Broncos continue their playoff push against Colts

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts are getting ready for the postseason. The Denver Broncos hope they are, too.

With the Colts trying to wrap up the AFC South and the Broncos still fighting to get into the playoffs, tonight's game in Indianapolis has a playoff feel.

"It's fun to be in that mode," Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer said. "But we have to beat maybe the best team in the NFL, at their place."

The Broncos (9-5) have already spent a month on the brink.

After losing 19-10 at home to Chicago, Denver dropped to 6-5 and the playoffs seemed to be slipping away. Three straight wins have put the Broncos back in contention, and they could clinch a postseason spot by beating Indianapolis (11-3) and having either Cincinnati or Baltimore lose today.

The Colts are taking a different approach after securing their fourth playoff trip in five years.

A win over Denver would give Indianapolis its first division title since 1999 and its second home playoff game since 1984. It would keep open the possibility of a first-round bye and could give them a mental advantage if they meet again two weeks from now in the first round. If the playoffs were held now, that would be the pairing.

"It's going to be played at a high level. It's going to be fun," said Montae Reagor, a former Denver defensive tackle who has been looking forward to this game since signing with the Colts as a free agent in the offseason.

Denver finishes the season with trips to Indianapolis and Green Bay, teams still fighting for playoff position. With Miami, Cincinnati and Baltimore all 8-6 and just one game behind the Broncos for the final wild-card spot, a loss could change everything.

"You always think they're must wins," Denver coach Mike Shanahan said. "Indianapolis is probably thinking the same way. It's a big game for them and for us."

Indianapolis is playing some of its best football of the season. Peyton Manning leads the NFL in touchdown passes (28) and yards passing (3,901). He needs 99 yards to become the first player in league history with five straight 4,000-yard seasons.

Running back Edgerrin James has averaged 109 yards and scored seven touchdowns in the last five games, and last week Manning threw touchdowns to three different receivers.

The defense also is improving. It has forced nine turnovers the last three games and limited Michael Vick last week to 47 yards passing and 30 rushing.

Then there's Mike Vanderjagt, who beat the Broncos last year with two field goals from beyond 50 yards in the snow. He's made 38 in a row and needs two more field goals to tie Gary Anderson's NFL record.

Dungy couldn't have scripted it any better, but that doesn't mean the Colts are satisfied.

"Any time you have a chance to win your division, it's a special thing," center Jeff Saturday said. "We have as much to play for as anyone in the NFL."

The Broncos, meanwhile, could be without their biggest weapon.

Clinton Portis, the AFC's second-leading rusher with 1,591 yards, left last week's game with right ankle and knee injuries when Cleveland's Tyrone Rogers rolled onto his leg in overtime.

He did not practice early this week and is listed as questionable.

If Portis can't go, the Broncos will likely start Mike Anderson, the offensive rookie of the year in 2000 when he ran for 1,487 yards. This year, he's carried just 51 times for 201 yards and was suspended for four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

"It doesn't really matter who the back is. They have a blocking scheme that's worked for them," Colts coach Tony Dungy said. "They try to stay after you, create seams and they'll cut-block you, too."

Still, Denver knows its recent success has only put it in position for the playoffs. On Sunday, the Broncos intend to make their late-season charge pay off.

"We've been playing playoff games," Plummer said. "We've been telling each other that if we lose one, we're out of it."