The NFL season kicks off today and one game that will interest fans would be Andrew Luck's first NFL season career start with the Indianapolis Colts against an intimidating Chicago Bears defense.
In the preseason, the Colts finished second in the AFC in passing yards (267.5 yard average) and total offense (343.8) while Luck completed 62.1 percent of his passes, and tied for second in the AFC in passing yards and touchdowns (3).
On the offensive end Luck will look for help from one key player whose brought the Colts success in the past.
Receiver Reggie Wayne ranks second in Indianapolis franchise history in touchdowns (73), receptions (862) and yards (11,708) and leads all active receivers with 145 consecutive starts and 166 games played. Wayne has caught at least one pass in 96 consecutive games.
The key player on the defensive end will be linebacker Dwight Freeney who is a seven-time Pro Bowler and is Indianapolis' all-time leader in sacks with 102.5. In 2011, Freeney became just the 26th player to surpass 100 career sacks, and he's the only Colt to amass seven double-digit sack seasons. In addition, Freeney has put together 25 games in which he's posted multiple sacks.
For Chicago expect to see the return of quarterback Jay Cutler as he plays his first real game in 294 days when he steps on the field today.
With Cutler at the helm, the Bears have posted a 19-8 record over the last 27 games. Cutler needs five touchdown passes to surpass Jim McMahon to move into third on the club's all-time passing TDs list and six more to move to No. 2.
As for the Chicago defense, despite the recent problems he's experienced with an injured left knee, Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher remains confident he'll be able to contribute at a high level against the Colts.
With a start against the Colts, Urlacher moves into a tie with Keith Van Horne for the fourth-most starts (169) in franchise history.
Action kicks off today at 1:00 p.m. ET.
