INDIANAPOLIS – The anticipation of playing against the team he started for last year ended in September.

Any hard feelings towards the Broncos, the team Mike Adams played for the last two seasons, is a non-issue for the Colts starting safety.

No, there's something much bigger that is driving the 33-year old safety in his 11th NFL season.

It's the empty feeling he felt walking off the field in last year's Super Bowl loss.

"My chip on my shoulder isn't the Denver Broncos," Adams said on 1070 The Fan earlier this week.

"My chip on my shoulder has something to do with that Super Bowl. I want to get back there. That's my chip. That's my urge."

Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium was a mere 12 miles from where Adams grew up.

After making his first postseason appearance at the age of 31, Adams thought he would finally reach the pinnacle in his second playoff trip.

Adams told the Denver Post that he would walk home in his helmet pads if the Broncos on the Super Bowl.

When Adams wasn't re-signed by the Broncos in the offseason, he never had a doubt that the type of situation coming Sunday would happen again.

In the NFL, 33-year old safeties are rarely seen.

Not only has Adams retuned to a starting role on another playoff team but he's an alternate for the Pro Bowl.

"Mike was a great teammate the past two years," Peyton Manning said on Wednesday.

"He and I got here together as free agents. Mike always talked about the places he had played, how he never really had a chance to win many football games. He was obviously excited about coming to Denver and being a part of two winning teams. He was a great leader for us, great veteran. I was sorry to see him go. He's really played well for them this year. He's made a lot of plays, helped them create a lot of turnovers, just his veteran experience, you can see that paying off for their defense."

Hearing Adams talk about being in this position again in 2014, he doesn't mince words.

The hope to have that confetti fall on him in Arizona, rather than exact "revenge" on his former team, is Adams' driving force.

"The Colts were in this situation last year. Pagano, he wants to advance. I want to advance," Adams said.

"This is a must."