KUSA - It's the biggest stage to open the season: Sunday Night Football.
Peyton Manning will reunite with his former team -- the Indianapolis Colts -- for the second time since joining the Denver Broncos.
The Broncos fell 39-33 last season to the Colts, spoiling Manning's return to Indianapolis.
That game was the first falter of the near-perfect regular season for the Orange and Blue, with Andrew Luck throwing for 228 yards with three touchdowns and running for another.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - AUGUST 12: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts looks to pass the ball against the St. Louis Rams during a preseason NFL game at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 12, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana.(Photo: Joe Robbins Getty Images)
Fast forward to this year and both teams don't look anything like 2013.
John Elway added three big-name defensive players in DeMarcus Ware, Aqib Talib and T.J. Ward, and have moved on from starting running back Knowshon Moreno and wide receiver Eric Decker. RELATED: GUEST COLUMN: SOCIAL COVERAGE: RELATED: TICKETS: Find the best deals for Broncos tickets Denver Mayor Hancock ready for a Broncos win Broncos fans, Manning ready for real football Broncos super season march Will the Broncos defense live up to the hype?
Luck now will target former Giants wideout Hakeem Nicks, and the organization is hoping Trent Richardson will be worth the first round pick they dealt to Cleveland last year for the former Alabama star.
The Broncos found out this week that they will lose All-Pro wide receiver Wes Welker for the first four games of the season for violating the league's PED policy. He tested positive for an amphetamine.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - FEBRUARY 02: Wide receiver Wes Welker #83 of the Denver Broncos scores a two point conversion during Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium on February 2, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.(Photo: Christian Petersen Getty Images)
Denver is also without their Pro Bowl kicker Matt Prater, who will also miss the first four games of the season for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 8: Place kicker Matt Prater #5 of the Denver Broncos makes a 25-yard field goal on a hold by Britton Colquitt #4 during the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Sports Authority Field Field at Mile High on December 8, 2013 in Denver, Colorado.(Photo: Justin Edmonds Getty Images) Notes* -The Colts will be without their leading pass rusher, Robert Mathis who is out of the first four games of the season for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy -Denver has won 17 of its last 20 season openers, and its 40-13-1 (.755) record is the best in the NFL.
Linebacker Danny Trevathan is the third starter that will sit. The former Kentucky Wildcat is out after fracturing his left knee during training camp.
However, Von Miller will return for the Broncos defense. The former second overall pick in 2011 comes back from a torn ACL. In nine games last season, Miller had five sacks and three forced fumbles, and he has accumulated 35 sacks over his three-year career.
But this game -- and this season -- is all about Manning. The league's reigning MVP is coming off of a career year, throwing for 55 touchdowns and nearly 5,500 yards.
'Season opener, it doesn't get much bigger than this except for the postseason,' Manning said. 'I've always said that opening day is a playoff-type atmosphere.'
He has led the Broncos to consecutive 13-win seasons and now, after a seven-month hiatus, Manning will look to start the Broncos off in the win column in 2014.
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