Indianapolis Colts primer, Week 3: Previewing Colts-Arizona Cardinals at Univ. of Phoenix Stadium

Indianapolis Colts S Melvin Bullitt (left) and S Antoine Bethea (AP Photo)

Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser breaks down the Week 3 NFL matchup between the Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals, which will be played at University of Phoenix Stadium Sunday at 8:20 p.m. . . .

THE VIBE . . .

The Colts are unbeaten and leading the AFC South by a game over Houston and two games over Jacksonville and Tennessee. And while that gives them an unexpected edge over the team that many picked to repeat as division champions (Tennessee), there's another reality around Indianapolis and that's that the Colts really don't know yet how good they are. Reason being while the Colts have won their first two games, they have yet to firmly establish that they have improved in the three areas targeted as must-improve areas during the offseason: the running offense, running defense and third-down defense. The Colts struggled to run in the opener, and improved against Miami in Week 2, but in that Week 2 victory, they rushed only 11 times, so the nearly 5.5-yards per carry they averaged was at the same time hard to gauge. Defensively, Indianapolis played a solid game against Jacksonville, but allowed the Dolphins 239 yards rushing on 39 carries. The main reason may have been the Dolphins' Wildcat offense, or it may have been that the team still has troubles against the run. Quite obviously the hope around Indianapolis is it's the latter. Now, the Colts must travel to Arizona to play a different type of offense than they have played the first two weeks. Whereas Jacksonville and Miami are run-oriented teams, the Cardinals -- the defending NFC Champions are a pass-oriented team, meaning a different challenge and a different dynamic. All that on a national stage for a second consecutive week and the game needed to get to 3-0 for a fifth time in seven years may be toughter than either of the first two games. "It's a national TV game, Sunday night, so you know it's going to be a big-time atmosophere," Colts DE Dwight Freeney said.

THE BIG CONCERN . . .

Last week against the Miami Dolphins, the concerrn was the Wildcat offense, and Miami burned Indianapolis for 107 yards on 12 carries from the formation. This week, it's a completely different feel for the Colts' defense. The reason? Cardinals QB Kurt Warner, WR Anquan Boldin and WR Larry Fitzgerald. The trio helped Arizona to the Super Bowl last season, and slowing the Cardinals' offense will be a priority. The Colts' pass rush is a team strength, and although Freeney missed practice Thursday because of a back injury he practiced Friday and is expected to play this week. DE Robert Mathis and Freeney each made the Pro Bowl last season and form one of the best pass-rushing tandems in the NFL. They make the matchup winnable for the Colts because generally teams can't stand in the pocket play after play against the Colts. That's one reason the Colts allowed six passing touchdowns last season -- an NFL record for fewest touchdown passes allowed in a season and a reason they have allowed none this season. "When you're playing a guy like Kurt, his receivers and what they’ve got going on over there offensively, it’s important that you don’t take a play off," Freeney said ."You’ve got play like, ‘I’ve got to get (to Warner),’” Freeney said. "Kurt gets rids of the ball so quickly. He has been around for a while, so he knows where everybody is in that offense. It will be tough to get to him with the ball still in his hands.”

A NEW FOCUS

TE Dallas Clark long has been a key figure in the Colts' offense. Now, he's a focal point. Through two games, he leads the NFL in receiving yardage, but more than numbers, Clark is critical to the offense on a game-planning level. His ability to win matchups on linebackers because of his speed or on corners because of his size makes him more than a bailout option for Colts QB Peyton Manning. When the Colts needed big plays against the Dolphins on Monday, Manning hit Clark on several routes that resembled passes Manning once threw to three-time Pro Bowl WR Reggie Wayne and eight-time Pro Bowl selection and former Colts WR Marvin Harrison. The resemblence was herein -- that the routes looked like ones on which Manning knew beyond certainly Clark could win the matchup and that the play was called at a crucial, game-changing moment. Those passes have gone to Clark before around the Colts at times, but with Harrison having been released and WR Anthony Gonzalez out perhaps two months, those passes are going to to Clark more than ever before.

INTO HIS OWN

Colts rookie RB Donald Brown hasn't started this season, but he has finished -- each of the first two games, in fact. Brown had a big-time 15-yard, tackle-breaking touchdown run that tied the Dolphins game in the fourth quarter. But although Brown has earned the respect of coaches, it's incorrect to look at it as though Brown is the main guy in the Colts' backfield. Running back Joseph Addai has looked strong and quick early, and he ran well against the Dolphins. He almost certainly will remain the starter, and the bigger truth remains the Colts' backfield is perhaps as talented and deep as it has been in years.

WHY THE COLTS CAN WIN . . .

Because early on, the Colts have had the look of a team that can figure a way to win whatever the circumstances. They didn't move effectively much of the game against Jacksonville, but the defense came up with big plays late. Against the Dolphins, the Colts held possession just 14:53, but won because Manning and the offense played with striking efficiency. The Colts are beat up, with MLB Gary Brackett, WR Anthony Gonzalez and CB Kelvin Hayden unlikely to play. Of that group, the absence of Hayden will hurt the most against the pass-oriented Cardinals, but if the Colts can generate a pass rush -- as they usually can -- the defense should fare better than it did againt Miami.

WHY THE CARDINALS CAN WIN . . .

Because they're talented, confident and at home. After a Week 1 loss, the Cardinals won at Jacksonville last week, taking a 24-3 lead en route to a 31-17 victory. Warner set an NFL record by completing 22 of 24 passes and the Cardinals looked very much like a team ready to not suffer the next-year swoon often suffered by Super Bowl runners-up.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH . . .

1) Colts DEs Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis versus Cardinals OTs Mike Gandy and Levi Brown. Not to overstate the obvious, but if Kurt Warner has time, he is one of the most accurate passers of this generation and WRs Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin can make huge plays deep or by running after the catch. Freeney and Mathis must get pressure and prevent Warner from getting comfortable.

2) Colts CBs Tim Jennings and Jerraud Powers versus Cardinals WRs Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. As obvious as the Freeney-Mathis versus Gandy-Brown matchup may be, this one is even moreso. It's also stating the obvious to say this isn't the best week for Hayden -- who is near Pro Bowl-level when healthy -- to be out with a hamstring injury. Jennings has had a tendency at times to give a lot of cushion, but he doesn't get beat often and doesn't give up touchdowns -- as evidenced by the Colts allowing just six touchdown passes last season when he started 12 games. Powers missed last week with a groin injury, but played well in the opener and has shown signs of being a big-time talent.

3) Colts TE Dallas Clark versus Cardinals Ss Antrell Rolle and Adrian Wilson. It's hard to specify exactly how the Colts will defense Clark, but it's not difficult to understand Clark's importance. He caught seven passes for 183 yards and an 80-yard touchdown against the Dolphins Monday, and with WR Anthony Gonzalez out, Clark will be a more integral part of the offense.

QUOTABLE . . .

They have two studs out there out wide, Boldin and Fitzgerald, so as d-linemen, we have to get in Warner's face early and often. We have to try to get him out of his comfort zone."

--- Colts DE Robert Mathis

THE LAST WORD . . .

Any worries about the Colts' offense should have been erased by last week's efficient, clutch performance against the Dolphins. Manning won't miss long-time go-to receiver Marvin Harrison and the unit is strong and deep enough to even withstand for the short term the loss of WR Anthony Gonzalez. The inability stop the run last week is a familiar concern, but the feeling here is the defense isn't as bad as that game indicated and that area will improve with time. Still, the Colts are traveling West on six days rest and playing a second consecutive prime-time game in the process. They are injured at a critical position and with Hayden out, there likely will be a lot of bend-but-don't break defense. This will be a tough game for the Colts -- maybe too tough -- and if they win it's hard to imagine it not happening in something at least close to a shootout.

*** PEYTON MANNING'S TOP 10 COMEBACK VICTORIES HERE.

*** HIS TOP 10 UNDERRATED MOMENTS HERE

*** READ COFFEE WITH THE COLTS: IFR EDITOR JOHN OEHSER'S NEXT-MORNING LOOK AT THE COLTS-DOLPHINS GAME HERE

*** WHAT DO THE COLTS HAVE TO DO TO WIN THE AFC SOUTH? READ IFR EDITOR JOHN OEHSER'S FIVE KEYS HERE

*** COLTS HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL SAYS MORE TO LATE-GAME COMEBACKS THAN JUST QB PEYTON MANNING HERE

*** A LOOK AT WHAT COLTS PRESIDENT BILL POLIAN HAD TO SAY THE DAY AFTER COLTS-DOLPHINS HERE

RECENT COLTS NEWS

* Manning says Colts won't change offensive approach because of opponents' style

MAGNIFICENT SEVENS: WEEKLY COLTS THOUGHTS . . .

Magnificent Seven I: Seven training camp thoughts and observations

Magnificent Seven II: On the Colts' defensive tackle position and WR Reggie Wayne

Magnificent Seven III: On the Colts' running backs and offensive line