National Football League

Colts-Eagles Preview

Published Nov. 3, 2010 10:31 p.m. ET

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The Indianapolis Colts finally have sole possession of first place in the AFC South, but they are not about to take anything for granted.

That's especially true with Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles waiting.

Despite dominating the Eagles of late, the Colts expect a serious challenge while trying for a fourth consecutive victory Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.

Indianapolis (5-2) has overcome two early losses and a rash of injuries to win three in a row - all against teams with at least four wins - and sit alone atop the division for the first time in 2010.

The Colts have won six of eight AFC South crowns and been in first place for all but 28 weeks over the past 8 1/2 seasons.

"We're not concerned about standings,'' coach Jim Caldwell said. "We're concerned about getting better and getting ourselves in the best position to play well on Sunday.''

A fifth consecutive victory over Philadelphia (4-3) would put the Colts back on pace for an eighth straight 12-win season.

"We do have a group that I think has always been extremely focused," Caldwell said. "The fact of the matter is it's what we do.''

Facing the Eagles for the first time since a 45-21 home win on Nov. 26, 2006, Indianapolis has outscored Philadelphia 161-61 during a four-game series winning streak. That included a 35-13 win in its last trip to Philadelphia on Nov. 10, 2002.

The Eagles have not beaten Indianapolis since Dec. 19, 1993, and at home since Oct. 14, 1984.

Peyton Manning has completed 69.6 percent of his passes with seven touchdowns and one interception in three games against the Eagles. Six of those scoring passes have come on the road.

Manning, second in the NFL with 15 touchdowns, makes his 200th consecutive start Sunday.

"Some days it does feel like it (200 games), and some days it doesn't,'' Manning said. "The fun part is that a lot of those 200 have been wins and hard-fought wins, and it's been fun preparing for those games with all my different teammates.''

Injuries have forced Manning to count on some new faces this season.

All-Pro tight end Dallas Clark (wrist) is on injured reserve and receiver Austin Collie (hand) could miss a second straight game. It's also uncertain who Manning will have in the backfield.

Running back Joseph Addai (shoulder) could miss a second straight game with a shoulder injury, while third-stringer Mike Hart is dealing with an ankle injury after rushing for a career-high 84 yards in Monday's 30-17 win over Houston.

Donald Brown could see time despite gaining 16 yards on nine carries Monday in his return after missing more than a month with a shoulder injury.

Manning still can throw to Reggie Wayne (49 receptions, 641 yards), and faces an Eagles' squad that allows 22.4 points per game.

However, the Colts' main concern could be stopping Vick.

After missing the last three games following a rib injury suffered against Washington on Oct. 3, Vick is expected to start in place of Kevin Kolb.

Vick has thrown 96 passes without being intercepted - every other quarterback who has thrown at least 20 passes has been picked off at least once. He has thrown six TDs and has a 108.8 passer rating. Vick also has rushed for 187 yards, but knows he must be more cautious.

"I definitely have to be smarter when running with the football, trying to get down,'' Vick said. "I just have to be conscious of what's going on out there and try and protect myself.''

In his only previous appearance versus Indianapolis, Vick threw for 47 yards with an interception and rushed for 30 during a 38-7 loss with Atlanta in 2003.

Vick hopes to have DeSean Jackson back after a concussion kept the star receiver out of Philadelphia's most recent contest, a 37-19 loss at Tennessee on Oct. 24. He's averaged 44.3 yards per score on his 22 touchdowns in three seasons. Eleven of those TDs have been from 50 yards or longer.

"Anytime you get a concussion, obviously it's not that good,'' Jackson said. "I'll be right back to where I need to be, just going out there and still being able to play and stuff like that.''

The Eagles have had two weeks to digest the loss at Tennessee, where they allowed 27 fourth-quarter points - the most surrendered by any NFL team since 2008.

"We're really good. Just to see us go down like that, I know we're better than that,'' Eagles linebacker Ernie Sims said.