Game Preview
Chicago Bears at Indianapolis Colts
sunday, september 7, 2008 - 8:15 pm
*Recovering Manning, Colts open new stadium against Bears*
Chicago at Indianapolis, 8:15 pm EDT
INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Peyton Manning's streak of 160 consecutive regular-season starts appeared to be in jeopardy.
But after being named probable for Sunday's season opener against the Chicago Bears, the Indianapolis Colts can concentrate on continuing their winning ways in the new Lucas Oil Stadium after spending the last 25 years in the RCA Dome.
Manning, who is recovering from surgery to remove an infected bursa sac from his left knee, can help the Colts extend their NFL record with a sixth straight 12-plus win season. They also can tie the Dallas Cowboys for second place on the all-time list with a seventh straight season with at least 10 wins - nine away from the San Francisco 49ers' mark set from 1983-98.
"You have a lot more things to worry about in training camp," Colts coach Tony Dungy said. "Then, when you come to the regular season, you're just focusing on, 'OK, here are the resources we have. What can we do to win this game?'"
Indianapolis, which looks to secure its sixth straight AFC South championship, also plans to extend the league's longest active streak with its seventh straight playoff berth.
The Manning-led offense provides enough proof such expectations are easily within reach.
"You want to see their potential," Dungy said. "You like what you've seen. You like the work ethic and the athleticism and the ability. Now, can we put it together? Can we be a team that's on top of the details, that works hard week in and week out and stays focused on the task? If we do all of that, we can be very good.
Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison make up one of the most imposing wide receiver corps in football, while second-year receiver Anthony Gonzalez appears primed for a breakout season.
Harrison's days as an elite wideout may be numbered and his durability is in question since the 36-year-old played just five games due to a sprained left knee in 2007.
While he was out, Wayne became Manning's most potent target. Wayne already had been very productive the last few years, but Harrison's absence was a contributing factor in his NFL-best 1,510 yards last season.
Tight end Dallas Clark is also always dangerous in the slot and third-year running back Joseph Addai complements the offensive attack. In fact, Addai can become the first running back in Colts history to rush for at least 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons in the league.
Led by reigning Defensive Player of the Year Bob Sanders, the defense is also one of the best in football.
The Bears, who fell in Super Bowl XLI to the Colts in 2006, enter the campaign a bit more questionable on the offensive end of the ball.
Rookie running back Matt Forte likely will be the main cog, taking over for the since-departed and troubled Cedric Benson. The passing game also has gone through a big change, including a new look at quarterback, where Kyle Orton will take over for the much-maligned Rex Grossman.
Orton threw 43 passes in the preseason, fewer than the Bears attempted in three regular-season games a year ago when they were 7-9.
"I feel like I've gotten plenty of reps," Orton said to the Chicago Sun-Times. "And when I wasn't out there, I was getting reps on film and in my mind. I feel good. My body feels good, and my mind feels good. I'm not too worried about that."