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Colts return to former home for playoff game

Jan 13, 2007 - 5:52 PM Indianapolis (13-4) at Baltimore (13-3) 4:30 pm EST AFC Divisional Playoff

BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- Bert Jones and Lydell Mitchell were the stars when the Colts last hosted a postseason game in Baltimore more than 29 years ago.

Located in Indianapolis since 1984, the Colts return as visitors to face the second-seeded Baltimore Ravens in the divisional playoffs on Saturday.

The winner will face the winner of the game between the San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots in the AFC championship game.

The Colts won three NFL championships and a Super Bowl title when they were based in Baltimore. The Ravens won a Super Bowl for the city as well after the 2000 season.

Perhaps the most memorable postseason game at Baltimore was the last one played here by the Colts - a 37-31 double-overtime loss to the Oakland Raiders in December 1977. Ken Stabler hit tight end Dave Casper with a 10-yard touchdown pass in the second overtime to give Oakland the win.

This game matches Peyton Manning, the NFL's highest-rated quarterback, against the league's best defense.

Manning has been to the AFC championship game just once in his nine-year career. This season, he led the NFL with a 101.0 passer rating, completing 65 percent of his passes for 4,397 yards, 31 touchdowns and just nine interceptions. Pro Bowl targets Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne ranked second and third, respectively, in the AFC in receiving yards.

But getting to the AFC championship game for a second time will entail beating the Ravens, who allowed a league-low 201 points (12.6 per game) this season.

Middle linebacker Ray Lewis is the face of the Ravens' defense. He was the MVP in Super Bowl XXXV when the Ravens beat the New York Giants and a two-time Defensive Player of the Year.

However, Lewis was not elected to the Pro Bowl this season. Instead, those honors went to linebacker Adalius Thomas, defensive end Terrell Suggs, safety Ed Reed and cornerback Chris McAlister. Thomas led the team with 11 sacks and McAlister recorded a career-high six interceptions.

Harrison and Wayne, who combined for 181 catches for 2,676 yards and 21 touchdowns, will match up against McAlister and Samari Rolle. But Manning is most concerned with Reed, who has 27 career interceptions.

"Ed Reed is one of the best players in the league," Manning said. "You can never get a handle of where he's going to be on the field. He's just a premier playmaker."

Ravens quarterback Steve McNair went to the AFC championship game twice and the Super Bowl once as a member of the Tennessee Titans. In 2003, he shared the league's MVP award with Manning, who won the honor as well in 2004.

In his first year with the Ravens, McNair completed 63 percent of his passes for 3,050 yards and 16 touchdowns with 12 interceptions.

Tight end Todd Heap and wide receivers Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton will be the primary targets against a secondary led by safety Bob Sanders and cornerback Nick Harper.

But the way to attack the Colts is on the ground. They ranked last in the league this season, allowing 173 yards a game. However, coach Tony Dungy stacked the box last week with linebackers and safeties and the Colts limited Larry Johnson, the NFL's second-leading rusher, to 32 yards on 13 carries in a 23-8 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in the wild card round.

Rookie Joseph Addai rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries in his first playoff game for the Colts.

Baltimore's rushing attack is ranked 25th, led by Jamal Lewis' 1,132 yards.

The Ravens finished with a franchise-best 13-3 record to earn a first-round bye. They won nine of their last 10 games after Billick fired Jim Fassel as offensive coordinator and took over the play calling.

The teams last met here in the 2005 season opener. Manning threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Colts to a 24-7 victory. Jamal Lewis was held to 48 yards on 16 carries.

Gary Brackett had a pair of interceptions and fellow linebacker Cato June returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown, although Baltimore's quarterbacks then were Kyle Boller and Anthony Wright.