The Indianapolis Colts made a serious run at a perfect regular season in 2005, going 13-0 before losing a game.
This year?s team started 9-0. Then things broke down.
The Colts (13-4) come to Baltimore for today?s AFC divisional playoff game hoping that their 3-4 finish to the regular season doesn?t come back to haunt them.
While the team?s potent passing game remains, its running game lost tailback Edgerrin James to free agency over the offseason. The key to Indianapolis? offense this season has been rookie running back Joseph Addai, whom management saw as a similar back to James.
“We felt he was the back in the draft that could do the most things like Edge so we wouldn?t have to change too much,” Colts head coach Tony Dungy said. “Joseph?s been just what we had hoped for.”
While Addai rushed for 1,081 yards and seven touchdowns, the Colts? passing game is an obvious strength. And the key to that passing game is the protection that the offensive line gives quarterback Peyton Manning, allowing the former MVP time to scan the field.
“You don?t want Peyton Manning comfortable in the pocket,” Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs said. “He?s definitely one of the best quarterbacks in the air, one of the best in the league. So you?ve got to have pressure. You don?t want him to get comfortable. Then it turns into a seven-on-seven, and he?ll pick you apart. So pressure is definitely a big part of the game.”
Manning had another strong season, tossing 31 touchdowns to nine interceptions for an NFL-best passer rating of 101.0. But he was intercepted three times in the Colts? 23-8 playoff win over Kansas City last weekend.
“You want to keep Peyton [Manning] off the field and that?s the main thing,” said Ravens running back Jamal Lewis, who played with Manning at the University of Tennessee. “That?s what I think. You want to keep him off the field because if you leave him on the field long enough, he?s going to make some plays.”
The Achilles? heel for Indianapolis this season has been its porous run defense. The Colts allow an average of 173 yards per game on the ground ? worst in the NFL. Stopping the Ravens? attack, namely Lewis, will be a focus.
With as much emotion that is expected to fill M&T Bank Stadium, the Colts are not getting caught up with a ravenous Baltimore fan base.
“We have to worry about Ray Lewis and Jamal Lewis and Steve McNair and Matt Stover,” Dungy said. “Those are the guys we have to worry about, not anybody in the crowd.”
