Colts-Vikings Preview

SCOUTING REPORT

Vikings' defensive line too good for beat-up ColtsThe loser is going to dig itself a big hole in its respective conference. Based on last week's games, this matchup will pit strength versus weakness in the run game. Chicago was able to run the ball between the tackles versus Indianapolis and manhandle the Colts' rushing attack. If the Colts' offense struggles again, it could it be a precursor of things to come. Watch the Colts' offense closely because they gave up a lot of penetration along the interior of the line, which is where injured C Jeff Saturday normally patrols.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
IND	12-4	377	298	6-2	6-2	4-2	10-2
MIN	10-6	379	333	6-2	4-4	4-2	8-4
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Indianapolis Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Mannin... 68.8 4500 33 16 Painte... 28.6 83 0 2

Minnesota Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Favre 68.4 4202 33 7 Jackso... 66.7 201 1 0

Indianapolis Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Addai 219 828 3.8 10 Brown 78 281 3.6 3

Minnesota Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Peters... 314 1383 4.4 18 Taylor 94 338 3.6 1

Indianapolis Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Wayne 100 1264 12.6 10 Clark 100 1106 11.1 10

Minnesota Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Rice 83 1312 15.8 8 Harvin 60 790 13.2 6

Full Player Stats: Indianapolis | Minnesota

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	IND	336.0
	MIN	331.0
Yards Passing	IND	255.9
	MIN	184.8
Yards Rushing	IND	79.6
	MIN	146.1
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	IND	310.9
	MIN	292.4
Pass Yds Allowed	IND	188.1
	MIN	215.6
Rush Yds Allowed	IND	122.9
	MIN	76.9

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Indianapolis leads 2-0
Nov 8, 2004	IND 31, @MIN 28

DAN BURCH

STATS writer

It's been a while since the Indianapolis Colts felt what it was like to lose this early.

The Colts will try to regroup from a disappointing opening week Sunday when they travel to face another disheartened team, the Minnesota Vikings.

Indianapolis, which last year became the first team in NFL history to open 7-0 in three straight seasons, lost 29-13 to Chicago on Sunday night, ruining the coming-out party for its new stadium. The defeat snapped a 21-game winning streak for the Colts in September and October, the longest pre-November win streak in the NFL since the 1928-32 Packers won 23 straight.

Lucas Oil Stadium looked spectacular, but the Colts were anything but on the field. Peyton Manning, who missed much of training camp and all of the preseason with left knee surgery, wasn't sharp despite throwing for 257 yards, and the Colts rushed for just 53 yards. They also lost running back Joseph Addai (head) and tight end Dallas Clark (knee) to injuries. Addai is expected to play, but there's been no word yet whether Clark will be able to suit up.

"Usually on Monday, you come in and say the tape wasn't as bad as we thought," Colts coach Tony Dungy said. "But it was today. It was one of those exceptions. They played sharp, they played well and executed, and we threw our deep balls, but we really didn't get those big plays, and we got only one touchdown in the red zone."

While the offense was rusty, the lackluster play of the defense has the team worried. Indianapolis led the league in scoring defense last season, but in Week 1 it showed an inability to stop the run.

Chicago rookie Matt Forte ran for 123 yards in his first NFL start and the Bears finished with 183 yards on the ground, averaging 4.7 per carry. Now, the Colts must gear up to face electric running back Adrian Peterson and the Vikings (0-1).

"That's what we pride ourselves on, stopping the run and forcing a team to be one-dimensional," said Colts safety Bob Sanders, the 2007 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. ""It's tough. I think we need to come back and figure out what we need to get corrected.

"We've got a lot to improve on, and we've got to do it quickly or it will be the same results. We've got to not let it happen again."

Peterson and Chester Taylor helped Minnesota lead the NFL in rushing last season. In Week 1, the Vikings' running game picked up right where it left off, as Peterson had 103 yards and a touchdown while the team finished with 187 yards.

Despite Peterson's performance, the Vikings suffered a 24-19 loss to Green Bay -- not what they expected after an offseason spending spree netted them Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen and wide receiver Bernard Berrian, among others.

Allen did little in his debut, and the rest of the Vikings struggled once again to defend the pass. After finishing last the league in pass defense in 2007, the Vikings let Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers complete 81.8 percent of his attempts. Minnesota's vaunted defensive line, featuring Allen and fellow Pro Bowlers Kevin Williams and Pat Williams, didn't record a sack or turnover in the game.

"For me, it burns my gut," said Allen, who didn't even record a tackle. "I feel like I could've done more to help our team win. "This is one of the least productive games I've ever had in my life, and I'm not going to let that happen again."

Minnesota, which entered the season with playoff – and even Super Bowl – aspirations, also needs more balanced play from its offense. Despite Peterson's production, the team failed to move the ball several times, and settled for field goals twice inside the red zone.

"I think it's all about, for us, developing consistency," Vikings coach Brad Childress said. "We really lost this thing as a team – offense, defense and special teams."

Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson completed just 16 of 35 passes, with his last attempt an interception that effectively ended the game.

"I'm very confident. There are 15 more games,"" said Jackson, who did rush for 65 yards. "You can't turn your season up in one game."

Minnesota has lost eight of its past 10 interconference games while the Colts have won 17 of their previous 21 against NFC teams.

This is the first meeting between the teams since 2004, when the Colts won 31-28 at home. Indianapolis has lost five straight visits to Minnesota, but hasn't played at the Metrodome since 1997 -- the year before Manning entered the league.

Nevada casinos win $6.9M on Super Bowl bets

Gambling regulators say Nevada casinos won almost $6.9 million on this year's Super Bowl as bettors wagered $82.7 million on the NFL title game.

Wickersham: Saints party hearty

The New Orleans Saints had a party to remember before they even left Miami, writes Seth Wickersham.

Pasquarelli: NFL avoids another PR disaster

Tracy Porter's interception helped divert a potential PR nightmare for the NFL, writes Len Pasquarelli.

Wickersham: The future of the NFL

Seth Wickersham looks at the labor dispute that is hanging over the NFL and what the future may hold for the league.

Indianapolis Colts defense won't see wholesale changes

The Indianapolis Colts brought in Larry Coyer to replace Ron Meeks as coordinator, not oversee an extensive renovation of the defense.

Brackett: I'll be ready for Colts camp

Gary Brackett anticipates being ready for the start of training camp as the Indianapolis Colts' veteran linebacker continues to recover from a broken right leg that forced him to miss the end of the 2008 season.

Manning challenges youngsters to emerge as third receiver

The Indianapolis Colts' roster lists nine receivers, so depth isn't a concern, though for the first time since 1995, the collection doesn't include Marvin Harrison. Proven depth is another matter entirely.

Colts' Jackson, Hart recovering quickly

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Marlin Jackson and running back Mike Hart labor on different sides of the ball, but they are recovering from similar injuries and chasing identical timetables.

Brackett energized about Colts coaches

Colts linebacker Gary Brackett honored Canterbury students Thursday for raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Vikings cut receiver

Roderick Rogers on Monday, a day after completing their three-day mandatory minicamp, leaving 84 players on the roster.

Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress wigs out, shows a sense of humor

The Vikings completed a mandatory three-day minicamp Sunday at Winter Park. Here's a closer look at what we learned: Who says Vikings coach Brad Childress doesn't like to have fun? He showed the lighter side of his personality on Sunday.

Vikes' Wildcat formation means little in face of Favre fluctuation

The Vikings spent their latest camp working on the Wildcat formation. They should have been drawing up their Wildcard formation.

Vikings' Childress is Favre's innocent victim

Fran Tarkenton's rips on Brett Favre for the way he's mercilessly toyed with the Minnesota Vikings certainly can be justified.

NFL players union requests hold on suspensions

The NFL Players Association is asking a federal judge to keep the suspensions of five players on hold while the case over use of a banned substance is appealed.