Indianapolis, Denver meet for second week in a row

INDIANAPOLIS -- Tony Dungy walked off the practice field and acknowledged the challenge.

It's not just the playoff atmosphere that has tested his Indianapolis Colts, but also finding a fresh perspective on a tough task -- getting ready for Denver, again.

"I think I'm probably like the players, it seems like we've been preparing for Denver forever," Dungy said. "Hopefully, we continue to progress. Hopefully, we're sharp."

For the second straight week, the Colts have been preparing for a Denver Broncos team they already know relatively well. Today's contest will be the fourth meeting between the teams since December 2003. The Broncos made it into the playoffs by beating the Colts 33-14 last weekend.

Denver not only has to atone for last year's 41-10 first-round playoff loss at Indianapolis, but also has to back up some strident talk this week.

Players and coaches talked this week about getting physical against a "soft" group of Indianapolis receivers. That, they believe, will help them hold the Colts' high-scoring offense in check.

"You've got to hit a team like that," Broncos Pro Bowl safety John Lynch said after last week's victory. "They're so skilled, so fast, you've got to do something to slow them down."

Peyton Manning picked apart the Broncos defense in last year's playoffs for 377 yards and five touchdowns -- three of them longer than 30 yards, one on a play where four Broncos defenders watched Marvin Harrison go down, get up and race to the end zone. The befuddled Broncos also turned the ball over three times, and by halftime the Colts had a 31-3 lead.