Colts at Broncos, 2:40 p.m., Sunday, KCNC 4
For the record: The Colts are who you thought they were in the season opener: a prolific passing team. Nobody slings it around the yard like Andrew Luck, the game’s best young quarterback. He topped the NFL in touchdown passes and yards, and showed why in the playoff victory over the Bengals.
Streaking: Luck provides hope. While he remains linked to Peyton Manning, the man he replaced, Luck plays more like John Elway. He can improvise and has enough strength to make throws with defenders draped across his body. He returns to Denver for the first time since the season opener. He threw for 376 yards in a convincing victory over the Bengals on Sunday.
Who’s hot: Dan Herron is the best back nobody has ever heard of in the playoffs. Herron moved past Trent Richardson on the Colts’ depth chart — Richardson is a tailback with fullback’s size — and has excelled despite fumbles. Herron caught 10 passes for 85 yards, evolving into a legitimate checkdown threat.
Who’s not: T.Y. Hilton remains one of the league’s most explosive players, and rebounded nicely Sunday with a 103-yard game. However, he continues to struggle with drops. He had two critical misses against the Bengals that might not go unpunished on the road.
Key stat: The Broncos would be best-served not to let a field goal decide this game. The Colts’ Adam Vinatieri, a potential Hall of Famer, has made 29 of his past 31 postseason attempts.
He Said It: “You’re going against a Hall of Famer. You’re going against somebody who has mastered the game, knows all the coverages.” — Colts defensive tackle Ricky Jean Francois on facing Peyton Manning.
