Before the NFL betting season started, the Colts were a fave sleeper pick of mine. After a 12-4 season, they somehow fell under the radar entering 2009. Here was a team that won nine straight to end the year last season, had the league MVP as its quarterback and quietly allowed the seventh-fewest points in the league. They entered 2009 with a new future star No. 2 wide receiver in Anthony Gonzalez and solid running back to spell Joseph Addai in rookie Donald Brown.

Even though the Colts are 2-0, I’m souring on them. Gonzalez played about one second in Week 1 before hurting his knee. Now, Peyton Manning has to depend only on Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark, as he can’t expect rookies Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon to shoulder the load. Bob Sanders remains out for Indy and the defense has suffered; in fact, it appears Indy’s trademark soft run defense is back plaguing them again.

Indy still has a handful of difficult matchups left on the schedule – in Arizona, in Tennessee, in Houston, and home matchups against the Patriots and Jets. The Colts should make the playoffs again but I’m suddenly worried about their prospects as true Super Bowl sleepers.