The Indianapolis Colts are on a two-game winning streak after starting the year 3-4. Last season, Indianapolis finished with a 13-3 record but lost to the San Diego Chargers in the divisional round of the playoffs.
Head coach Tony Dungy is in his seventh season with the club. Dungy has directed the Colts to six playoff appearances, five AFC South titles, two AFC Championship game appearances and a 29-17 victory over Chicago in Super Bowl XLI.
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Peyton Manning is an eight-time Pro Bowl selection in only 10 years in the league. Manning has also been named the league MVP twice. Last season, Manning threw for more than 4,000 yards for the eighth time in his career. He finished 2007 with 4,040 yards, 31 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Through nine games this season, Manning has thrown for 2,248 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Manning was 25-of-34 for 247 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in the Colts' Week 5 win over Houston at Reliant Stadium.
Running back: The Colts' 2006 first-round selection, Joseph Addai, has lived up to his draft status. He has yet to rush for less than 1,000 yards in his first two seasons and was selected to his first Pro Bowl last season. Addai was hurt earlier this season and so far in 2008 has run for only 242 yards, averaging 3.1 yards per carry, and four touchdowns. The Colts brought back Dominic Rhodes in the offseason to back up Addai. Rhodes has 290 rushing yards and three touchdowns this season.
Wide receiver/tight end: The Colts' receiving corps has been one of the league's best units for several years. Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison are a threatening combination. Harrison made seven straight Pro Bowls from 1999 to 2006. Wayne has caught 49 passes for 700 yards and five touchdowns so far in 2008. He had seven catches for 97 yards and the game-winning touchdown in the Week 5 Texans-Colts matchup. The Colts' 2007 first-round draft pick, Anthony Gonzalez, already has 38 catches this season for 438 yards and two touchdowns. Tight endDallas Clark has caught 34 passes for 415 yards and three touchdowns.
Offensive line: Center Jeff Saturday anchors the Colts' offensive line. In 2007, Saturday started 16 games at center for the seventh time in his career. He has been the starting center for the AFC in the Pro Bowl for the past three seasons. Saturday missed two games earlier this season with a leg injury, but is now playing healthy. At left tackle is Tony Ugoh, the Colts' second-round draft pick in 2007. Ugoh was named to the Pro Football Weekly All-Rookie Team after his rookie season. Charlie Johnson started 10 games at either left or right tackle in 2007 and made the switch to left guard this season. The right guard is rookie Mike Pollak, who made his first start against the Texans earlier this season and has started ever since. Right tackle Ryan Diem started 10 games in 2007.
DEFENSE
Defensive line: Dwight Freeney is one of the best defensive ends in the league. The three-time Pro Bowler has posted 16 tackles and five sacks this season. End Raheem Brock holds down the opposite side of the line, where he has 16 tackles and one sack in 2008. Defensive end Robert Mathis also gets playing time on the defensive line and has five sacks this season. Former Texas Tech Red Raider Keyunta Dawson has 34 tackles and receives help up the middle from rookie defensive tackle Eric Foster, who has 25 tackles.
Linebacker: Clint Session starts at outside linebacker in only his second season after starting one game last year. Session has 46 tackles so far in 2008. Middle linebacker Gary Brackett, a six-year veteran, started all 16 games last season and has registered 81 tackles this season along with a game-changing fumble recovery for a touchdown against the Texans in Week 5 at Reliant Stadium. Outside linebacker Freddy Keiaho is a third-year player who has registered 65 tackles this year.
Secondary: In the secondary, 2007 Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year and two-time Pro Bowl selection Bob Sanders has 28 tackles in only four games played this season. Sanders has returned from knee and ankle injuries to post 15 tackles and an interception the Colts' last two games. Helping Sanders out over the top is Pro Bowl free safety Antoine Bethea, who has posted 62 tackles this season. Safety Melvin Bullet gets his share of playing time as well and already has 33 tackles and three interceptions this season. Kelvin Hayden and Tim Jennings provide the Colts with solid coverage at cornerback. Jennings has 36 tackles and two interceptions. Hayden was selected in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft and has 17 tackles this season.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicking: Adam Vinatieri is a two-time Pro Bowl kicker and has started his career with 12 consecutive 100-point seasons. Punter Hunter Smith handles all of the punting and holding duties.
Receiving: Wide receiver Pierre Garcon, a rookie sixth-round draft pick from Mount Union College, handles kickoff returns for the Colts. He has averaged 21.1 yards per return with a long of 39 this season. Garcon also returns punts for the Colts.
