Scouting Report: Colts at Falcons

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Falcons center Todd McClure summed up the Falcons attitude toward Thursday night's game with a simple, timeless cliché.

With the Colts (8-2), winners of Super Bowl XLI and leaders of the AFC South, set to visit the Georgia Dome other football-oriented answers come to mind. But McClure went with the old stand by.

"They put their pants on the same way we do," he said when asked about the Thanksgiving Night game between Atlanta and Indianapolis. "Hopefully they’ll eat a lot of turkey before they come down here."

Atlanta (3-7) is eager to erase a tough loss to Tampa Bay. The team doesn't believe that 31-7 defeat killed all the momentum from a two-game winning streak. The Colts may present some match up problems, but they have lost two of three and defeated Kansas City by a field goal last week. And, on national television, anything can happen.

"It’s a challenge for us," Quarterback Joey Harrington said. "There’s no sense in backing down from a challenge. When you can face something head on and come out on top that makes it that much sweeter."

ON THE GROUND: Falcons running back Warrick Dunn fell short of hitting 10,000 rushing yards for his storied career last week, but will get another crack Thursday at the 26 yards needed for the milestone. Dunn will then become just the 22nd player in NFL history to rush for 10,000 yards or more in a career.

"Last week obviously was frustrating," he said. "Hopefully this week I can rush for 26 yards and be able to move forward. But the most important thing for me is winning. If we win the football game, it will happen."

Dunn got more work through the air last week, catching a season-high eight passes for 40 yards. So many receptions by a running back is not ideal, but sometimes necessary against an aggressive defense. Slowing the Colts may be injuries, including the loss of Pro Bowl defensive lineman Dwight Freeney for the remainder of the season.

Indianapolis ranks in the bottom third of the NFL against the run, allowing an even 102 yards per game. The Falcons have averaged 92.8 yards on the ground through 10 games this season splitting carries between Dunn and Jerious Norwood. Rookie Jason Snelling, playing in his first regular season game, also got some carries last week.

“We’ll be excited about playing them," Petrino said. "We’re both in the same situation. Both (teams) have a lot of injuries. In this league you have to play through injuries (and) the next guy that steps in has to be ready to go.”

Indianapolis counters with an explosive running game anchored by a solid offensive line and second-year running back Joseph Addai. Addai's 832 rushing yards have come from a mix of pure talent and an offensive system that is among the most rooted and well-run in the NFL. He ranks in the league's top five in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, points (non-kickers), yards from scrimmage and first downs.

The Falcons run defense has been solid of late, allowing less than 100 yards on the ground in four of the last seven games.

Atlanta had crushing injuries along the defensive line last week however and will play the rest of the season without starting defensive tackles Rod Coleman (arm) and Trey Lewis (knee). Petrino said Tuesday that Montavious Stanley and Jonathan Babineaux, who have a combined five years NFL experience, 35 tackles and one sack this season, will move into the starting lineup.

THROUGH THE AIR: Peyton Manning has made his mark in professional football as an accurate, poised passer. In recent weeks, however, the Colts offense has leaned more on ball control and less on the passing game.

Manning threw six interceptions two weeks ago in a loss to San Diego and the team will likely be without the quarterback's favorite target -- Marvin Harrison -- again this week. Reggie Wayne has emerged as the team's No. 1 due to Harrison's knee injury but, unlike seasons pasts, the Colts have been forced to rely on positions other than receiver.

Wayne leads the team with 63 catches for 945 yards and six touchdowns. But, if you remove Harrison from the stat sheet, the next best receiver is rookie Anthony Gonzalez (15 catches for 207 yards). Manning has filled the hole with tight end Dallas Clark (37 catches, six touchdowns).

Indianapolis ranks second in the league with 606 plays and has produced less than 20 first downs only twice this season. That's not to say the Falcons are preparing for a ball-control offense, though Colts head coach Tony Dungy said Tuesday his team wouldn't "do anything elaborate" in its preparation on a short week.

"Peyton is a very savvy guy," safety Chris Crocker said. "He knows what he has to work with. They're good regardless of who's in there. As a defensive back, I can say that you definitely can’t keep your eyes in the backfield (because of the play-action pass). You have to keep your eyes on your luggage – the guys you’re supposed to be covering."

The Falcons will start Harrington at quarterback Thursday night. He leads an offense that struggled against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but got plenty of exposure to a two-deep zone. The Bucs run what is commonly known as "The Tampa Two." Dungy used the scheme as the Bucs head coach and brought it with him to Indianapolis.

“The good thing is we played basically the same defense we played the other night as far as scheme goes," Petrino said. "Obviously they’re a little different as far as their players but, scheme wise, it’s the same. Offensively they don’t give you a lot of different shifts and formations. We get to focus in on trying to slowdown Peyton and get him stopped.”

Injuries along the offensive line bring up one concern for the Falcons, with Quinn Ojinnaka and Terrance Pennington taking reps at left tackle through the week. Last week's starter at the position, Todd Weiner, won't play because of reoccurring knee problems.

SPECIALTIES: If the Colts have struggled in one phase of the game this season, it's been on special teams. Kicker Adam Vinatieri missed four field goals in a row at one point during the past two games, including a potential game-winner at San Diego.

In the kickoff return game, the Colts rank 21st in yards and only have two of more than 40 yards this season. It's hard to gauge the success of Hunter Smith and the punt team because the Colts have punted only 25 times this season -- another compliment to the offense.

SHUFFLING THE CARDS: The Falcons were hit hard with injuries Sunday even beyond the problems with Coleman, Lewis and Weiner. Tight end Dwayne Blakley suffered a concussion against the Bucs. He did not practice Tuesday and Petrino said he would be "doubtful" for the game.

Recently signed Courtney Anderson would move to the No. 2 tight end spot if Blakley can not play.

The Falcons were also without the services of Joe Horn this week in practice. The veteran wide receiver has been inactive the past two games with a nagging hamstring injury. Rookie Laurent Robinson has played in his place and has seven catches for 75 yards in the past two games.

• RELATED: Falcons-Colts injury report

TALE OF THE TAPE: Some stats to consider as the Falcons welcome the Colts to the Dome.

NUMBERS, NOTES AND COLORS: Some digits, thoughts and colors to get you ready for the Colts game...

• The Falcons will be in red jerseys for Thursday's game.
• The Cotls lead the all-time series with the Falcons 12-1. Atlanta's only victory came in 1998.
• Babineaux played with Colts defensive back Bob Sanders and Clark at the University of Iowa.
• The earliest Thanksgiving "events" were held in 1619 and 1621.
• The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade begin in 1924.
• "More than 44 million people watch the parade on television each year."
• More than 72.6 million people live in the country of Turkey.
• The Colts and Falcons rank two and four respectively in turnover differential (plus-nine and plus-seven)
• The Falcons have scored 83.3 percent of the time when in the red zone this season.
• Atlanta's defense has forced six fumbles in the past three games.