarity with Tony Dungy's system gives him an advantage Corey Simon lacked when he joined the team and had to learn everything from scratch.

Bears push Edge to his breaking point

The Bears' comeback win over the Cardinals on Monday Night Football was reminiscent of the Colts' incredible MNF win over Tampa Bay. The Colts charged back primarily with Peyton Manning and the offense. The Bears, who I thought would dominate, won through defense and special teams. When MNF analyst Tony Kornheiser wondered aloud how Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher could be in so many places at once, I was thinking the same thing. Urlacher wasn't alone by any means, but he controlled the fourth quarter in a way few defensive players ever could.

I feel bad for Matt Leinart. He threw two touchdown passes and set up the Cardinals for their game-choking field goal miss. He deserved the satisfaction of a win. Leinart also showed much more poise and control than Rex Grossman, who could not have played more poorly if he'd tried. But how about Edgerrin James, who carried 36 times for 55 yards, the most carries for the fewest yards in NFL history. Plus, James had the ball stripped from him by Urlacher for one of the Bears' defensive scores.

I'm glad Edge got his money. He deserved it. But this type of situation is exactly why players should weigh whether the money always trumps the non-monetary rewards of playing for a great football team. I have to believe there are times -- probably Monday night -- when Edge would trade the extra millions (upon millions) to still be with the Colts.

Getting by without the Edge

I've been a consistent skeptic of the Colts' decision to let Edgerrin James leave in free agency. He was such a key piece in the offense's stability and balance. But I have to say, after a so-so start, the Colts' running game with Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai is in decent shape.

It's hard to argue with their production through five games, with more than 100 yards per game combined and an average of 3.9 yards per carry. It's not spectacular, but the Colts don't need spectacular to be effective on offense. They just need a running game that keeps teams honest against Peyton, Marvin, Reggie and the air attack. So far, it's working. Of course, some tougher opponents loom on the schedule.

For more on Rhodes and Addai, check out my column today.

Dungy uses the s-word: Soft

Colts coach Tony Dungy doesn't publicly criticize his team very often, and when he does it's not too harsh. That was the case Monday, too, but he came out and called his run defense "a little soft." I might call it very soft or extremely soft or softer than marshmallows over an open fire, but Dungy's criticism hits the mark nonetheless:

“The negatives are we had some penalties, some errors, some things that didn’t help us field-position wise, and our run defense is, we’re just a little bit soft right now. Yesterday, it was guys who were free that either couldn’t make the tackles or made the tackles for six-yard gains instead of two-yard gains. And we just have to do that a little bit better. Those were probably the two biggest negatives."

Dungy went on to say that the run problems centered on a weakness in tackling, too.

"We were in position to make a tackle and Travis Henry’s running hard and running through some tackles, LenDale White’s running through tackles and it’s not a question of anything other than they have seven guys to block, we have eight guys up there and the eighth guy has to make the tackle.”

With the Ravens losing to the Broncos last night, the Colts and the Bears are the only remaining unbeaten teams. The Bears look dominant. Not so the Colts. It's time for Dungy to push a little harder and use highly charged words, such as soft, to motivate his team for a challenging road ahead.

Some wins are uglier than others

Colts fans had to love the sight -- finally -- of Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne catching their first touchdown passes of the season in the Colts' 14-13 win over the Titans on Sunday at the dome. Finding other enjoyment wasn't so easy.

To say the win was a struggle might be the understatement of the season. The Titans were destroyed a week earlier by the Cowboys, a team that shouldn't be in the Colts' league, yet the Titans had the Colts on the ropes for most of three quarters. There seemed to be a feeling among the Colts that they would win this game at the end no matter what happened before. It's good to be that confident. But the truth is, this is a team the Colts should have destroyed. And the Titans showed the probable game plan for upcoming Colts opponents.

Here's my Monday morning breakdown:

Passing game: Peyton Manning couldn't seem to find his rhythm in the first half. Pac-man Jones did a nice job of covering Harrison for the most part. Harrison had only three catches, and his TD came when Jones was hurt and out of the game. Manning locked into the passing game in the second half, and probably would have had three touchdowns if Wayne hadn't had one pass slip through his hands for an interception. It was good to see Brandon Stokley back in action (5 catches, 57 yards), but he hurt his knee and is questionable again.

Running game: Tennessee dared the Colts to run, and Indy did a decent job. Both Dominic Rhodes (13-62) and Joseph Addai (20-84) averaged over four yards per carry, which should be the type of numbers necessary to keep teams honest. Both of them are running with authority now. An encouraging sign.

Pass defense: I've been surprised how strong the secondary has looked without Bob Sanders. Mike Doss has stepped in and played well. Nick Harper would have had a pick on Vince Young late if Antoine Bethea hadn't stepped in front of him. "I'm counting that one," Harper said. The pass rush can't get off the ground at times because of the Colts' struggles with the run defense.

Run defense: Tony Dungy insists he can get this problem fixed, but allowing 214 yards to the Titans (100 in the first quarter) showed this weakness is serious. If Dungy and defensive coordinator Ron Meeks resolve this problem down the stretch, it'll be the biggest step to post-season success.

Special teams: For the second week in a row, poor coverage on the kickoff nearly caused defeat. Upcoming opponents such as the Redskins, Broncos and Patriots won't let opportunity slip like the Jets and Titans did.

Coaching: They were prepared for the Titans' tricks. But, the offense seemed stagnant and lack inventiveness in the first half. I like how the Colts' defense adjusts late in the game, but they're going to get burned if they continue their slow starts.

The bye week comes at a good time. For all of the Colts' question marks, they are 5-0. Their will to win may be stronger than the last couple years. The positives outweigh the negatives, but the road gets significantly tougher ahead.

Manning remembers being "Young"

It was interesting hearing Peyton Manning talk about the ups and downs of his rookie season earlier this week when the topic of Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young came up. Manning was thrown in the fire, and left there getting extremely hot, faster than most rookies.

Young doesn't have the same skills as Manning -- he's a better runner, sure, but has yet to prove he can throw in the NFL -- but if he possesses any of Manning's persevering nature, he stands a chance of excelling in the league. I might be in the minority, but I think putting Young at the controls of a bad Titans team will help him learn without massive pressure on his shoulders. No question, there's pressure on a No.1 draft pick, but not the pressure that comes with leading a contender.

"I'm not speaking for any other team, but being a No.1 pick -- and I hope this doesn't offend anybody -- I knew I wasn't coming to a great football team," Manning said. "That's just kind of part of the deal of being a No.1 pick. You don't want to lose, but you know you have the chance to be the underdogs most games."

For more of Manning's observations about Young's situation, check out my column from Saturday's paper.

Corey Simon out for season

The Colts announced Thursday that defensive tackle Corey Simon will miss the rest of the season after being put on the NFL Non-Football Illness/Injury list. They did not disclose Simon's illness, except to say it is not related to the knee surgery he underwent in August.

Here is the complete written statement from Colts President Bill Polian:

"Today, we have placed Corey Simon on the NFL Non-Football Illness/Injury list.

In deference to Corey’s privacy and in compliance with federal medical privacy laws, we may not discuss the particulars of Corey’s condition other than to say it is an illness not an injury and is unrelated to the knee surgery he had in August. It is not football-related. Fortunately, we are told it is not life-threatening, but it has severely limited Corey’s ability to condition, practice or play and has been debilitating for him.

We reached this decision reluctantly and only after extensive tests were run by our medical staff and many outside medical specialists, including those at the Mayo Clinic. Fortunately, Corey has shown some improvement in recent days, but none of the medical personnel we consulted believe he can safely return to football in the near future.

Corey now can devote himself to a complete and unhurried recovery. Our fervent hope is he will be ready to return to the field next season.”

The Colts must deal with Simon's loss the way they have with other personnel changes, which is the topic of my column in Friday's paper.

Vinatieri ready to get kicking again

It took awhile, but Adam Vinatieri refers to the Colts as "we" and not "they," a transition that wasn't easy after 10 years with the New England Patriots. Now he's eager to get back on the field and be an integral part of the team. If practice goes as well as he expects this week, he plans to kick against Tennessee on Sunday. The Colts are fairly confident Vinatieri can go: They waived backup kicker Martin Gramatica and signed tight end Jerome Collins. Vinatieri has missed the last two games with a groin injury, the first games he has missed in his entire NFL career.

I wrote about Vinatieri in my column today, and he had some high praise for his teammates:

“The neat thing from the team aspect is that you’ve got a lot of great athletes and you’ve got superstars, like the Marvins (Marvin Harrison) and the Peytons (Peyton Manning), but they’re just kind of hard-working, blue-collar guys,” Vinatieri said. “They don’t act like superstars.”

It would be nice for Vinatieri to get some game action this week before the open date. There's a good chance the Colts will need the kicking superstar for upcoming games against Washington, Denver and New England.

Dungy's message: Time to step it up

Colts coach Tony Dungy's reputation as a calm, in-control type of leader has worked well with the Colts. It's part of why the offense is able to stage late drives in a relatively short amount of time. But Dungy's demeanor works in his favor when he comes down on his team, as he did --firmly and pointedly -- after the Jets game. The Colts committed too many penalties and made too many mistakes in Dungy's eyes. So they saw the fire in Dungy that field judge Scott Edwards encountered in the photo on the right.

"I didn't feel good about the way we played," Dungy said. "We've got to sharpen up a little bit. You can't have all those penalties, we couldn't convert some of those third downs and we didn't really tackle very well."

The good news for Colts fans may be that the early struggles in certain areas will guarantee the Colts won't become complacent with winning.

Tennessee could be the tonic needed for the Colts to deliver a complete game. The key will be to watch what happens if the Colts bolt out to a big lead. Indy has a tendency to allow too many cheap yards and touchdowns late in a blowout, as in the Houston game this season. It's good that Dungy is applying a little heat, and that the Colts are professional enough to take his words to heart. I expect they'll be unusually sharp and relatively penalty-free this Sunday.

Sanders, Simon still sidelined

Colts president Bill Polian told the Indianapolis Star on Monday that safety Bob Sanders and defensive tackle Corey Simon will miss this Sunday's game against Tennessee. Sanders underwent arthroscopic knee surgery and is on schedule with his rehabilitation. The Colts have a bye week on Oct. 15 and Sanders is expected back for the Oct. 22 home game against Washington.

Simon's status isn't so certain.

"Corey? We just don't know,'' Polian told the Star. "We keep running tests and we simply don't have any answers. It's frustrating.''

The longer Simon is out, the more unlikely it seems he'll be a major factor for the team this season. He had knee surgery and hasn't practiced since August, so he'd need time to get in game shape, even if his weight isn't an issue. What seemed like a good acquisition at the time has yet to prove itself as one of Polian's usual savvy personnel moves. We'll have to wait and see, with extra emphasis on the waiting part.

Manning still The Man

There's nothing like two game-winning drives for the price of one. Whether you love the Colts, like the Colts, tolerate the Colts or even despise the Colts (you Bears fans know who you are), you have to appreciate the clutch play of Peyton Manning and the offense down the stretch. Just incredible. It almost made up for the too-numerous to enumerate mistakes the Colts made all afternoon.

Here's how I saw it on a rare Sunday at home on the couch:

Passing game: The Colts' plan to focus on the run grounded Manning's air show early. But two plays stood out: Manning's fake scramble, step forward and pass to Marvin Harrison for a key late first-down and his falling back touchdown pass to Bryan Fletcher. Reggie Wayne was clutch playing through his personal grief, too. One of these days Harrison and Wayne might even score, don't you think?

Running game: I know it was the Jets, but both Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai looked strong, pushing in scores near the goal line that have been problematic for the Colts in recent years. Manning with a sneak? I didn't know the NFL allowed him to do that.

Pass defense: Not particularly strong, although Rocky Boiman's interception was the non-Manning clutch play of the day. The absence of Bob Sanders makes a huge difference. The pass rush started strong, with Robert Mathis' sack and forced fumble on Chad Pennington, but seemed a bit inconsistent.

Run defense: All problems seemed solved in the first quarter. Then the Colts had to play three more quarters and the Jets' no-name running backs started making names for themselves. The Colts' weak tackling at times defies logic.

Special teams: A disaster. They weren't ready for the surprise onside kick, they committed too many penalties and I'm fairly sure it's not a good thing when you're relying on Martin Gramatica to make a tackle on a kickoff return.

Coaching: Until the coaches fix the tackling and run-defense problems, they won't earn too much praise. But give credit to Tony Dungy for the way he has instilled in the Colts a determination not to panic under any circumstances. Most teams would have given up after seeing a terrific drive and lead ruined on a 103-yard kickoff return.

The bottom line remains that the Colts are unbeaten, they have two weeks (Tennessee this Sunday, then an open date) to work on their problems before taking on an improving Washington and heading into big road games at Denver and New England. It's a marathon not a sprint. Overall, the Colts are maintaining a great pace.