INDIANAPOLIS -- Peyton Manning's wizardry is becoming so commonplace his coach no longer considers it especially noteworthy.\nManning, the NFL's top-rated passer, has led Indianapolis to 21 victories in the past 23 regular-season games. The two losses came after the Colts had already clinched home-field advantage in the playoffs and coach Tony Dungy used mainly reserves late last season.\n"He impresses me every day," Dungy said. "But the amazing things are getting less and less. I mean, I'm just not amazed at anything he and Marvin (Harrison) and our group does, but I'm impressed because they work at it and do it so consistently.\n"I guess I'm done with the 'Wow! That's really something special' because I see it every day in practice," Dungy said.\nThis season, the two-time NFL most valuable player has the Colts off to a 7-0 start, the first time in 75 years an NFL team won its first seven games two years in a row.\nIndianapolis plays Sunday at New England, where the Colts' victory last year was their first since 1995, three years before Manning arrived.\n"I try not to get into the 'Game of the Century' mode -- I'm sure it will come up this week," Dungy said of the showdown between the two AFC division leaders. "It's going to be a big challenge for us, but we showed last year that when we play better (than the Patriots), we win. It doesn't matter where we play."
Still learning
Defensive tackle Anthony McFarland, obtained from Tampa Bay in a trade two weeks ago, was thrust into the starting Indianapolis lineup almost immediately, in place of injured Montae Reagor.\nAfter two games, the 300-pound McFarland has only seven defensive and special teams tackles, including just two stops in Sunday's 34-31 win at Denver, and the Colts rank last in the NFL in defense against the rush.\n"We've got to tackle a lot better. This game is predicated on throwing, catching, running, blocking, tackling, and we've got to do the tackling part on defense," McFarland said.\nCoach Tony Dungy took the blame for not having the defense ready for some adjustments Denver made in the second half of Sunday's game, when the Broncos racked up 180 of their 227 yards rushing.\n"Our offense really rescued us," Dungy said. "But we'll continue to improve; we're going to have to."\nThe Colts scored on seven of their final eight possessions. Peyton Manning hit five straight passes and took Indianapolis to the Denver 18, where Adam Vinatieri kicked the winning field goal with two seconds remaining.\nIndianapolis might not have needed the late comeback with better tackling earlier in the game, McFarland said.\n"That's what we've got to come back and fix. It's a problem that can be fixed," he said. "You've got 11 guys who got to do their job. Once we do that and do it consistently, we'll be better."
Still questionable
Bob Sanders is following a disturbing pattern in his return from arthroscopic knee surgery.\nThe Pro Bowl safety has missed the past five games, but for the third week in a row he practiced with the Colts early in the week before being scratched from the active roster for the game on Sunday. Once again, he's expected back on the field this week.\n"That's my hope," coach Dungy said. "He'll practice Wednesday, and we'll see."\nHe said receiver Brandon Stokley, who has not played since he sprained his left knee Oct. 8 against Tennessee, is "a little more iffy" than Sanders.\n"We're going to be absolutely sure before we put him out there," Dungy said.
No hype
Even though he's known for his low-key demeanor, Dungy says he still gets excited about big NFL matchups, such as the Colts vs. the Patriots on Sunday.\nHe just doesn't show it.\n"I enjoy games that get hyped," Dungy said. "I just don't like to hype them myself"
