"The Colts play defense?"

The Indianapolis Colts became the Baltimore Ravens for three hours Saturday. Now they're moving on and the Ravens are emptying their lockers.

Call it identity theft. Notify the authorities. It doesn't matter. All we know is that in the biggest game of the season, the Colts defense played like the Baltimore Ravens defense usually plays. The Baltimore defense was pretty darn good, too.

In fact, the game was very, very even.

Peyton Manning had his second consecutive poor playoff performance, throwing zero touchdowns and two interceptions. If it wasn't for an incredible diving catch by Dallas Clark on Indy's final possession, the Colts' vaunted offense would have given the ball back to Baltimore for one final chance to win the game with a touchdown.

But there would be no miracle for Steve McNair's team on this afternoon. Instead, he got a steady dose of pressure, which is defined in Webster's as: "the burden of physical or mental distress." Dwight Freeney and the rest of the Colts' defense partied in Baltimore's backfield all day, harassing McNair into two interceptions, including a very key pick by Nick Harper in Colts' territory in the final quarter.

Indianapolis' first interception was almost just as important. Baltimore's best drive of the game ended at the 1-yard line in the second quarter when Antoine Bethea got his hands on McNair's pass.

The Colts forced four Baltimore turnovers, which resulted in six points – the difference in the score until Indy’s final field goal with 23 seconds remaining iced the contest.

All season long the Colts tricked teams into thinking they had a bad run defense by giving up huge chunks of yards on the ground. I think it was a setup. Kansas City's Larry Johnson had no luck against the Colts' defense last weekend. Ditto Jamal Lewis on Saturday. He ran for a measly 53 yards on 13 carries.

It's still hard to believe, so repeat after me: "Peyton Manning had two bad games and the Indianapolis Colts won both of them by nine points or more."

Wow. Amazing stuff.

Will the Colts win next week if Manning completes the bad performance hat trick? No. Not going to happen.

But with the way this defense is playing, plus the impeccable kicking of Adam Vinateri (5-for-5 on field goals Saturday, including ones from 42, 48 and 51 yards), Manning won't have to be indomitable next Sunday.

Just good. Just turnover-free.

Wow! Never thought I'd be saying that about a Peyton Manning-led Colts team. Trent Dilfer maybe, but Peyton Manning?

He is supposed to carry this team. He is supposed to play flawlessly each week for the Colts to have a chance at tasting victory against the league’s best teams. The Colts of a year ago wouldn’t have even played Baltimore on Saturday. It would have been the Chiefs, after defeating Indianapolis in the Wild Card round.

A year ago the Colts defense showed glimpses of having potential during the regular season, only to fold in the playoffs (along with Manning and a jobless kicker named Vanderjagt).

Not this time around. The Colts have proved what last year’s Pittsburgh team made clear: once a team – any team – gets to the playoffs, everything that happened during the regular season is out the window. There’s a reason the regular season ends in one year and the playoffs commence in the next.

They are two completely different seasons.

Just ask the Indianapolis Colts defense.