Colts preparing for Kansas City defense

INDIANAPOLIS -- Peyton Manning is pulling everything out this week.\nOld notebooks, old tapes, anything that might give him a hint about how to beat the Kansas City Chiefs' revamped defense - again.\n"They're very aggressive, they get a lot of sacks," Manning said Wednesday. "They're an excellent, excellent football team."\nThe last time Manning faced the Chiefs, he had one of the best days of his career.\nManning completed 22 of 30 passes for 304 yards with three touchdowns in a 38-31 playoff victory. His quarterback rating was 138.8 and the Colts never punted as they advanced to the AFC Championship game.\nTwo days later, Kansas City defensive coordinator Greg Robinson resigned.\nThe Chiefs replaced him with Gunther Cunningham, who served in the same capacity with the Chiefs from 1995-98 before taking over for two seasons as the Chiefs head coach in 1999.\nKansas City made few other changes, but Cunningham's more aggressive approach has given the Chiefs (2-4) a different look and is forcing the Colts to adjust.\n"They're a lot different," Colts' coach Tony Dungy said. "So, today was more of a learning and recognition day."\nManning and the Colts have other issues to resolve this week, too.\nThe defense struggled to get off the field against Jacksonville, and the offense was set back by two turnovers and uncharacteristic penalties. Even the special teams had an off-day last week, which resulted in consistently poor field position.\nIn the final minute, Manning and wide receiver Reggie Wayne even got into a shouting match. Then Wayne shoved Manning. Afterward, Wayne denied the confrontation although it was shown on television. Wayne has not been available for questions since then.\nManning, meanwhile, downplayed the incident Wednesday.\n"That's such a non-issue," he said. "Reggie is going to play a huge role in this game because they play a ton of man-to-man. They'll give you some looks that force you to throw and having Marvin and Reggie outside, that will be the challenge."\nThe Colts also are dealing with a new round of injuries.\nFour players, including starting cornerback Nick Harper and starting guard Tupe Peko, are listed as questionable. Harper played last week with a brace on his injured left elbow, but this week, the Colts have listed him on the injury report with a shoulder injury. Peko has had back spasms and didn't practice Wednesday.\nIndianapolis also could be without safety Cory Bird, who hasn't practiced since hurting his calf against Jacksonville, and kick returner Brad Pyatt, who sprained his right ankle in practice last week. Dungy said Pyatt would try to practice later this week to see if he can run at full speed.\nManning, though, is leaving nothing to chance.\nTo cram for his next test Sunday, Manning pulled out an old notebook so he could get a better read on Cunningham's defense.\nHe may not need it. Manning is 4-0 all-time against the Chiefs, and the Colts have won seven straight against the Chiefs since 1990 and five in a row at Arrowhead Stadium.\nBut Manning knows, the new Kansas City defense won't make things easy this week.\n"Defensively, what they did to Atlanta, who's been playing well offensively, is put a lot of pressure on Michael Vick and they really were aggressive and physical," Manning said. "That's the defense we're going to see and we're in for a tough challenge"