• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Injury-wracked Colts await visit from Chiefs

Nov 18, 2007 - 11:27 AM Kansas City (4-5) at Indianapolis (7-2) Sunday 1:00 pm EST

INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- There's hardly ever a good time to face Peyton Manning, and this doesn't figure to be one of them for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Coming off back-to-back home losses, the Chiefs face an arduous task when they visit the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

The banged-up Colts are coming off two consecutive losses of their own and appear to be vulnerable with a slew of high-profile starters hampered by injuries.

However, Indianapolis showed its mettle in Sunday night's 23-21 loss to the San Diego Chargers.

Overcoming the loss of six starters and a 23-0 first-half deficit - not to mention a career-high six interceptions by Manning - the Colts appeared poised to steal one from the Chargers, only to see Adam Vinatieri miss a go-ahead 29-yard field goal with 1:31 to play.

"That was one of the most disappointing games we've had since I've been here," Colts coach Tony Dungy said. "You have to give all the credit to San Diego. They outplayed us in the first half and we did some things you can't do to win a game."

Despite the six picks, Manning still completed 34-of-56 passes for 328 yards and had his team on the doorstep of a victory until the stunning miss by Vinatieri, the most clutch kicker in the history of the game.

Dungy hopes to get wideout Marvin Harrison and tight end Dallas Clark back to face Kansas City. Harrison has missed four of the past five games since injuring his left knee vs. Denver in Week Four.

Indy will be without All-Pro defensive end Dwight Freeney, who suffered a foot injury and is expected to miss a significant amount of time.

The Chiefs have issues of their own. All-Pro running back Larry Johnson will miss his second straight game due to continued swelling in his sprained right foot.

Priest Holmes made his first start in over two years, rushing for 65 yards on 20 carries in a 33-22 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Kansas City also will have a new face at quarterback, with coach Herm Edwards inserting second-year man Brodie Croyle in place of Damon Huard.

Croyle finished 17-of-30 for 162 yards and a touchdown in relief of Huard last weekend.

Indianapolis eliminated the Chiefs in the first round of the playoffs last season, 23-8, holding Johnson to 32 yards rushing and Kansas City to 126 total yards.