23-year old WR Pierre Garcon has really improved in his second NFL season.  As a rookie last season Garcon played in all 16 games for the Colts and he caught 4 passes for 23 yards (5.8 avg).  He also returned 1 punt for 5 yards, 22 kickoffs for 475 yards (21.6 avg) and he made 9 tackles.  So far this season, Garcon has played in 9 games in which he has caught 26 passes for 403 yards (15.5 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  He has also carried the ball 1 time for 17 yards and he has made 2 tackles.  Garcon has come a long way in less than two years as he played his college ball at tiny Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio.

Peyton Manning has been outstanding this season but what more would you expect out of him?  He has started all six games for the Colts this season and he has completed 156 of 215 passes (72.6%) for 1,880 yards with 15 TD passes and only 4 interceptions (114.5 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 8 times for -4 yards (-0.5 ypc) but most of them were kneel downs.  The offensive line has kept Manning clean all season long as he has only been sacked two times this season.  But, Manning has had to overcome injuries to his #2 WR Anthony Gonzalez and a lack of a running game which makes his numbers even more outstanding when you look at them.  He shows no signs of slowing down so the Colts are a legit Super Bowl contender once again.

25-year old safety Antoine Bethea has been one of the leaders on the defense this season.  He has played in all six games for the Colts this season and he has 42 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 forced fumble, he has defensed 2 passes and he has 2 interceptions this year.  The Colts need Bethea to keep up the good work especially in run support as teams might try to copy the gameplan of the Miami Dolphins who almost beat the Colts earlier this season.

Rookie Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon have really stepped up while Anthony Gonzalez has been out of action.  Austin Collie has caught 20 passes for 228 yards (11.4 avg) with 3 TD grabs this season as he is on fire lately.  Garcon is more of a deep threat as he has caught 11 passes for 216 yards (19.6 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  The Colts have to feel real good right now as Collie and Garcon will slide right into the #3 and #4 WR roles for them when Gonzalez comes back.

Peyton Manning has been killing secondaries this year with four 300+ yard passing games and is the best quarterback in the NFL.  I know the New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was widely considered the best quarterback in the game after his record breaking 2007 year, but Manning is better and the numbers prove it.  I know Brady is coming off a very serious knee injury that kept him out a full season, but I have always thought that Manning was the better quarterback and the numbers, especially this year, prove it.  Other than Brady’s monster 2007 season, Manning has had a better QB rating every year except 2001 and has put up more yards and more touchdowns every season.

If you would have put Manning on any of those Brady led Patriot teams, I think they would have a ring or two more.  So far this season Manning has nine touchdowns compared to only three interceptions, and 1,336 yards on 97/137 (71%) attempts.  Manning is looking to continue his dominance and keep the Colts undefeated this week against the Tennessee Titans.

Pierre Garcon has really stepped up since Anthony Gonzalez was injured.  He has caught 7 passes for 136 yards (19.4 avg) with 2 TD grabs so far this season.  Garcon has passed up rookie Austin Collie in the eyes of the coaching staff so he could be the #3 guy when Gonzalez returns to action.  He is really an impressive blend of speed and size.

The Colts needed someone to step up with WR Anthony Gonzalez going down to injury.  TE Dallas Clark has responded to the challenge as he has already caught 11 passes for 222 yards (20.1 avg) with a long TD on the opening play of Monday Night football against the Dolphins.  This is the season that Clark will prove that he is one of the best TEs in the NFL and I wouldn’t be surprised if he made it to the Pro Bowl.

Rookie RB Donald Brown is pushing Joseph Addai for his starting job.  He has carried the ball 15 times for 59 yards (3.9 ypc) with 1 TD run.  He has also caught 3 passes for 40 yards (13.3 avg) so far this year.  Brown’s TD run against the Dolphins was amazing as he refused to go down until he was in the end zone.  Addai better pick his game up or he will be watching Brown run from the sidelines.

With Anthony Gonzalez out of action teams will be double teaming Reggie Wayne all the time.  It didn’t bother Wayne in the season opener as he caught 10 passes for 162 yards (16.2 avg) with a TD grab.  The 30-year old Wayne did a fine job moving up to be the #1 WR with Marvin Harrison slowing down.  The Colts will even need more out of him this season if that is even possible.  Wayne has now played in 126 games in his NFL career (all with the Colts) and he has caught 586 passes for 8,291 yards with 54 TD grabs.  Look for him to add a lot of yards and catches to those career totals this season.