NFL

Peyton’s back in Indy to face Colts

INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts are about to find out just how wise it is to tug on Peyton Manning’s cape.

Their owner made sure of that this week, turning Manning’s much-anticipated return to Indianapolis into a potential learning experience with comments that appeared to mock the four-time NFL MVP’s inability to bring home more than one Super Bowl trophy in 14 otherwise glittering seasons as a Colt.

Jim Irsay immediately tried to claim he was misinterpreted, but that didn’t prevent Broncos coach John Fox for blasting the Indianapolis owner as “disrespectful” and Manning from reportedly stewing over the surprise insult.

Will the comments motivate Manning to take it out on Irsay by running it up on his former team?

A prime-time TV audience and an overflow crowd at Lucas Oil Stadium — also known as The House That Peyton Built — will be eager to see the answer to that question Sunday night as a red-hot Manning takes on the Colts for the first time since signing with Denver after Irsay released him last year.

The current trends certainly don’t bode well for Indianapolis in this showdown of AFC division leaders.
Not only have the Broncos won 17 consecutive regular-season games dating to last season, but their 265 points are the most in NFL history by any team through its first six games. And Denver’s defense, which had been the only source of concern during a 6-0 start, is getting sackmaster Von Miller back from league suspension this week.

Manning’s numbers, meanwhile, continue to look like something from another planet. He’s first in the NFL in practically every positive passing category, completing 74 percent for his passes for 2,179 yards and 22 touchdowns against just two interceptions.

As if all of that wasn’t daunting enough for the Colts, they will be trying to beat Manning in a short week that was also a dreary one thanks to a 19-9 loss in San Diego on “Monday Night Football” that dropped Indy to 4-2.

But Irsay no doubt felt comfortable rattling the cage of Manning and former Colts GM Bill Polian over past playoff failures because Manning’s eventual successor, Andrew Luck, already is a star in just his second NFL season.

Luck might not have Manning’s mind-blowing individual numbers, but the Colts are ecstatic with the only figure that ultimately matters — victories. Indy is 15-7 in his first 22 regular-season starts, and Luck’s nine comebacks in the fourth quarter and overtime are also tied for the most in the first two seasons of a career by any quarterback in NFL history.

The Colts also have to like their chances with Luck at home, considering he is 9-2 with 17 TDs against six interceptions in 11 regular-season starts at Lucas Oil Stadium. And with this city in a frenzy over Manning’s return, crowd noise — especially in a dome — will no doubt be a factor.

Can all that combine to at least slow down Manning and the Broncos’ supercharged attack? The league has been waiting to see when No. 18 would come back to Earth, and that appeared to be the case somewhat last week when he threw for “only” 295 yards and two TDs (and had an interception returned for a score) in a surprisingly close 35-19 home win over the Jaguars.

But thanks to Irsay, Manning won’t lack for motivation Sunday night. Look for Irsay’s team to pay a heavy price as a result.

PICK: Broncos, 42-20.