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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has accomplished a lot in his first seven NFL seasons. Among other things, he's a two-time league MVP and holds the single-season record for touchdown passes.

What the NFL's most prolific passer hasn't been able to do is reach the Super Bowl.

Looking to finally reach the championship game, Manning and the Colts kick off their season on the road against the Baltimore Ravens.

Indianapolis won its second straight AFC South title last season, but the Colts once again saw their hopes of a Super Bowl appearance end with a second playoff loss at New England in as many years.

Manning eclipsed Dan Marino's 1984 record with 49 touchdowns in 2004, but couldn't get his team into the end zone in a 20-3 loss to the Patriots in a divisional playoff. Manning and Indianapolis were again frustrated by New England's dominant defense after averaging a league-best 32.6 points per game in 2004.

Leading Baltimore's dominant defense, sixth-best in the NFL last year in yards (300.2) and points (16.8) allowed per game, is the All-Pro tandem of linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed.

Reed was the NFL's defensive player of the year in 2004, picking up nine interceptions and returning one 106 yards for a TD. He's joined in the secondary by solid cornerbacks Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle.

There's also third-year linebacker Terrell Suggs, the 2003 defensive rookie of the year who has recorded 22 1/2 sacks over his first two seasons.

Baltimore's tough defense limited Manning to one touchdown in a 20-10 Colts win Dec. 19, the only time last season he was held to fewer than two passing scores in a game.

Manning may not duplicate last year's record-setting performance with tight end Marcus Pollard leaving for Detroit and slot receiver Brandon Stokley injured, but he still has a wealth of targets with receivers Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, tight end Dallas Clark and versatile running back Edgerrin James.

That balance will first be tested by a Ravens offense that could be much-improved under Kyle Boller.

The third-year quarterback threw for 2,559 yards and 13 touchdowns last year and will also spend a lot of time handing the ball to running back Jamal Lewis, who's eager to return to his form of 2003, when he rushed for 2,066 yards. Lewis spent the offseason serving prison time for using a cell phone to set up a drug buy in 2000.