Release: Colts vs. Broncos at Denver

INDIANAPOLISCOLTS (1-1) at DENVER BRONCOS (1-1)

DATE: Sunday, September 26, 2010

SITE: INVESCO Field at Mile High

KICKOFF: 4:15 p.m. (EDT)/2:15 p.m. (MDT)

CAPACITY: 76,125

SURFACE:Grass

                Meeting the first of four AFC West opponents during 2010 regular season play, the Indianapolis Colts, 1-1, visit the Denver Broncos, 1-1, on Sunday, September 26. Kickoff at INVESCO Field at Mile High is 4:15 p.m. (EDT)/2:15 p.m. (MDT). CBS telecasts the contest, while SportsUSA handles national radio coverage.

                The Colts and Broncos are meeting for the fourth time in the last five regular seasons. Indianapolis has won each of those contests, including a 28-16 verdict last December 13 in Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis reaches Sunday's battle after a 38-14 victory last week at home over the New York Giants. Denver took a 31-14 home victory last Sunday over Seattle. Indianapolis resumes AFC West play in two weeks by hosting Kansas City (October 10). The Colts host San Diego on November 28, then visit Oakland on December 26.

The Colts are owners of the NFL's best regular-season record (129-49) since the start of the 1999 season, while being the only team to earn 10 playoff appearances in the last eleven seasons, including a league-best eight consecutive post-season berths. Indianapolis has won 74 of its last 91 regular-season games. The Colts own a 99-30 record (counting the playoffs) since the start of the 2003 season and are 85-25 since 2004. From November, 2003 to December, 2009, the Colts produced a regular-season record of 81-19, tying New England (2003-09) for the NFL's best 100-game regular-season mark. Indianapolis' winning ways include a 38-11 record in AFC South play, while the club has owned or shared the lead in 112 of 138 weeks of the division's existence. The Colts won five AFC South championships from 2003-07, the best divisional-title streak in club history. The Colts were wire-to-wire divisional leaders during the 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009 seasons. The club's nine playoff berths in the 2000-09 decade tied the NFL record set by Dallas (9) in the 1970s. Indianapolis is the only team since 2002 Realignment to earn annual double-digit victory totals and playoff berths. From 2008-09, the Colts set an NFL record with 23 consecutive regular-season victories (21, New England, 2006-08). The streak was the sixth 10 -game regular-season winning streak in franchise history (23, 2008-09; 13, 2005; 11, 1964; 11, 1975-76; 11, 1999; 10, 2005-06), the fourth since 1999. Indianapolis extended its NFL record as the only franchise to win seven or more consecutive regular-season games in six consecutive seasons (8, 2004; 13, 2005; 9, 2006; 7 and 6, 2007; 9, 2008; 14, 2009). Additionally, the Colts posted their eighth consecutive 10 -victory season, setting the 2nd-longest such streak in NFL history (16, San Francisco, 1983-98). Indianapolis earned its seventh consecutive season with 11 victories, surpassing the NFL record it had shared with Dallas (6, 1976-81).  The Colts extended their league mark to seven consecutive seasons (2003-09) with 12 victories. The Colts produced 115 victories for the 2000-09 decade, surpassing the league record of 113 by San Francisco from 1990-99. 

PERSONNEL REPORT: WR-Anthony Gonzalez (ankle), DB-Bob Sanders (biceps) were out; LB-Gary Brackett (back), OT-Ryan Diem (neck), LB-Ramon Humber (illness), OT-Charlie Johnson (foot), DB-Jacob Lacey (head), DE-Robert Mathis (ankle), LB-Clint Session (hamstring) were questionable; LB-Cody Glenn (hamstring), DB-Jerraud Powers (foot), C-Jeff Saturday (knee) were probable for the last game. Deactivated players for the last game were DB-DuJuan Morgan, TE-Gijon Robinson, Session, OG-Jacques McClendon, DT-Ricardo Mathews, DE-Jerry Hughes, Gonzalez, and Sanders.

TELEVISION/RADIO: CBS Sports telecasts with Jim Nantz and Phil Simms. 1070-The Fan/HANK-FM, 97.1 broadcasts with Bob Lamey, Will Wolford and Kevin Lee (field reporter). SportsUSA broadcasts nationally with Larry Kahn and John Robinson.

NEXT WEEK: Indianapolis visits Jacksonville on Sunday, October 3 at 4:05 p.m. (EDT).

WWW.COLTS.COM: Please check the official website of the Indianapolis Colts for the latest in team information and merchandise.

HEAD COACHES

* *

*          *JIM CALDWELL was named head coach of the Colts on January 13, 2009, and this marks his ninth season with Indianapolis. Caldwell joined the club in 2002 as quarterbacks coach before adding the title of assistant head coach prior to the 2005 season. Caldwell was promoted to associate head coach with the club prior to the 2008 season. From 2002-09, Caldwell has been a part of Colts teams that produced 10-6, 12-4, 12-4, 14-2, 12-4, 13-3, 12-4 and 14-2 records. Indianapolis is the only team to earn 12 victories in seven consecutive seasons, setting the NFL's all-time standard. Indianapolis has had eight consecutive 10 -victory seasons, setting the second-longest streak in NFL history (16, San Francisco, 1983-98; 7, Dallas, 1975-81), and the Colts have surpassed Dallas (1976-81) as the only franchise to earn at least eleven victories in seven consecutive seasons. The Colts also have earned an NFL-best eight consecutive playoff appearances, and Indianapolis is the only team to post double-digit victory seasons and playoff berths each season since the 2002 realignment. From 2008-09, Indianapolis set the NFL record with 23 consecutive regular-season victories (21 New England, 2006-08). Indianapolis also won 115 regular-season games from 2000-09, the most by a team in a decade in NFL history. From 2004-09, Indianapolis became the only NFL team to win at least seven consecutive games in six consecutive seasons (8, 2004; 13, 2005; 9, 2006; 7 and 6, 2007; 9, 2008; 14, 2009). In 2009, Caldwell became the 5th NFL rookie head coach to reach the Super Bowl. Caldwell joined Chuck Knox (L.A. Rams, 1973), Red Miller (Denver, 1977), Mike Martz (St. Louis, 2000) and Josh McDaniels (Denver, 2009) as the only rookie head coaches in the Super Bowl era to start 6-0. He became the fourth coach ever to start 6-0 when succeeding a head coach who won 100 games (Blanton Collier, Cleveland, 1963, succeeded Paul Brown, 111 wins; Jack Pardee, Washington, 1978, succeeded George Allen, 116 wins; Josh McDaniels, Denver, 2009, succeeded Mike Shanahan, 146 wins; Caldwell, Colts, 2009, succeeded Tony Dungy, 139 wins). Caldwell joined the Colts after serving as quarterbacks coach with Tampa Bay in 2001. Caldwell has more than 20 years of collegiate coaching experience. He spent 1993-2000 as head coach at Wake Forest. He served as an assistant coach at Southern Illinois (1978-80), Northwestern (1981), Colorado (1982-84), Louisville (1985) and Penn State (1986-92). Caldwell has coached in six bowl games and won a national championship with Penn State in 1986. In addition to serving on Joe Paterno's title staff, Caldwell tutored under three other coaches who won collegiate crowns (Rey Dempsey, Southern Illinois; Bill McCartney, Colorado; Howard Schnellenberger, Louisville). Caldwell was a four-year starter at defensive back at Iowa and worked as a graduate assistant for Iowa in 1977. He holds a bachelor's degree from Iowa. Caldwell was born on January 16, 1955 in Beloit, Wis.

                JOSH McDANIELS became the 12th Broncos head coach on January 12, 2009. McDaniels led Denver to an 8-8 record last season. McDaniels spent the previous eight seasons (2001-08) with New England. He served 2006-08 as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach. McDaniels helped guide New England to three Super Bowl titles, and he was a part of seven 10-win seasons. McDaniels served as personnel/coaching assistant in 2001, and he added duties with defensive backs in 2003. In 2004, he was the club's quarterbacks coach. McDaniels was a QB/WR at John Carroll 1995-98. He served at Michigan State in 1999. McDaniels is a native of Barberton, Ohio.

COLTS/BRONCOS SERIES NOTES

The Colts trail the league series, 11-7, but have won two playoff encounters over Denver. The teams met last season on December 13 in Indianapolis, with the Colts earning a 28-16 victory. The victory was the 22nd consecutive for Indianapolis in regular-season play, setting the new NFL record and allowing the Colts to clinch the top playoff seed. The win also was the 114th for Indianapolis during the 2000-09 decade, also a record, and Indianapolis would push the league decade mark to 115 wins by season's end. QB-Peyton Manning (49,533) was 20-42-220, 4 TDs/3 ints., surpassing QB-Warren Moon (49,325) for 4th-most passing yards in NFL history. TE-Dallas Clark (82, 2009) was 5-43, 3 TDs, to set a new seasonal reception high (77, 2008). It marked the 20th 3-TD reception game in club history, the 3rd by a TE (Jim Mutscheller, 1957; Ken Dilger, 1997). WR-Brandon Marshall (21-200, 2 TDs) set the NFL record for single-game receptions. Indianapolis bolted to a 21-0 advantage Denver could not erase. The Colts also took a 38-20 home win over Denver on September 30, 2007. The Colts overcame a 10-0 deficit with scores on six of seven possessions to post the win. Manning was 20-27-193, 3 TDs, along with a 1t rush. The Colts rushed for 226 yards, off-setting Denver's 223 rushing yards. Clark (6-76, 2 TDs; 9t, 3t), WR-Reggie Wayne (5-38, 1 TD; 5t) and RB-Joseph Addai (19-136, 1 TD rushing; 14t) helped pace the offense. DE-Dwight Freeney forced two fumbles and had one sack.  On October 29, 2006, scoring on each of five second-half possessions, the Colts rallied for a 34-31 victory at Denver. Down 14-6 at halftime, the Colts scored touchdowns on the first two drives of the third quarter, and Manning (32-39-345, 3 TDs) guided two late scoring drives. Manning hit Wayne (10-138, 3 TDs) on a 19t scoring toss with 3:35 remaining, then added a two-point pass to Wayne. Following a 49-yard field goal by K-Jason Elam with 1:49 to go, Manning marshaled a 62-yard drive that resulted in a 37-yard field goal by K-Adam Vinatieri with :02 left. Vinatieri booted field goals of 42, 30, 48 and 37 yards, while Wayne tied the club record for touchdown receptions in a game. Denver entered the contest having allowed but two touchdowns all season. Addai (17-93 rushing/5-37 receiving) produced a key performance. Denver rushed 36-227 yards. The teams met in Denver on January 2, 2005, with the Broncos taking a 33-14 victory. With Indianapolis having secured the AFC's third playoff seed, Denver roared to a 20-14 halftime decision the Colts could not overcome. QB-Jake Plummer was 17-30-246, 2 TDs, hitting WR-Ashley Lelie on a 38t toss and TE-Patrick Hape on a 2t strike to stake the Broncos to the lead. QB-Jim Sorgi was 16-25-168, 2 TDs after Manning exited after three plays. Sorgi hit WR-Marvin Harrison on a 7t strike and Wayne on a 71t toss for the Colts' points. The teams met one week later in Indianapolis in the Wild Card Playoffs. Bolting to a 35-3 halftime lead behind the passing of Manning (27-33-458, 4 TDs/1 int., 145.7 rating), the Colts posted a 49-24 victory. Manning was 21-27-361, 3 TDs/1 int. in the opening half. Manning's 361 yards marked the most yards in one half of NFL playoff action since 1970. Manning teamed with RB-James Mungro (1-2, 1 TD receiving; 2t), TE-Dallas Clark (6-112, 1 TD; 19t) and Wayne (10-221, 2 TDs; 35t, 43t) on the first-half scores. Manning and RB-Edgerrin James (18-63, 1 TD) had 1t rushing scores in the first half. Manning eclipsed his own playoff record for passing yards (377 vs. Denver 1/4/04), while producing the second-highest total in NFL playoff history (489, Bernie Kosar, Cleveland vs. NYJ, 1986). Wayne set the club's post-season reception yardage record (178, WR-Raymond Berry at NYG 12/28/58), and produced the third-highest yardage total in NFL playoff history. Denver scored three second-half touchdowns behind Plummer (24-34-284, 2 TDs/1 int.). The Colts' 49 points established a club playoff record (41, vs. Denver 1/4/04). The teams met twice in Indianapolis in a three-week span at the end of the 2003 season, with Denver taking a 31-17 win on December 21 and the Colts taking a 41-10 playoff verdict on January 4, 2004. In the second encounter, the Colts scored on their first seven possessions, including five touchdown passes by Manning (22-26-377, 5 TDs, 158.3 rating). Manning set the club mark for most scoring passes in a playoff game, and he found WRs-Brandon Stokley (4-144, 2 TDs; 31t, 87t) and Harrison (7-133, 2 TDs; 46t, 23t) on touchdown tosses. Harrison and Stokley set the club playoff record for most touchdown receptions in a game. The Colts bolted to a 14-3 first-quarter lead that swelled to 41-3 before Denver tallied midway through the final period. In the regular season meeting, Denver rushed 54 times for 227 yards and three TDs and controlled the ball for 44:58 in opening a 28-17 halftime lead that resulted in the victory. Plummer tallied on 6t and 1t rushes and was 14-17-238, 1 TD/int. passing, while RB-Quentin Griffin was 28-136 rushing and Lelie was 5-115 receiving to lead Denver. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

2010 RANKINGS (denotes ranking is tied)

RANKINGS            OFFENSE                     RANKING                         DEFENSE                   RANKING

                         Total    Rush      Pass         CONF.       NFL              Total     Rush   Pass         CONF.         NFL

Colts                 436.5   102.0     334.5       2-10- 1     2-18- 1           306.0   188.5   117.5       9-16- 3     15-32- 4

Broncos            366.0     77.0     289.0       4-16- 3     7-27- 5           319.0   121.5   197.5     11-13- 8     20-22-13                         

BEST NFL RECORDS DURING 1999-2010 REGULAR SEASONS

COLTS ARE NFL'S WINNINGEST TEAM FROM 1999-2010: The Colts stand as the NFL's winningest team since the start of the 1999 season. The Colts own a 129-49 record during that span.