Colts to open season against Manning’s Broncos

Indianapolis will open this season at AFC champion Denver in a Sunday night National Football League showdown pitting quarterback Peyton Manning against his former team.

It's the second time Manning has faced the Colts. Indy won the first meeting, 39-33, in October.

It's one of four primetime games for the defending AFC South champs, who received their schedule Wednesday.

Indy opens the season Sept. 7, then hosts Philadelphia in a Monday night game Sept. 15. The Colts will play at Houston in a Thursday night game Oct. 9 and will host New England in another Sunday night game on Nov. 16.

The Colts also are scheduled for two late afternoon games, at Pittsburgh on Oct. 26 and at Dallas on Dec. 21.

The Indianapolis Colts 2014 schedule, released Wednesday by the NFL:

Preseason

Aug. 7, at New York Jets, 7 p.m.

Aug. 16, New York Giants, 7 p.m.

Aug. 23, New Orleans, 8 p.m.

Aug. 28, at Cincinnati, 7 p.m.

Regular Season

Sept. 7, at Denver, 8:30 p.m.

Sept. 15, Philadelphia, 8:30 p.m.

Sept. 21, at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.

Sept. 28, Tennessee, 1 p.m.

Oct. 5, Baltimore, 1 p.m.

Oct. 9, at Houston, 8:25 p.m.

Oct. 19, Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

Oct. 26, at Pittsburgh, 4:25 p.m.

Nov. 3, at New York Giants, 8:30 p.m.

Nov. 9, Bye

Nov. 16, New England, 8:30 p.m.

Nov. 23, Jacksonville, 1 p.m.

Nov. 30, Washington, 1 p.m.

Dec. 7, at Cleveland, 1 p.m.

Dec. 14, Houston, 1 p.m.

Dec. 21, at Dallas, 4:25 p.m.

Dec. 28, at Tennessee, 1 p.m.