KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Andrew Luck couldn’t help but smile thinking about the joyous celebration taking place just down the hall, through the big metal doors marking the entrance to the Colts’ locker room.

Even interim coach Bruce Arians had been dancing.

“It’s a fun locker room, a great locker room,” Luck said after leading Indianapolis to a 20-13 victory over Kansas City. “You know guys are going to play hard no matter what the score, no matter what the situation, and I am very proud to be a part of a team like that.”

A team that’s headed back to the playoffs, too.

Luck threw for 205 yards on Sunday, breaking Cam Newton’s single-season mark for yards by a first-year quarterback. He also engineered the go-ahead drive late in the fourth quarter, hitting Reggie Wayne on third-and-goal from the Kansas City 7 with just over 4 minutes remaining.

The touchdown pass finished off Luck’s seventh four-quarter comeback this season, and allowed the Colts (10-5) to join the Miami Dolphins of 2008 as the only teams in NFL history to win at least 10 games one year after losing 14 or more.

“Would we have done it without him?” Arians asked. “No.”

Luck broke Newton’s record of 4,051 yards passing in the second quarter, and then became the fifth rookie quarterback in the Super Bowl era to win at least 10 games in a season.

“Obviously it’s nicer to be in the playoffs,” Luck said, “but it’s nice to have a couple records — which I’m sure will be broken in the next year.”

Don’t be quite so sure.

Luck still has next Sunday’s game against Houston to pile up numbers, and then comes a trip to the playoffs, where the Colts became a mainstay under his predecessor, Peyton Manning.

“We didn’t want to slide in the backdoor and put the extra stress on a man having to win the next game,” Luck said. “So we are very glad to be going to the post-season.”

Arians will also get a reprieve from shouldering so much of the burden. Colts coach Chuck Pagano, who has undergoing treatment for leukemia, plans to rejoin the team this week.

Jamaal Charles ran for 226 yards for the Chiefs, including an 84-yard scamper on the first play of the second half as his team rallied to forge a 13-all tie entering the fourth quarter.

It was Charles’ second 200-yard game of the season, and the third of his career, and came one week after he managed 10 yards on nine carries against Oakland.

“It was fun today, competing out there and doing it while we were trying to come back,” Charles said. “It was fun going out there and putting out a performance like that.”

Charles joined the Titans’ Chris Johnson and former Lions great Barry Sanders as the only players with three runs of 80 or more yards in a season.

Peyton Hillis added 101 yards on the ground for the Chiefs (2-13), who finished with 352 yards rushing in a losing effort. A big reason why was Brady Quinn, who was just 10 of 22 for 162 yards with two interceptions through the air.

“This game was without a doubt, 100 per cent on my shoulders,” Quinn said. “You can’t play the way I played today and win a football game.”

His trouble began with the Chiefs’ fifth offensive play, when he threw woefully behind Dexter McCluster — who wasn’t even looking for the ball. Darius Butler picked off the pass in stride, and took it untouched 32 yards to give the Colts a 7-0 lead.

Kansas City managed a field goal by Ryan Succop, but he missed his next try and the Colts went the other direction to set up the first of Adam Vinatieri‘s two field goals.

Charles fumbled in the red zone later in the second quarter, and the Colts moved into Vinatieri’s range for a 36-yard field goal and a 13-3 halftime lead.

Charles electrified a sparse crowd on the first play of the second half. He angled to the left and then found room down the sideline, cutting back toward the middle of the field and winning a foot-race with the Indianapolis defence for an 86-yard touchdown run.

The Chiefs were in position to take the lead later in the third quarter, but Quinn was picked off by Vontae Davis in the end zone. The defence forced a three-and-out and Kansas City was driving again before settling for Succop’s tying 47-yard field goal.

The Chiefs got the ball back again late in the fourth quarter, but Quinn was stuffed on a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-inches from the Indianapolis 27.

That turned the ball over to Luck, who completed an 11-yard pass to T.Y. Hilton to convert a third down before he and Wayne won it.

“At times it looked a little bleak,” Arians said. “Guys hung in there, made plays when they had to make them. Offensively we struggled, and then put together a drive, like we have all year.”

The Colts have played strong and resilient all season for Coach Pagano who has highly motivated and has been a huge inspiration for this Colts team.

Yesterday, the Colts rallied past the Chiefs 20-13 to a 10-5 record behind interim coach Bruce Arians and clinched the number five seed in the AFC for the playoffs; An unbelievable turnaround from last year’s 2-14 season.

There is definitely something special in the works in Indianapolis.  Rookie quarterback Andrew Luck is having an excellent year behind a revived veteran in Reggie Wayne and the rest of the team is really stepping up when needed.

With Pagano returning to the sideline, look for the Colts to play harder and with more motivation than any other team this week when the host the current first place team, the Houston Texans.  Win a win, the Colts can help spoil the Texans’ chances of locking down first place and home field through.

NOTE:  You can make a donation to the Chuckstrong campaign here.  All donations will benefit leukemia research at the IU Health Simon Cancer Center.

That’s when a team that started 1-2 and had “rebuilding” written all over it responded to the loss of rookie coach Chuck Pagano with one of those how-did-they-do-it winning streaks — and that was supposed to be that. Considering the Colts finished 2-14 a year ago, then said goodbye to Peyton Manning and turned the rest of the roster upside-down, the season was already a success.

Fans in Indianapolis knew can’t-miss rookie quarterback Andrew Luck was bound to improve, but explaining the 4-1 run after Pagano left the team to deal with leukemia was tough enough, especially because there was precious little room elsewhere for improvement. The Colts still can’t run the ball, and they still start rookies at nearly every one of the skill positions. The defence? Don’t ask.

Yet the story just got better.

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Indianapolis was outgained by more than 200 yards Sunday in Kansas City. The Colts lost the time-of-possession battle but still won 20-13 and locked up an improbable playoff spot.

“Mission accomplished,” Colts interim coach Bruce Arians said, as though he expected as much. “That’s all I can say. It’s a fantastic feeling.”

And the story is about to get better still.

Pagano has been cleared to return, perhaps as early as Monday. He might have been the only guy in the entire organization who was expecting great things when he took over, but an entire squad and staff have come over to his side in his absence.

Arians, who stepped in for his close pal and consulted Pagano throughout his ordeal, is a candidate for coach of the year. And Luck, who threw for a modest 205 yards and a touchdown, still made up a lot of ground in his race against similarly impressive first-year quarterback starters Robert Griffin III of Washington and Russell Wilson of Seattle because of something he didn’t do — throw a costly interception.

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Even the much-maligned defence got into the act. Darius Butler picked off Brady Quinn’s pass and returned it for a touchdown five plays into the game. And the whole unit rose up to stuff Quinn on a quarterback sneak late in the game, turning the ball back over to Luck in time for a rookie-record seventh winning drive.

“Whenever teams go for it on fourth down, the defence takes it personal,” Indianapolis end Dwight Freeney said.

If the defensive stand was a surprise, what Luck did with the opportunity wasn’t. The Colts’ running game is still little more than a chance for Luck to catch his breath, and despite the emergence of receivers T.Y. Hilton and Dwayne Allen, just about everybody in Arrowhead Stadium was looking at veteran wideout Reggie Wayne.

So was Luck, who saw him cut through a seam in the middle of the defence, then fired a high, hard pass that Wayne latched onto in the end zone for a seven-yard score.

Luck owns the rookie records for most yards, most 300-yard games, most winning drives, and the strike to Wayne put him closer to the rookie record of 26 touchdown passes set by none other than Manning. And just like Manning, to whom Luck was often compared before the season, the rookie knew exactly what to say about all of them.

“I think it definitely means something. After the season I’ll have a chance to reflect back on it. Obviously, it is nicer to be in the playoffs and know that,” Luck said, “but it is nice to have a couple records that I’m sure will be broken in the next year.”

What he said next, though, came as something of a surprise.

“I think we were confident in the locker room from Day 1. I remember going in, trying to gauge the feel of what it was going to be like. Guys were confident on this team, like Reggie Wayne, who had never missed a playoff until that year. Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, those guys are winners, they know how to win, so I think they imparted some of that magic, if you will, on some of the younger guys, the newer guys.

It was a confident bunch, we never prepared to lose a game, we always prepared to win, and I guess that worked out.

“It was a confident bunch, we never prepared to lose a game, we always prepared to win, and I guess that worked out.”

It’s still a mystery exactly how, but Luck wasn’t going to spend much more time dwelling on that than he did on accumulating records.

“I guess it will be an extra special Christmas,” he said, referring to Pagano’s return. “There will be a lot of emotions when he comes through the door. It’s funny, there are probably 10 guys who have never met Chuck on the team, but I think they will be emotional too because I’m sure they feel like they know him, too, because his presence is felt so much in the building out here, and wherever we go.”

The good news today:

1. Jamaal Charles led the team with 22 rushes for 226 yards and an 86-yard TD run that came on the first play from scrimmage in the 2nd half. That was the first points in the 10 un-answered points the Chiefs scored in the 3rd Quarter.

2. Peyton Hillis had 16 carries for 101 yards, Quinn rushed for 11 yards, giving the Chiefs 338 yards rushing on the day to the Colts 90 yards rushing.

3. Jon Baldwin had 2 receptions for 64 yards

4. Devon Wylie had 3 receptions for 36 yards and was being utilized as a punt-returner today.

5. Dexter McCluster with 3 receptions for 30 yards.

6. Chiefs with 507 total yards of offense to the Colts’ 288.

7. Chiefs had a 32:20 Time Of Possession to the Colts’ 27:40.

8. The Chiefs defense managed to keep this game, like several others this season to a low score.

The Bad News:

1. The Chiefs turned the ball over three times, as Brady Quinn was picked off twice and the aforementioned Jamaal Charles fumbled once. The Colts capitalized on the two interceptions. Charles’ TD was the only one the Chiefs would get on the day.

2. Colts QB Andrew Luck had was 17/35 for 205 yards and a TD to Brady Quinn’s 10/22 for 162 and Luck set an NFL Rookie QB record with 4,183 yards passing in 2012 after today’s performance.

3. The colts had 153 yards receiving as Reggie Wayne had 5 receptions, 81 yards and a TD, Donnie Avery had 5 receptions, 38 yards and
T.Y. Hilton had 2 receptions, 34 yards, to the Chiefs’ 130 yards.

4. Ryan Succop missed another field goal

5. Oh yeah, and there was the final score of Colts 20, Chiefs 13. The Clots secured a playoff berth, while the Chiefs fell to 2-13 and 1-7 at home.

6. Could be viewed as good or bad news-the Panthers that the Chiefs won against two weeks ago, beat the Raiders that the Chiefs lost to twice this year, 17-6.

7. It just gets worse, as the Chiefs now have to go on the road to face Peyton Manning and the Broncos and Denver is currently beating the Cleveland Browns-that we also lost to this year, by the score of 14-3.The Broncos, you will recall beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium 17-9 in week 12.

8. The wait continues to see what changes will, or will not take place in the Chiefs management structure, and eventually with the team, after the close of the season next week and eventually the 2013 NFL Draft. Changes must be made, though-make no mistake.

I’m John Losh-”The Losh-Man” of Losh-Man Sports/Warpaint Illustrated Radio on 107.9 FM and http://www.fountianradio.com Saturdays 2-3pm. I Support the Kansas City Chiefs!

UPDATE: In yesterday’s blog, we mentioned that the Miami Dolphins might want to take a look at Daniel Thomas in this week’s game against Buffalo. We have since learned that Thomas’ injury from last week has landed him on IR. This move may increase the chances that Reggie Bush might actually put up decent numbers.

As for the rest of fantasy football, a good many of you are in your championship week or the playoffs. There are also some leagues that actually play through all 17 weeks and redraft for playoffs. There are even a good many leagues that are set up specifically for the playoffs…second chance leagues, if you will. Thus, we continue to look all that is relevant in fantasy football and the NFL and help you set your rosters for this crucial week.

Minnesota @ Houston
Minnesota Vikings
There is only one word for this offensive team…actually two…Adrian Peterson. Racking up yards against stacked defenses and chasing Eric Dickerson’s single season record, Peterson has become the entire Vikings’ offense over the past few weeks. This is especially true since Christian Ponder’s quarterbacking has fallen completely off the planet. In fact we wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Joe Webb at the controls, but Ponder’s demise can be traced to the absence of Percy Harvin, and nobody else in the WR corps has stepped up. TE Kyle Rudolph will be a star, but early season success has faded of late. SUMMARY: Start Peterson and nobody else.
Houston Texans
The biggest question is if this becomes a blowout, will the Texans give Arian Foster some rest and bring Ben Tate in to get back into football condition after a long layoff? That said, this is a decent matchup for the Texans’ running game. It’s an even better matchup for the Houston passing game, so Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson and Owen Daniels should do well. Even Kevin Walter might be worth consideration if you are thin at the position. SUMMARY: Essentially, you can start all of the Houston offense. Just bear in mind that Foster could see his action a bit limited.

Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh
Cincinnati Bengals
Both teams are fighting for their playoff lives, so this makes for an intense matchup. Unfortunately, that often boils down to a conservative game plan and a defensive struggle. On paper, injuries in the Pittsburgh secondary, would make this a nice matchup for Andy Dalton, A.J. Green and Jermaine Gresham. But Dalton has struggled lately and the game plan may dictate his numbers. Nevertheless, if the play call leans toward conservative, it could mean more carries/opportunities for BenJarvus Green-Ellis. SUMMARY: A.J. Green starts regardless of the competition, and Gresham may be your only viable choice at a thin TE position. I would rather not start either Dalton or Green-Ellis, but depending on your strengths, you may have no choice.
Pittsburgh Steelers
As we noted above, game plans tend to be more conservative at this time of year. This is especially true in the AFC North with two teams vying for position. Add to that the mini-controversy as QB Ben Rothlisberger was critical of OC Todd Haley’s play calling, then retreated a bit from his position. This is not a recipe for success, but the Steelers are still the team with tradition, for whatever that’s worth. Big Ben is still not the same QB that he was before rib and shoulder injuries, but the recovery process should be about complete. With a backfield still in flux, Rothlisberger will lean on the short passing game to Antonio Brown and Heath Miller. If that softens up a fairly sturdy Bengals’ defense, he may even try some downfield action for Mike Wallace. As for the RB’s, Jonathan Dwyer hasn’t done a whole lot with his opportunity as the starter, and Rashard Mendenhall is expected back, mixing in with Isaac Redman. SUMMARY: I’d rather not start Rothlisberger, but you may have no better option. I do like the chances of Brown and Miller, but I’m a bit iffier about Wallace.

New England @ Jacksonville
New England Patriots
Losing at home to San Francisco has to stick in the craw of QB Tom Brady and the entire Patriots team. That does not bode well for a somewhat suspect Jacksonville defense. Brady will come out slinging, and it won’t stop until the final gun. That makes for good days for the entire passing attack, although Wes Welker might be limited or even out for this contest…meaning that Brandon Lloyd and Aaron Hernandez could post monster stats. There’s even rumor that TE Rob Gronkowski might return. In the backfield, Stevan Ridley found his way to the doghouse with some ball security issues, and Danny Woodhead was a hot waiver wire favorite this past week. We suspect that was more a design of the furious comeback bid against the 49ers. SUMMARY: For those who actually play in the Pats passing game, this is a great game to pile up stats. However, you will need to monitor the conditions of both Welker and Gronkowski. If either or both play, the potential for Lloyd and Hernandez drops off slightly. Ridley should start, and as long as he doesn’t put the rock on the turf, he should be back to form. SUMMARY: Brady is the man. His receiving weapons depend entirely on health issues. Unfortunately, the Patriots are not always very forthcoming in this regard. I’d start Ridley and hope he doesn’t drop the ball.
Jacksonville Jaguars
With Montel Owens running the ball, you can forget about the run game. Even if Maurice Jones-Drew comes back from a long injury layoff, and there is rumor to that effect as of this writing, I still don’t trust the Jags ability to run. No, this offensive game will boil down to the effectiveness of QB Chad Henne and his young receivers. Considering the deficiencies of the Pats pass D, this is a real good matchup, and Cecil Shorts III and Justin Blackmon both have a chance to shine. TE Mercedes Lewis could get some action, but he sure has been a disappointment this season: SUMMARY: I’m not about to start Henne or Lewis or anyone from the backfield, but I like the chances of Shorts, and I might consider Blackmon in a pinch.
Indianapolis @ Kansas City
Indianapolis Colts
Most people wouldn’t know it, but Kansas City has one of the better pass defenses in the league, and it’s been getting even better week-by-week. So does that mean that Andrew Luck, Reggie Wayne and even T.Y. Hilton should be benched? No way. Kansas City is playing for nothing, except possibly the first pick in next year’s draft, and Indy has all the marbles on the line as they try to snatch a wildcard berth. I love teams and fantasy players who have something on the line. They usually come up very big, although there have been some memorable chokes, too. I don’t expect a choke. As for Vick Ballard, he’s just about all that the Colts have there, and the KC run defense is near the bottom of the NFL. SUMMARY: Start everybody except the TE’s, Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener as they tend to cancel each other out when both are well enough to play.
Kansas City Chiefs
With Brady Quinn suffering a rib injury last week, it appears that the Chiefs will go with Ricky Stanzi under center. Even though Stanzi has some talent, he’s not an NFL caliber QB yet. Besides, with Dwayne Bowe on IR and Jonathan Baldwin slow to pick up the nuances of the position, Stanzi has almost nobody to throw to. The lone exception might be TE Tony Moeaki and maybe Dexter McCluster. In other words, if there is any offense for the Chiefs, it’s likely to come from the run game led by Jamaal Charles. He has some backups, but he is the main weapon, an he also has some receiving talent. SUMMARY: Charles, much like Peterson in Minnesota, is the entire offense. Start him if for no other reason than the fact that the Colts’ defense does not show strong against the run.

Bouncing Back the First Time: Win over the Minnesota Vikings, 23-20.

The Setting: Week 2, September 16, at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Result: In its home opener, the Colts held Vikings running back to a season-low of 60 rushing yards and a long rush of just six yards. The Colts jumped out a 20-6 third quarter lead but the Vikings came back and tied the score with 31 seconds remaining. Quarterback Andrew Luck orchestrated a final drive down to the Indianapolis 35-yard line before kicker Adam Vinatieri connected on a 53-yard field goal with eight seconds remaining. The 53-yard game-winning field goal was Vinatieri’s 24^th of his 17-year career and the longest he has to give his team the victory.

Bouncing Back the Second Time: Win over the Green Bay Packers, 30-27.

The Setting: Week 5, October 7, at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Result: A Week 3 home defeat to the Jaguars was followed by a bye week and the unfathomable news of head coach Chuck Pagano being diagnosed with leukemia. In playing for their sicken coach, the Colts turned in the highlight of the 2012 regular season with another final-minute comeback victory. Down 21-3 at halftime, the Colts sparked a spirited second-half charge led by the orange-clad gloves of wide receiver Reggie Wayne. With less than a minute remaining, Luck found Wayne for a four-yard, game-winning touchdown as the Pro Bowl wideout racked up 13 catches for 212 yards on the afternoon.

Bouncing Back the Third Time: Win over the Cleveland Browns, 17-13.

The Setting: Week 7, October 21, at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Result: Following a 40-27 road loss to the New York Jets, the Colts returned home and began a four-game winning streak. Luck ran for two first-half touchdowns and the Colts held on to a 17-13 third quarter lead thanks to a strong defensive performance and an offense that had a 11-minute difference in time of possession. Indianapolis came into the game with a 2-3 record but the victory over the Browns would lead to seven wins over the next eight weeks for the Colts.

Bouncing Back the Fourth Time: Win over the Buffalo Bills, 20-13.

The Setting: Week 12, November 21, at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Result: A month after following up a road loss to an AFC East team, the Colts were up to their old tricks again. Similar to the win over the Vikings, the Colts took at 20-6 third quarter lead but this time held on without any final-minute theatrics. Rookie wide receiver T.Y. Hilton became the first Colts rookie to return a punt for a touchdown and record a receiving touchdown in the same game. Hilton’s 75-yard punt return for a touchdown was the first for a Colts player since T.J. Rushing’s 90-yarder in December of 2007.

Here are some player’s thoughts on why the Colts have been so resilient:

-Running Back Vick Ballard:

“Twenty-four hour rule. Win, lose or draw, you know that the last game is over with. You’ve got to look forward to the next week and we are going to come in Wednesday, get ready for Kansas City so we can hopefully give ourselves a chance to make the playoffs.”

-Safety Antoine Bethea:

“Regardless of whatever game we play, it’s a 24-hour rule. Win or loss, we’ve got to put it in the past and get ready for our next opponent. We’ve been doing a good job of that. Like I said, correcting the mistakes that we made in the previous game and just going out there and playing hard.”

-Outside Linebacker Dwight Freeney:

“We just realize it’s one week and whatever happened that one week, doesn’t matter for the next, whether we win or lose. You just learn from the mistakes in a win and in a loss and just move on to that next week and that is the most important game.”

-Quarterback Andrew Luck:

“I think guys want to come back and play, bounce back and atone for their mistakes. I think it’s sort of the DNA of the team and hopefully we can do that again this week. We realize it’s going to be tough against a team that is much better than their record indicates in a tough environment.”

-Defensive End Cory Redding:

“Never allow one loss to turn into two, period. You have to dig deep a little bit more to learn what you messed up on, work on it and challenge yourself to be better. If you made those mistakes a week before, don’t make them again. Don’t let one loss turn into two. We’ve come too far to reach this point to let it all go away, let it all be in vain. I won’t stand idly by and let that happen and I know my teammates won’t either. We’re going to come back this week and fight, watch tape, lift weights, run, eat right, do all we have to do to get in this game in Arrowhead and find a victory.”

-Interim head coach and offensive coordinator Bruce Arians:

“I think the biggest thing is the veteran leadership. Those guys bounce back, they know how to get the young guys off the 24-hour rule and come right back in and start working. We had really good meetings today, watched the tape, and this one will be out of our mouth by tonight and we’ll get started on Kansas City.”

The sessions helped Manning regain his arm strength and rediscover his old form after a series of neck operations that sidelined him all of last season and led to his departure from Indianapolis.

They were just as helpful for Decker, recovering from a sprained left knee he hurt in the playoffs.

All those hours together are paying off.

Decker leads the Denver Broncos (11-3) with nine touchdown grabs and he’s 77 yards shy of joining fellow third-year receiver Demaryius Thomas with his first 1,000-yard season. No Denver duo has accomplished that feat since 2004.

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Decker and Thomas both have hit their stride this season after dealing with injuries much of their first two years with the Broncos. And patiently playing in Tim Tebow’s option-read offense a year ago.

Thomas was recovering from left-thumb surgery when Manning signed in March, so it was up to Decker to get the four-time MVP acclimated to the Mile High City.

With 1,210 yards on 78 receptions – six more than Decker – Thomas has emerged as the Broncos’ biggest downfield threat. But Decker’s no slouch.

Decker was so productive earlier in the year that defensive coordinators started to key on him more. The result: a monthlong lull in which he totaled just 10 catches and one TD before putting up consecutive eight-catch performances the last two weeks.

“The defense does dictate a little bit of what you do in a lot of different ways,” coach John Fox said. “It just works out that way. I think we’ve got a quarterback where he’s going to take what the defense gives him. He can sort those things out pretty well, as good as probably anybody.”

Manning doesn’t force throws to a go-to receiver. This season, he’s completed passes to 15 players, including a touchdown to defensive tackle Mitch Unrein. And with tight ends Joel Dreessen and Jacob Tamme, he has four big targets, all 6-foot-3 or taller and packing an average of 232 pounds.

Complaining isn’t in Decker’s DNA. The affable receiver isn’t a prima donna who goes public with his desire for more touches. He never griped last year when he caught just 14 passes after the Broncos dusted off the old read-option to fit Tebow’s unusual skill set, and he’s not about to complain by lobbying for more action while playing with an all-time great QB.

“You never know when your number is going to be called and we all continue to work hard and try to get better, and he’s done that and it showed,” teammate Brandon Stokley said. “Next week, it might be Demaryius getting a lot of balls thrown his way. But the last few weeks, Decker stepped his game up and had the opportunities and made the most of it.”

Decker has tied his career high with eight catches in each of the last two games, totaling 221 yards. His 51-yard touchdown turned Denver’s showdown at Baltimore last weekend into a rout and caused Ravens safety Ed Reed to rip off his helmet in disgust as he stormed to the sideline.

“My mindset doesn’t change at all,” Decker said. “I come to practice and work hard every day and expect to be the best and I expect the best out of myself. In certain games, obviously defenses allow different guys to be open with coverages, different schemes.”

Decker’s team-high nine TDs, one more than Thomas, are a career best and give him 18 for his career, the most by a Bronco in his first three seasons.

“I like a lot of things. I like touchdowns. I like wins. I like catches. It’s all fun,” Decker said. “When you’re winning ballgames, it doesn’t matter how many yards you got, how many catches you got, as long as you’re doing your piece to win the ballgame, that’s what it comes down to.”

Decker and Thomas have been the biggest beneficiaries of the pinpoint passing Manning brought to the Broncos. His 67.9 completion percentage is second highest in his career. Tebow, on the other hand, completed just 46 percent of his passes a year ago and 40 percent in the playoffs.

Decker also is benefiting from his first full training camp last summer. There was the lockout in 2011 and he was on the mend in 2010 after missing the last half of his senior season at Minnesota with a foot injury.

There have been some hiccups along the way. Decker has dropped seven passes so far; Thomas has eight. So, it’s not quite the chemistry Manning built up with Reggie Wayne or Marvin Harrison in Indianapolis – or the comfort zone he maintains with Stokley, a former teammate of his with the Colts – but it’s getting there.

As Manning says, it’s a crash course and everybody’s been cramming.

Decker and Thomas are taking turns as teacher’s pet.

“I like young players that really want to get better, and those guys have done that,” Manning said. “Our timing has improved throughout the season. It’s not what it would be had we played together for five years.”

Decker, though, sees it getting better, from way back in March to this week as they iron out wrinkles in preparing for the Cleveland Browns (5-9) – and then the playoffs.

“I think in any relationship, whether it’s a significant other or a teammate,” Decker said, “the more time you get, the better it always develops.”

By ARNIE STAPLETON, AP Pro Football Writer

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

1. Cam Newton @ SD
2. Drew Brees vs TB
3. Peyton Manning @ BAL
4. Tom Brady vs SF
5. Eli Manning @ ATL
6. Aaron Rodgers @ CHI
7. Colin Kaepernick @ NE
8. Matt Ryan vs NYG
9. Andrew Luck @ HOU
10. Josh Freeman @ NO
11. Matthew Stafford @ AZ
12. Tony Romo vs PIT
13. Ben Roethlisberger @ DAL
14. Carson Palmer vs KC
15. Matt Schaub vs IND
16. Russell Wilson @ BUF
17. Phillip Rivers vs CAR
18. Joe Flacco vs DEN
19. Brandon Weeden vs WAS
20. Jay Cutler vs GB
21. Sam Bradford vs MIN
22. Jake Locker vs NYJ
23. Chad Henne @ MIA
24. Ryan Tannehill vs JAC
25. Mark Sanchez @ TEN
26. Ryan Fitzpatrick vs SEA
27. Brady Quinn @ OAK
28. Christian Ponder @ STL
29. Kirk Cousins @ CLE
30. Ryan Lindley vs DET

Running Backs

1. Adrian Peterson @ STL
2. Arian Foster vs IND
3. Jamaal Charles @ OAK
4. Doug Martin @ NO
5. Marshawn Lynch @ BUF
6. C.J. Spiller vs SEA
7. Ray Rice vs DEN
8. Trent Richardson vs WAS
9. Alfred Morris @ CLE
10. David Wilson @ ATL
11. Matt Forte vs GB
12. Frank Gore @ NE
13. Reggie Bush vs JAC
14. Steven Jackson vs MIN
15. Darren Mcfadden vs KC
16. Chris Johnson vs NYJ
17. Stevan Ridley vs SF
18. Knowson Moreno @ BAL
19. DeMarco Murray vs PITT
20. Shonn Greene @ TEN
21. Jonathan Dwyer @ DAL
22. Montell Owens @ MIA
23. Darren Sproles vs TB
24. Ryan Mathews vs CAR
25. Mikel Leshoure @ AZ
26. Vick Ballard @ HOU
27. DeAngelo Williams @ SD
28. Michael Turner vs NYG
29. Joique Bell @ AZ
30. Bilal Powell @ TEN *questionable
31. Beanie Wells vs DET
32. Jaquizz Rodgers vs NYG
33. Alex Green @ CHI
34. Mark Ingram vs TB
35. Danny Woodhead vs SF
36. Ben Tate vs IND
37. Dujuan Harris @ CHI
38. Shane Vereen vs SF
39. Marcel Reese vs KC
40. LaMichael James @ NE
41. Mike Tolbert @ SD
42. Peyton Hillis @ OAK
43. Lamar Miller vs JAC
44. Benard Pierce vs DEN
45. Ronnie Hillman @ BAL
46. Kregg Lumpkin @ ATL

Wide Receivers 

1. Vincent Jackson @ NO
2. Brandon Marshall vs GB
3. Calvin Johnson @ AZ
4. Andre Johnson vs IND
5. Demaryius Thomas @ BAL
6. Victor Cruz @ ATL
7. Marques Colston vs TB
8. Reggie Wayne @ HOU
9. Julio Jones vs NYG
10. Wes Welker vs SF
11. Danario Alexander vs CAR
12. Steve Smith @ SD
13. Randall Cobb @ CHI
14. Hakeem Nicks @ ATL
15. Eric Decker @ BAL
16. Dez Bryant vs PIT
17. Roddy White vs NYG *questionable, I expect to him to play
18. Mike Wallace @ DAL
19. Michael Crabtree @ NE
20. Larry Fitzgerald vs DET
21. Josh Gordon vs WAS
22. Stevie Johnson vs SEA
23. Danny Amendola vs MIN
24. Lance Moore vs TB
25. Cecil Shorts @ MIA
26. Greg Jennings @ CHI
27. Denarius Moore vs KC
28. Sidney Rice vs BUF
29. T.Y. Hilton @ HOU
30. Brandon Lloyd vs SF
31. Pierre Garcon @ CLE
32. Mike Williams @ NO
33. Justin Blackmon @ MIA
34. Kenny Britt vs NYJ
35. Brian Hartline vs JAC
36. James Jones @ CHI
37. Antonio Brown @ DAL
38. Golden Tate vs BUF
39. Donnie Avery @ HOU
40. Anquan Boldin vs DEN
41. Torrey Smith vs DEN
42. Darrius Heyward-Bey vs KC
43. Jeremy Kerley @ TEN
44. Malcom Floyd vs CAR
45. Chris Givens vs Min
46. Andre Roberts vs DET
47. Greg Little vs WAS
48. Jon Baldwin @ OAK
49. Brandon LaFell @ SD *questionable
50. Rod Streater vs KC
51. Nate Washington vs NYJ
52. Kendall Wright vs NYJ
53. Randy Moss @ NE
54. Alshon Jeffrey @ GB
55. Kris Durham @ AZ
56. Donald Jones vs SEA
57. Louis Murphy @ SD
58. Emmanuel Sanders @ DAL
59. Brandon Stokley @ BAL

Tight Ends

1. Jimmy Graham vs TB
2. Aaron Hernandez vs SF
3. Jason Witten vs PIT
4. Tony Gonzalez vs NYG
5. Heath Miller @ DAL
6. Greg Olsen @ SD
7. Owen Daniels vs IND *questionable
8. Vernon Davis @ NE
9. Martellus Bennett @ ATL
10. Brandon Myers vs KC
11. Antonio Gates vs CAR
12. Kyle Rudolph @ STL
13. Dallas Clark @ NO
14. Dennis Pitta vs DEN
15. Tony Scheffler @ AZ
16. Jermichael Finley @ CHI
17. Marcedes Lewis @ MIA
18. Scott Chandler vs SEA
19. Joel Dreeseen @ BAL
20. Jacob Tamme @ BAL
21. Tony Moeaki @ OAK
22. Dwayne Allen @ HOU
23. Jeff Cumberland @ TEN
24. Coby Fleener @ HOU
25. Ben Watson vs WAS

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1. Vincent Jackson
2. Marques Colston
3. Andre Johnson
4. Brandon Marshall
5. Calvin Johnson
6. Julio Jones
7. Victor Cruz
8. Reggie Wayne
9. Wes Welker
10. Steve Smith (Carolina)
11. Pierre Garcon
12. Danario Alexander
13. Roddy White
14. Demaryius Thomas
15. Randall Cobb
16. Lance Moore
17. Mike Wallace
18. Hakeem Nicks
19. Miles Austin
20. Dez Bryant
21. Cecil Shorts
22. Eric Decker
23. Josh Gordon
24. Greg Jennings
25. Michael Crabtree
26. Sidney Rice
27. Steve Johnson
28. Sidney Rice
29. Torrey Smith
30. Mike Williams
31. Denarius Moore
32. T.Y. Hilton
33. Kenny Britt
34. Antonio Brown
35. Danny Amendola
36. Darrius Heyward-Bey
37. Brandon Lloyd
38. James Jones
39. Justin Blackmon
40. Donnie Avery

All rankings are current. 

If you are an avid fantasy football player, you know that there are all sorts of leagues with a wide variety of playoff formats. A good many are into their first week of playoffs while others are already into week two. Some leagues play right through the regular season, and others are set up just for the real NFL playoffs. Through it all, we will be with you all the way…and beyond. In fact, we won’t be taking the spring and summer off either. We will be tracking team needs as they apply to fantasy football, we will be looking at the April NFL Draft including who might be going where and their potential fantasy impact. Then, once we get to OTA’s and mini camps and training camps, we’ll be analyzing all the activities and providing in-depth information on who you might be targeting for next season. The NFL has become a 365-day-a-year business, and we won’t be taking any vacation either. Meanwhile, we need to take a look at the upcoming week and help you set a winning lineup.

Green Bay @ Chicago
Green Bay Packers
We all know who QB Aaron Rodgers is. He may not be reproducing the monster fantasy stats from last season, but he, Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Payton Manning are among the elites. Against the Bears’ stingy defense, he’ll still produce a nice stat line; so don’t even think about sitting him. His WR’s are another question, however. There is still no definitive word on the availability of Jordy Nelson, and except for Nelson owners, that may be a good thing. Rodgers still has more than enough weapons in Randall Cobb, Greg Jennings and James Jones. As for Jermichael Finley…oh, never mind. Alex Green will still be the featured RB, though didn’t the folks in Green Bay give Ryan Grant a nice welcome home. SUMMARY: Of course you start Rodgers and Cobb. Jennings is still being reincorporated back into the lineup, so I’m wary about him as well as Jones. Start Green only if you have no better options. Without Cedric Benson, the talk about the Packers being committed to the run is just that…talk. The defense may be worth a look.
Chicago Bears
Lets face it, the Chicago passing attack begins and ends with Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall. As long as the whiplash injury that Cutler suffered last week doesn’t cause a problem, Marshall should have a very good game. As for running back, Matt Forte will get you consistent though not spectacular numbers, but he has historically struggled against the Pack. SUMMARY: Cutler is an up and down QB, and I don’t really care for that at this time of year, but Marshall is a must start. You may have to start Forte, but if you have or can get something better, go with that direction, and even though the defense has slowed, that just means that they are among the best, not necessarily THE best.

Washington @ Cleveland
Washington Redskins
Robert Griffin III participated in practice on Wednesday and appears to be a full go heading into this game. Keep track of this as the week goes on but as long as RGIII plays, everyone else in the Redskin’s lineup has a chance. Without him, I would bench the passing attack and look to Alfred Morris for all of the offensive output, and that could be negated against a fairly stout Browns’ defense that would be stacked against him. SUMMARY: As long as Griffin plays, you can feel fairly comfortable starting Pierre Garcon and Morris. If Griffin suffers a setback, all bets are off.
Cleveland Browns
Frankly, these last few games are essentially an audition to determine if Brandon Weeden will be the Browns’ quarterback going forward or if the team might look in that direction in the upcoming draft. Weeden reminds some of Chris Wienke, who had a fair amount of talent but entered the league as an “old” rookie. It didn’t work out for Wienke, and it probably won’t work out for Weeden. His main target is Josh Gordon, who has had his moments this season. But he is boom or bust, and that’s hard to trust right now. On the other hand, RB Trent Richardson has been a model of consistency with just three down games all year. SUMMARY: I wouldn’t trust the Cleveland passing game one bit, even though Gordon could put up a monster. Richardson, however, is a guy you have to start regardless of the competition and even with the defense stacked against him. Can anyone say Adrian Peterson?

Indianapolis @ Houston
Indianapolis Colts
Andrew Luck, at least for fantasy purposes, generally shines at home and stinks on the road. This week, he’s away. Then again, you saw what Tom Brady did against Houston, although a couple of lucky bounces went New England’s way. Although Luck is far from Brady status, his team still has to fight for the playoffs, a position that Houston has already secured. The news in the backfield is at least settling as Donald Brown has been placed in IR, meaning that Vick Ballard gets essentially all the work. As for the wide receivers, Reggie Wayne continues to produce at a level not seen since Peyton Manning was the QB and T.Y. Hilton has been a real find, while at TE, Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen are making each other fantasy irrelevant. SUMMARY: I’d rather not start Luck against a defense that has to be ticked off after the Monday night embarrassment, but I don’t mind starting Wayne. If you are very thin in the backfield, Ballard might be an answer, but you need to be very, very thin.
Houston Texans
Will the real Houston Texans please stand up? They were such a powerhouse earlier in the year, but an early claim of a playoff berth coupled with some injuries on defense, seems to have taken the starch out of their sails. Matt Schaub has been ok, but he’s not the QB I want in the fantasy playoffs. That said, Andre Johnson has been fairly good since the bye with just two down weeks. The same can’t be said of Owen Daniels, who just hasn’t been as he was before the bye. However, RB Arian Foster gives his owners production week in and week out. SUMMARY: I’d probably shy away from Schaub, but Johnson should produce a decent stat line. Daniels is a bit iffier. Start him if you have to. Foster has to start with one caveat. Ben Tate may get some additional work, especially toward the end of the game. That could dilute Foster’s stats just a bit, but considering the Colts’ run defense, Foster is the man.

Denver @ Baltimore
Denver Broncos
Peyton Manning has the Broncos on the verge of being an elite team in the AFC, and he has raised the level of his supporting cast accordingly. DeMaryius Thomas is a real weapon, although Eric Decker has fallen way off since the early part of the season. At TE, Jacob Tamme is the opposite of Decker…slow to start but coming on lately. In the backfield, when Willis McGahee went down, everyone thought Ronnie Hillman’s time had come, but John Fox put an end to that, and Knowshon Moreno seems to have a stranglehold on the job. SUMMARY: The Ravens’ defense is nowhere what it has been over the past decade, but even if it were, you’d still start Manning and Thomas. You might still start Decker, if you have faith that he can reproduce the decent game he had against the Raiders last week. Moreno could also put up some decent numbers as an RB2/flex. The defense, led by Von Miller, has been tearing it up lately.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens fired offensive coordinator Cam Cameron and promoted QB coach Jim Caldwell this week. Supposedly, QB Joe Flacco has a much better relationship with Caldwell than he ever did with Cameron, but what does that do to the overall offensive philosophy, and can the team grasp it in just a week? Nobody knows for sure, and that’s a recipe for greatness or disaster. Now, you’ve got to ask yourself a question. Can you trust these guys? I’d rather not unless the rest of my fantasy lineup is unbeatable. SUMMARY: Flacco, Anquan Boldin, Torrey Smith and Ray Rice are all in the same boat. Actually, I like their chances, but not enough to play them. I would start Ray Rice because he is an elite player at his position, even though he’s been misused almost all season long. Perhaps the new offensive philosophy will actually reverse that trend.

-Paul Tagliabue must have listened to our podcast on the bountygate scandal(deadspin.com)

-Dallas Cowboys Josh Brown had to be urged to pull his dying teammate from the car(dallasnews.com)

-Maybe the Texans could have beat the Patriots at a swim meet(cbssports.com)

-Brett Favre’s penis helped Anthony Hargrove have his suspension overturned(profootballtalk.com)

Twenty-one-year-old Gunner Belcher was arrested early Sunday after police approached a Bentley blocking downtown traffic. A police report says Belcher was standing outside the car and had a blood-alcohol content of 0.13 percent, nearly twice Indiana’s legal limit.

According to the Indianapolis Star, Wayne left his 2007 Bentley with a valet at The Westin Hotel at about 6:30 p.m. Saturday. He woke up the next morning to find his keys and the car missing.

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Source: Huffington Post & WISH TV

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — An Indianapolis hotel valet faces drunken driving charges for allegedly taking Colts receiver Reggie Wayne’s luxury car from the hotel and driving it while intoxicated.

Twenty-one-year-old Gunner Belcher was arrested early Sunday after police approached a Bentley blocking downtown traffic. A police report says Belcher was standing outside the car and had a blood-alcohol content of 0.13 percent, nearly twice Indiana’s legal limit.

Marion County Prosecutor’s spokeswoman Brienne Delaney says investigators are weighing whether Belcher, who was released Sunday on bond, may face an auto theft charge.

A police report says valets at the Westin Hotel couldn’t find the Bentley on Sunday morning whenWayne arrived to claim the car after overnighting at the hotel. The report says the car, which police had impounded, was returned to Wayne later Sunday.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

In a scene reminiscent of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” an Indianapolis hotel valet has been arrested for stealing Reggie Wayne’s Bentley, and taking it on a drunk joyride.

The Indianapolis Star is reporting that 21-year-old Gunner Belcher left work around 9 p.m. without clocking out and was not seen until 2 a.m. Sunday morning after being pulled over by Indianapolis police for being intoxicated.

Wayne told Police he left his 2007 with a Westin Hotel valet around 6:30 p.m. Saturday, and Wayne’s car and keys were missing the next morning.

Police were able to confirm that the vehicle was Wayne’s, and returned his vehicle unharmed Sunday around noon.

I am speechless and in tears.