Defense: 2005 Colts.The Colts' 2005 defense was the best in the Manning years, ranking second in points allowed. Outside linebacker Cato June had 102 tackles and five interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney combined for 22½ sacks and 14 forced fumbles. This season the Broncos ranked No. 2 in total defense, No. 4 in scoring defense and tied for No. 1 in sacks with 52. Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil combined for 29½ sacks and 12 forced fumbles. They also play the run much better than Freeney and Mathis. Denver's cornerbacks opposite Bailey — Chris Harris and Tony Carter — have combined for four touchdown returns off turnovers.
Advantage: 2012 Broncos.
Quarterback: Peyton Manning, 2004 Colts. Manning was never better. He had a career-high 121.1 passer rating and threw 49 touchdown passes. This season, he threw 37 touchdown passes and had a 105.8 passer rating with the Broncos. Few quarterbacks ever dominated a season as Manning did in 2004. But like John Elway in the final three years of his career, Manning may not have the arm he once he had ... but he's a better quarterback.
Advantage: Draw.
Receivers: Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Brandon Stokley, 2004 Colts. Harrison, Wayne and Stokley each had 1,000 yards receiving. Harrison had 86 catches and 15 touchdowns. Wayne had 77 catches and 12 touchdowns. Stokley had 68 catches and 10 touchdowns. Denver's Thomas-Decker duo is bigger and appears to have Super Bowl-winning potential. Still, we're talking Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. "Those are two Hall of Famers," Bailey said. "You can't argue with that one. It's tough. D.T. and Decker are just now coming into their own and playing great. But you can't knock Marvin and Reggie."
Advantage: 2004 Colts.
Running backs: Joseph Addai, Dominic Rhodes, 2006 Colts. Is it a coincidence the Colts won it all the year after they shifted from James' one-back attack to a two-back system? Addai and Rhodes combined for 1,726 yards rushing, 576 yards receiving (2,302 combined yards) and 14 touchdowns. This season the Broncos' tailback position produced a combined 1,586 yards rushing and 450 yards receiving (2,036 total yards) from Willis McGahee, Knowshon Moreno and Ronnie Hillman.
Advantage: 2006 Colts.
Offensive line: 2004-06 Colts. The Colts used three left guards in this period — the best was Ryan Lilja in 2005. Left tackle Tarik Glenn retired after the 2006 season at age 30. This season, the Broncos used two right guards. The better is Chris Kuper, who made only five starts because of injuries. Manning was sacked 13, 17 and 14 times during this three-year period. He was sacked 21 times this season with the Broncos.
Advantage: Draw.
Tight end: Dallas Clark, Gijon Robinson, Tony Santi, Jacob Tamme, 2009 Colts. Clark caught 100 passes. Robinson, Santi and a young Tamme combined for 20 more. A more experienced Tamme had 52 catches for the Broncos this season. Starting tight end Joel Dreessen added 41. Seldom-used Virgil Green is the best blocker of both groups.
Advantage: 2009 Colts.
Punter: Hunter Smith, 2002 Colts. Smith finished ninth in the NFL with a net average of 38.1 yards, the only time he finished in the top 10. Colquitt finished third in the league this season with a net average of 42.1 yards.
Advantage: Colquitt, Broncos.
Kicker: Mike Vanderjagt, 2003 Colts. Vanderjagt was 37-of-37 on field goals in 2003. But he badly missed a 46-yard field goal in the final seconds of the Colts' 21-18 loss to Pittsburgh in a 2005 playoff game. And he was pitiful at kickoffs. Prater went through a midseason slump and ended up making 18-of-26 kicks. Prater ranked No. 2 in touchback percentage this season.
Advantage: Prater on leg strength and clutch kicks.
Returner: Dominic Rhodes, 2004 Colts. The Colts were never a threat on kickoff and punt returns. Rhodes ranked ninth in kickoff returns with a 24.8-yard average but had no touchdowns. The Broncos have Trindon Holliday, who has kickoff and punt returns for touchdowns this season.
Advantage: Holliday, Broncos.
Conclusion. The Broncos have a better defense and better special teams than most of Manning's best teams with the Colts. Manning had slightly better offense with the Colts from 2004-06.
Overall, Manning's best team was the 2005 Colts — yet it didn't win a playoff game.
"I felt like that team could have gone 16-0," Stokley said. "But we kind of pulled the reins back and then we flopped in the playoffs. That was the biggest disappointment."
That's another factor these Broncos have on those 2005 Colts: Denver needed to win the final 11 games to have a shot at the No. 2 playoff seed in the AFC. The top seed was an unexpected bonus.
"That's what I like," Stokley said. "Because of that experience (in 2005), it's always haunted me. You want to keep going. Keep moving around. Keep getting better. When you pull back, it's hard to get going again."
Read more:
How today's Broncos compare with Manning's best Colts teams - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/c...mpare-mannings-best-colts-teams#ixzz2HChA3cCQ
