Vernon Davis will be active for Week 9 with Broncos

Peyton Manning finished with two touchdowns, two interceptions, and 281 passing yards. Vinatieri added a 43-yard field goal, and tight end Jack Doyle caught a 3-yard touchdown pass to give the Colts a 17-0 lead with 7:12 to play in the first half.

Two was enough to leave just three ideal teams standing.

The Colts had a nice mix of play calling this afternoon, effectively using the run to set up play action passes.

Yet Manning’s Denver team-mates insist the veteran quarterback is determined to prove a point on his return to Indianapolis, after losing there with the Broncos on his only other visit in 2013. He was also just three yards shy of holding the all-time record for passing yards.

Perhaps it was the back injury that robbed fearsome DeMarcus Ware from the Broncos’ defense.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton is reportedly day-to-day with a foot sprain, and New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will start Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

This is Manning’s second trip back to Indy since joining the Broncos in 2012 after missing an entire season following a series of neck surgeries that have left him without feeling in the fingertips of his right hand.

It’s a stark contrast to the last meeting between Manning’s current team and his old one. I was 10 yards away from the guy.

At 7-1, the Broncos are still in control of the AFC West, but their chances to get home field took a big hit. However, Denver returner Omar Bolden took off down the sideline for an 83-yard punt return touchdown at the halftime gun. It was the first offensive touchdown allowed in the first quarter by the Denver defense this season.

And yet, after absorbing 17 straight points, the Colts hunkered down.

Andrew Luck looked like a different quarterback Sunday. The Broncos managed another big, clock-killing drive in the third quarter that climaxed with a Brandon McManus field goal to tie the game 17-17.

All Luck and the Colts (4-5) were thinking about was the win. Meanwhile the Colts are the top dog in a weak AFC South and could start turning the ship around.

“I’ve never played in an offense like this before”, Davis said. Then, the Broncos came back to tie the game twice.

But then the Colts defense made a play – they picked off Peyton Manning (again). And the Broncos defense didn’t. The Jets are 4-3 on the season, and will need Fitzpatrick to stay healthy if they wish to contend this season, as they will need a wildcard to likely make the playoffs.

Andrew Luck threw two touchdown passes and set up Adam Vinatieri for a 55-yard field goal with 6:13 left in the game to give Indianapolis a 27-24 victory – ruining Manning’s homecoming and ending Denver’s unbeaten season.

The Broncos defense was humbled by this loss – 1985 Bears/2000 Ravens they are not. Peyton Manning again threw two interceptions – he’s thrown at least one pick every game this year and has thrown multiple interceptions four times.