Quarterback Peyton Manning is on a simple mission this week: Strike fast, stay on the field and take the Colts back to Miami.
Manning, a four-time MVP, and his Colts teammates can't wait for the journey to begin.
Nearly a month after then-undefeated Indianapolis set off a national firestorm by yanking its starters early against the New York Jets, Manning & Co. will get another shot at them in this weekend's AFC championship game -- even if nobody lets them forget what happened the first time.
"Do you expect to play all four quarters this week?" Manning was asked jokingly before he could even settle in at the lectern yesterday.
"I do, yeah," Manning deadpanned, drawing laughter.
But in Indianapolis, this is no laughing matter.
Furious fans deluged local radio talk shows after Indy's 29-15 loss in Week 16, and fans weren't the only ones upset.
After the game, Jeff Saturday, a four-time Pro Bowl center, said he understood why Indy's home fans booed, other players seemed surprised by Coach Jim Caldwell's decision to pull players early and Manning said that nothing should be read into his body language even though he uncharacteristically kept his helmet on for most of the final 20 minutes that day.
Since then, players and coaches have reached a consensus that they may not be playing in their third AFC title game since 2003 had they not done it this way.
"Really, we've tried to focus in on the things that we thought were in the best interest of our team to get us into the position we are right now," Caldwell said. "That was the ultimate goal."
It's taken the Colts (15-2) a little longer to convince the fans.
Three weeks ago, Manning jump-started the reconciliation process after another loss at Buffalo by explaining that nothing could be changed. He said that it was time to move forward and that he hoped fans would forgive the Colts and provide a united front in the playoffs.
A win Sunday, and a ticket to Miami, would finally fix everything.
"I think everybody realizes the opportunity and what's at stake," Manning said. "That's why I think everybody wants to have a good week of preparation, to put ourselves in the best position on Sunday."
Clearly, that means Manning and others will have to perform up to their usually high standards, and Manning has had his share of success against the defenses of Rex Ryan, the Jets' coach.
Since 2005, Manning has gone head-to-head with Ryan five times, completing 82 of 132 pass attempts for 1,136 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions. Manning is 4-1 in those games -- the only loss coming in December after Manning left with a 15-10 lead.
Would things have been different had Manning stayed in?
"The thing is nobody will know," said Ryan, whose Jets were playing to stay alive in playoff contention at the time.
But the Colts were short-handed well before they pulled the starters.
Indy played without Robert Mathis, a Pro Bowl defensive end, linebacker Clint Session, left tackle Charlie Johnson, safety Melvin Bullitt, cornerback Jerraud Powers and receiver Pierre Garcon, who all sat with injuries.
All, with the possible exception of Powers, should play Sunday.
Powers (foot) was the only Colts player to sit out practice yesterday, though safety Antoine Bethea (back) and tight end Dallas Clark (illness) were limited participants.
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