Denver needs this win but are only 3-3 on the road and that was with a healthy Portis. Colts are still in the hunt for homefield and need a good game here to tune up for the playoffs since next week will be against the Texans.

Denver Notes

The Broncos rise to 9-5 and are on a three game winning streak. They are still in the wildcard hunt.

Quarterbacks:: For the first time in the past nine games, Jake Plummer failed to throw a touchdown pass last week against the Browns. Plummer ended with 269 yards and added a 23 yard run but spent most of last week handing off to Portis.

Running Backs: Clinton Portis turned in two more scores and 139 yards last week against the Browns with a personal best 38 carries in the game. That gives him ten games over 100 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns on the season. He suffered a high ankle sprain and twisted knee during overtime. He is considered questionable this week and is not expected to practice.

I am not projecting for him since the injury is akin to the ones that have prevented virtually every other player from playing in the next game. The Broncos need him to be sure, but regardless of what Shanahan says it is unlikely that Portis will take the field this week. Mike Anderson, AKA 2000 Rookie of the Year, is healthy and ready to play along with rookie Quentin Griffin. Last week Griffin was inactive as he had missed practice time due to attending a funeral but should figure in with Anderson this week.

Receivers: Rod Smith only had 41 yards on four catches last week but Ashley Lelie gained 71 yards on four catches which was his best effort since back in week four. Lelie had the long gainer that set up the tying field goal last week. With the probable absence of Portis this week, both Smith and Lelie will assume more important roles along with Shannon Sharpe who led all receivers last week with 97 yards on eight catches.

Ed McCaffrey had a mild concussion last week but is expected to play on Sunday.

Match against the Defense: How the Broncos change without Portis will be interesting. In week four when he was gone, Jake Plummer threw for 277 yards and two scores against the Lions. The Colts had a big game last week against Michael Vick but McNair, Brady and Pennington had all thrown for multiple touchdowns against the Colts and oddly enough for between 219 and 236 yards for all three.

The Colts rush defense has allowed six runners to top 100 yards this season and both Mike Cloud and Domanick Davis scored twice in Indianapolis. With Manning being "nuclear-fission" sort of hot lately, the Broncos will be well served to run as much as possible and keep him from the field. If the score escalates and the Broncos must throw the ball, the Colts will give up yards and scores there as well. Just not as many as the opponent defenses have been to James and Manning.

The Colts corners are no less strong on either side, so Rod Smith should turn in a decent game here and Lelie has the opportunity if Plummer can connect again this week. Sharpe will naturally figure in as well but the Colts have allowed only one tight end touchdown this season to Billy Miller and no visiting tight end has exceeded 45 yards in Indianapolis. Then again, the best tight end they have faced has been Randy McMichael (88 yards).

Indianapolis Notes

The Colts rise to 11-3 and maintain a one game lead over the Titans. A win this week will seal the divisional title.

Quarterbacks:: Peyton Manning now leads the NFL with 3901 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, 341 completions and after the NFL draft next season his family will be able to purchase their own country.

Running Backs: Edgerrin James turned in his fifth 100 yard game of the season last week against Atlanta when he rushed 20 times for 126 yards. He did not score since Manning would not stop throwing the ball into the endzone.

Receivers: Marvin Harrison comes off his fifth 100 yard effort of the season and he scored twice last week against the Falcons to give him ten scores on the season. Reggie Wayne continued his great work in home games when he had a touchdown and 57 yards last week. Wayne has scored or gained 100 yards receiving in his last six home games. All seven of his touchdowns came at home. He has averaged almost 90 yards per game when at home but only has averaged around 35 yards a game and never scored on the road. He is home this week.

Last week Brandon Stokely had a breakout week for the Colts, catching seven passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns. He has now taken over the #3 role from Troy Walters who was limited in the game last week due to a hamstring strain.

Match against the Defense: Only Rick Mirer has failed to throw a touchdown against the visiting Broncos and Peyton Manning is more than a little better than Mirer. Equal caliber quarterbacks like Kitna and Culpepper have thrown for over 260 yards and both Brady and Green had over 350 yards against the Broncos. Manning can beat this secondary and once again, Wayne has a great chance to score since more often it is the #2 and #3 wideouts that score.

Denver has only allowed Jamal Lewis to top 100 yards this season though several others have reached the ninety yard mark on the ground. Only four runners have actually scored against the Broncos this season so James is more likely to get yardage than touchdowns.

* Fantasy point rankings calculated using standard Huddle fantasy points using only the last five games played