For the Indianapolis Colts, this season has been the best of times and the worst of times.

Now with the playoffs just around the corner, the squad is hoping for a happy ending.

The Colts entered the season as one of the favorites to reach the Super Bowl.

With an improved defense to go along with offensive weapons such as Peyton Manning, Edgerrin James, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark and Mike Vanderjagt, the Colts looked primed for another serious run.

No one expected the run at a potential perfect season, however, or, worse yet, the death of head coach Tony Dungy's son Dec. 22, which hung a dark cloud over the team the rest of the regular season.

Despite an early 3-0 start, the Colts were lackluster in their play, defeating Baltimore 24-7, but eking out 10-3 and 13-6 wins over Jacksonville (including just 122 yards passing) and Cleveland.

Manning started the season with two TD (both against the Ravens) and two interceptions, a far cry from the 49 touchdowns he put up in 2004.

The Colts, however, began to roll over the next four weeks leading into their Week 8 bye.

The offense scored 31, 28, 45 and 38 points to jump out to a 7-0 record, and the buzz began that week about whether the Colts could challenge the 1972 Miami Dolphins as the only undefeated team in NFL history.

On Nov. 17, their first game back, the Colts were able to exorcise — at least temporarily — old demon, when they beat the host New England Patriots 40-21.

The Patriots had knocked the Colts out of the playoffs the past two seasons, both times at New England, and Manning had never beaten them.After an AFC South win over the Houston Texans, two threats to the perfect season loomed ahead: a game at Cincinnati Nov. 20 and a Monday night home matchup with Pittsburgh Nov. 28.Against the Bengals, the Colts jumped out to a big lead early and had to hold on for a 45-37 win. Manning passed for 365 yards and three scores.Against the Steelers, the Colts jumped out to a 10-0 lead and led 13-7 as Pittsburgh was driving for a potential go-ahead score just before halftime.Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, coming off a knee injury, threw an ill-timed pass that was intercepted. The Colts tacked on a field goal before the break.And when Bill Cowher's onside kick to start the second half backfired, leading to another Colts' touchdown, the game was pretty much over as Indy took a 26-7 victory.Wins over Tennessee (35-3) and Jacksonville (26-18) locked up the AFC South Division, and, more importantly, home field advantage for Indianapolis throughout the conference playoffs.After the sluggish 3-0 start, Manning shined in the next 10 games, throwing for 2,686 yards, 25 touchdowns and just six interceptions.The Colts finally saw their winning streak come to an end as San Diego went into the RCA Dome and came out a 26-17 winner.Indianapolis trailed 16-0 and actually battled back to take a 17-16 lead, but Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding added a 49-yard field goal, then Michael Turner iced the game with an 83-yard touchdown run.With the perfect season gone, the Colts had plans to rest their starters at Seattle the following week, then against Arizona.On Dec. 22, however, Dungy's son, James, 18, committed suicide, in Florida.Dungy missed the game at Seattle, a meaningless 28-13 loss. Many of the Colts players, now being coached by assistant Jim Caldwell, played sparingly, especially Manning, who completed nine of 12 passes for 112 yards before calling it a day.Dungy returned for the team's 17-13 win against the cardinals, but, again, most of the players rested. Manning attempted just two passes and James, who finished the season with 1,506 yards, didn't have a carry.It's been a roller coaster of emotions for the Colts, who haven't played an important game in a month, a period that was made longer by the bye they received last week.Having put all the distractions behind them, the Colts are still favored to win the Super Bowl.Getting here has been the easy part. Getting where they want to go, well, that will be a little more difficult.