Test Of Mettle

But in the longer run, if the Colts are to take advantage of Brady's absence and reach their second Super Bowl in three years, they must rediscover the balance they struck at the end of 2006 and beginning of '07. As much as Manning likes to drop back and let fly, he recognizes that he needs his running backs to shoulder more of the load if he's going to finish the season upright. After Sunday's game, he challenged his coaches to get Pro Bowl tailback Joseph Addai more touches and use him in more creative ways.

If Indianapolis does regain control of the AFC, the players know what they will hear from skeptics: that they had it easy because Brady was out. With the Colts and the Patriots, it always has to be something. "Honestly, I'll take any edge we can get," says Indy cornerback Tim Jennings. "And I think they'd feel exactly the same way if we didn't have Peyton."