Indianapolis Colts 2009 schedule breakdown: the first quarter

April 14, 9:32 PMIndianapolis Colts ExaminerJohn Oehser

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Colts quarterback Peyton Manning (AP Photo)

Breaking down the Indianapolis Colts' 2009 Schedule . . .

LINK: FULL COLTS 2009 SCHEDULE

First Quarter . . . Weeks 1-4.

Sunday, September 13 / JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS / 1:00 p.m. 

Examiner Analysis: The Colts had been very, very good in season openers in recent years until last season's 29-13 loss to the Chicago Bears in the season opener. Against the Bears, the Colts looked very un-Colts-like, primarily because quarterback Peyton Manning was still very much hampered by the aftereffects of offseason knee surgery and because center Jeff Saturday was out with a knee injury. This will be the regular-season debut of Jim Caldwell as the Colts' head coach and without question the Colts will want to replicate the quick starts they had under former Head Coach Tony Dungy from 2002-2007. Ironic note: Dungy made his regular-season Colts debut against Jacksonville. The Colts won the 2002 season opener in Jacksonville, 28-25.

Monday, September 21 / at Miami Dolphins / 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Examiner Analyis: Depending on how good Jacksonville is next season, the Colts' first three games have the potential to be difficult. They travel to Miami to play the Dolphins for the first time since a victory over Miami in the RCA Dome in the 2006 regular-season finale. That was the game that tight end Dallas Clark returned from a late-season knee injury, and a victory that many around the Colts said later gave them much-needed momentum and set up their run to the Super Bowl XLI championship. The Colts' last played in Miami in the regular season in 2003, when Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney secured a dramatic victory with a late-game sack. Their last trip to Miami? Super Bowl XLI. A big question in this game: was the Dolphins' turnaround season last season a one-year deal or are they a permanent contender.  The guess here is the latter, but a lot of times teams that turn it around big one year struggle a bit the next season (read: Colts 2000).

Sunday, September 27 / at Arizona Cardinals / 8:20 p.m. (NBC)

Examiner Analysis: The NFL didn't put the Colts on prime-time on Kickoff Weekend for the first time since 2003. But the Colts still are clearly a draw. This will be a second prime-time game in as many weeks and the Colts' first trip to Arizona since 1990. It will be their first game against the Cardinals since the memorable goal-line stand game in the 2005 regular-season finale. Colts players gave then-head coach Tony Dungy the game ball in his first game back since the death of his son, James. This year's matchup could be the final game between two of the best quarterbacks of their era, Kurt Warner of the Cardinals and Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. The two met once before: in December of 2001, when Warner and the Rams routed the Colts in St. Louis en route to a Super Bowl appearance.

Sunday, October 4 / SEATTLE SEAHAWKS / 1:00 p.m.

Examiner Analysis: This will be the first time Jim Mora has coached as a head coach against his father's former team. Mora, now the head coach of the Seahawks, took over for Mike Holmgren this past offseason. It also will be a matchup of head coaches who spent this past season as essentially coaches-in-waiting, but beyond that, it's the least compelling matchup of the early season for the Colts. The most important aspect of this game may be that it's the Colts' lone game at Lucas Oil Stadium from the season opener on September 13 until November 1. If the Colts can get through November in contention, they'll be in good shape.

Next: The Second Quarter.

For more on the Colts, please check out:

• THE EXAMINER SERIES: Peyton Manning Top 10 underrated moments.
• Colts the ninth-ranked franchise in NFL?
• Colts re-sign LB Tyjuan Hagler
• Free agency still slow for WR Marvin Harrison
• Colts fans should relax as draft approaches
• Colts shouldn't be blamed for CIB shortfall
• Colts work out WR Hakeem Nicks
• Colts preseason schedule announced
• Colts Owner Jim Irsay has put Baltimore days well in past.
• 2009 NFL Draft: Quarterback.
• 2009 NFL Draft: Running back.
• 2009 NFL Draft: Wide receiver.
• 2009 NFL Draft: tight end
• 2009 NFL Draft: Offensive tackle
• 2009 NFL Draft: Offensive guard
• Colts 2009 NFL Draft: Center
• Colts receive compensatory pick
• Colts Sign LB Adam Seward
• Why DT is a crucial offseason need.
• Why C Jeff Saturday stayed in Indianapolis.