Five key matchups: Colts vs. Broncos

The emergence of wide receivers Donte Moncrief and Phillip Dorsett has proved valuable for the Colts, but there's no question who remains the top threat on offense. Fifth-year player T.Y. Hilton is one of the fastest players in the league and has a knack for the big play. Luck loves to find the short, speedy receiver for plays that turn games on their heads. Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr. will likely be one of the players tasked with slowing Hilton. The Broncos did a decent job in the last matchup and limited Hilton to 82 yards on five catches and kept him out of the end zone. That kind of defense will likely need to continue for the Broncos to knock off the Colts, who have a knack for late-game theatrics. And when Luck leads a comeback attempt, there's no one to whom he looks before Hilton.

Sanders' sure hands and two consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards earned him a long-term contract the day before the Broncos' season opener. He delivered first downs on three of his five receptions against Carolina, totaling 49 yards. In Week 2, Cromartie is his likely opponent. Indianapolis signed Cromartie in the middle of the preseason on Aug. 22, and he has quickly become an impact addition. He played 61 of 65 total defensive snaps, and gave up just two receptions on three targets for 30 yards with no touchdowns against Detroit.

After an up-and-down 2015 season, the Colts solidified their offensive line by selecting Alabama center Ryan Kelly in the first round. They added a handful of other players in later rounds, and the offensive line provided a strong pocket for Andrew Luck in Week 1. If the Colts are to find the same success in Week 2, they'll need right guard Jack Mewhort to step up against Derek Wolfe. The fifth-year defensive end improved greatly as the 2015 season progressed, Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips said. And while his Week 1 production was limited, he'll need to provide an interior push to keep Luck from stepping up in the pocket. In the run game, Wolfe will aim to shut down Frank Gore, Robert Turbin and Josh Ferguson. The Colts haven't had a 100-yard rusher since 2012, and Wolfe will be part of the group looking to add to that streak.

Anderson's focus on slimming down for the beginning of the season seems to have paid off. His 139 yards from scrimmage with two touchdowns largely powered Denver's 21-20 comeback win against the Panthers, whose front seven are among the NFL's best. Jackson has been the most active tackler for the Colts since his signing in 2014, totaling 288 tackles, 81 more than the No. 2 tackler, Jerrell Freeman, who signed with Chicago in free agency. In their season opener, Indianapolis had difficulty corralling Lions running backs Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick, who combined for 108 rushing yards, 120 receiving yards and three touchdowns out of the backfield. As the Broncos' top running back, Anderson will have the opportunity to gash Indianapolis similarly, unless Jackson and Co. have something to say about it.

It didn't look like there was much rust for Colts quarterback Andrew Luck to knock off during Indianapolis' opening game against the Lions. After missing every game after the Colts' contest with Denver last season, Luck came roaring back with 385 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. But Luck has had issues in the past with decision-making under pressure. He may be one of the hardest guys to bring down in the league, but his knack for making plays sometimes hurts the fifth-year quarterback. On more than one occasion, he's thrown an interception or lost the football by trying to extend a play. DeMarcus Ware, who sacked Luck last season before leaving the game with an injury, will be one of the players who looks to force the highest-paid player in the league into bad decisions. After missing all of OTAs and training camp, Ware looks to be in midseason form after a 1.5-sack performance against Carolina in Week 1.