Manning takes apart weird scheme

INDIANAPOLIS -- As soon as the eight-man inactive list was distributed Sunday afternoon, the Broncos were in trouble, and it had nothing to do with wide receiver Javon Walker and safety John Lynch being scratched because of injuries.

Mike Shanahan tipped off that it was going to be tough to beat the Colts (4-0) in the RCA Dome. During the offseason, the Denver head coach hired Jim Bates to restructure his defense, trying to get bigger and tougher at defensive tackle. But because the Broncos were playing Peyton Manning's no-huddle offense, Shanahan scratched starting defensive tackles Sam Adams and Amon Gordon. Instead, the Broncos lined up in a weird alignment in which they started four defensive ends, one of whom (rookie Jarvis Moss) played as a stand-up defensive tackle.

The Broncos went vegetarian when they needed some beef and were blown off the line of scrimmage and out of the game 38-20. But that's what happens when coaches face Manning. The Colts' quarterback gets into coaches' heads so much that they become unconventional. Shanahan -- who lost to the Colts by 31 and 25 the past two times they met in the playoffs -- is no different.

"We knew going into the game we had to limit Indy's possessions," Shanahan said. "I think we did limit their possessions, but obviously they did a great job of making some plays, running and throwing the ball.' MORE>>

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