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INDIANAPOLIS - Mike Adams spent his first 10 NFL seasons developing his own perception of the Colts.He bought into the theory that Indianapolis needed a high-scoring offence to win games. He also realized the Colts needed a better defence to win championships.Now, the Colts starting strong safety and his teammates want to show the rest of the league image isnt everything.Were good enough to win, and thats what you need to do at this point in the season. Stats dont matter, Adams said Monday. But to win games like this, at Denver, our defence has to step up.The defence has done that before.During their 2006 title run, Indy held Pro Bowl running back Larry Johnson to 32 yards on 13 carries in a wild-card round win, limited Baltimore to two field goals in a divisional-round win, closed out the AFC championship game victory with Marlin Jacksons interception and sealed their previous Super Bowl win with a 56-yard interception return from Kelvin Hayden. All that came after the Colts had allowed 375 yards rushing in a Week 14 loss to Jacksonville.Could it happen again? Perhaps.Since allowing 244 yards rushing in Week 11, the Colts have buckled down.When Andrew Luck and the offence were plagued by turnovers and a rash of drive-killing penalties over the final six regular-season games, the defence played well enough to help the Colts (12-5) win five of the six.When Luck protected the ball in Sundays 26-10 wild-card win over Cincinnati, the defence held up again. Indy limited Cincinnati to five first downs, 98 total yards and four straight three-and-outs in the second half.Sure, detractors will contend the Bengals top two receivers, A.J. Green and Jermaine Gresham, were inactive because of injuries. But the Colts also limited the NFLs top rookie rusher, Jeremy Hill, to 47 yards on 13 carries. And after allowing a 23-yard end around on Cincinnatis first offensive play, the Bengals ran 20 more times for 87 yards.Defensive tackle Cory Redding liked what he saw Sunday, but he knows the Colts must play even better this weekend to survive against Peyton Manning at Denver (12-4).I think we did enough to do what we needed to do (against Cincinnati). We got the win, Redding said. So weve got to keep the same mojo, the same mindset this week.It was Mannings release in March 2012 that spurred a major change in the Colts plans.Team owner Jim Irsay, general manager Ryan Grigson and coach Chuck Pagano agreed that Indianapolis needed to be more than a point-scoring machine to be a contender. They invested in a bigger, more physical defence and stronger special teams.Three years later, that investment appears to be paying off.Kicker Adam Vinatieri and punter Pat McAfee are All-Pros, long snapper Matt Overton played in last years Pro Bowl and Indys coverage units were ranked among the leagues best this season.Adams, who played with the Broncos in 2013, shared the league lead with seven takeaways. Linebacker DQwell Jackson, who signed as a free agent last winter, led Indy with 111 tackles. Both are Pro Bowl alternates.Linebacker Jonathan Newsome finished with 6 1/2 sacks, the second-highest total among rookies.And over the past nine games, the Colts have allowed 4.2 yards per carry, matching the league average. Excluding Tennessees 142-yard performance in the regular-season finale, when the Colts subbed more freely than usual, and the number drops to 4.1.Meanwhile, Indy spent most of the season ranked in the top half of the league in pass defence and finished in the top 10 in sacks (41) — despite losing 2013 NFL sacks champion Robert Mathis for the entire season.Were getting there, defensive tackle Ricky Jean Francois said when asked to compare this defence to the stout units he was with in San Francisco. There are a few things were still looking to improve. But I think were getting closer and closer, and I think well get above that standard this post-season.Perhaps just in time to change their reputation.Even though we love No. 12 (Luck), we dont want to put all that on his shoulders, Adams said. We want the defence to have an identity, we want the defence to go out there and make plays.Notes: The only significant injury from Sundays game, Pagano said, was to backup centre Jonotthan Harrison. He was diagnosed with a concussion after an extra point attempt and will go through the leagues protocol. ... Backup offensive lineman A.Q. Shipley (ankle) is expected to practice Wednesday after sitting out against Cincinnati. ... Right guard Hugh Thornton (shoulder) is still listed as week to week. ... Pagano also confirmed Colts offensive co-ordinator Pep Hamilton met with Oakland Raiders officials about their head coaching vacancy. Pagano said he was unaware of any other teams seeking permission to speak with Hamilton.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Cheap NHL Jerseys Online .Pete Morelli said the back judge threw a flag on Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens on a pass to Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew in Dallas 24-20 wild-card win Sunday. But the head linesman said there wasnt enough contact and that Hitchens was face-guarding, which isnt a penalty in the NFL. Wholesale NHL Jerseys . PETERSBURG, Fla. http://www.cheapnhljerseysusa.com/. Ellis had a season-high 37 points and two key assists late, Dirk Nowitzki led a fourth-quarter rally with 14 of his 35 points, and the Mavericks spoiled Howards best offensive night in Houston with a 123-120 victory over the Rockets on Wednesday night. Hockey Jerseys China . “The shootout, theres nothing wrong with it, I think its an exciting part of the game but its just one small aspect,” said Chicago Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman. “Its a skill exhibition. If you can get it back closer to regular hockey and have it decided that way; that would be my preference.” “I dont think its a knock on the shootout, I think more of the managers would like to see it end in overtime,” added Washington Capitals GM George McPhee. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys .com) - Former FBI director Robert Mueller said his investigation found no evidence that the NFL saw the elevator video of Ray Rice striking his then-fiancee before the tape was released in September.OKLAHOMA CITY -- Alex Lavoie and C.J. Stretch scored shoot-out goals to lift the Oklahoma City Barons over the Hamilton Bulldogs 5-4 in American Hockey League action Wednesday. Brandon Davidson, Matthew Ford, Travis Ewanyk and Creg Chase scored in regulation for the Barons (31-27-11), who outshot their opponents 40-28. Drew Schiestel, Sven Andrighetto, Patrick Holland and Gabriel Dumont scored for Hamilton (30-33-6). Morgan Ellis chipped in with two assists. Oklahooma City goaltender Richard Bachman turned aside 24 shots through overtime and six more in the shootout.dddddddddddd Bulldogs netminder Robert Mayer made 40 total saves, including four in the shootout. Dumont gave Hamilton a 4-3 lead 13:27 into the third period, but Chase replied for the Barons two minutes later to force the extra frame. Oklahoma City was 1 for 4 on the power play, while the Bulldogs scored once on two chances with the man advantage. ' ' '