INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts thrive under football’s brigthest lights.

They’ve been the most successful Sunday night team since 2000.

So with the losses piling up and the experts already writing off the season, the Colts return to their favorite prime-time stage with a chance to change the pecerception that they can’t win without Peyton Manning.

Nope, Indy can’t wait to face Pittsburgh on Sunday night.

“You get the lights, the bright lights, the moon out, it just gets my blood going faster,” Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney said. “A game like this comes with added excitement.”

They’ll need it.

The Colts are 0-2 for the first time in 13 seasons. The stability that defined the Manning era has temporarily vanished, and Indy’s remarkable run of nine straight double-digit win seasons and a record-tying nine straight playoff appearances could soon be history, too.

For now, though, the Colts still own prime time.

Three-time Super Bowl champ New England has only eight Sunday night wins since 2000 — half as many as Indy’s 16. America’s Team, Dallas, and defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay, have 10 Sunday night wins during that span. Even Pittsburgh, this week’s opponent, can only claim nine Sunday night wins in the last 11 years.

But all 16 of Indy’s wins were engineered by Manning, and, of course, the four-time league MVP won’t be around to help this week.

Everybody, including the Steelers (1-1), can see it’s not the same.

“I wish nothing but the best for him and his health and recovery,” Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. “But, also, you have to respect the fact that he is one of the best in the game, and anytime a guy like that is not playing, it, obviously, bodes well for your team. A little more confidence for your guys, because Peyton is one of the best.”

Nationally, analysts are debating how low the Colts’ victory total will go — and how lopsided Pittsburgh’s projected win will be.

Has it really gotten this bad in Indy? Yes.

The Colts have produced two touchdowns in two weeks. The defense is ranked 15th in the AFC in third-down percentage. The Colts gave up a punt return for a touchdown at Houston, and a 43-yard punt return and a 52-yard kickoff return in last week’s loss to Cleveland.

Now comes Pittsburgh, a team with a penchant for capitalizing on opponents’ miscues.

Strangely, these two AFC powers haven’t met since 2008. The Steelers last trip to Indy was a divisional playoff game in January 2006, the one that ended when Mike Vanderjagt shanked a potentially tying field goal to the right in the closing seconds.

But it’s not the memories that concern the Colts. It’s the present matchups.

Indy has first-year starters at both offensive tackle spots, a new starter at left guard and may have to replace the injured Ryan Diem (left ankle) at right guard. Plus, Kerry Collins, the 38-year-old quarterback, is expected to start his third straight game but has been hobbled in practice this week with a sore throwing shoulder. If his playing time is limited, Curtis Painter would be the next option.

That’s a potentially huge problem against Blitzburg, which could play right into the Steelers’ hands.

“If they’re not the toughest defense to prepare for, then they’re definitely one of the toughest,” Collins said. “They can bring guys from anywhere. We’ve just got to be ready for whatever they bring.”

Pittsburgh’s path to success has never been a secret.

It pressures opposing offenses into mistakes, plays ball control with a strong running game and throws deep when defenses gang up against the run. The philosophy worked well enough to get Pittsburgh Super Bowl titles following the 2005 and 2008 seasons and back to the big game last year before losing to Green Bay.

Now they’ll see if it’s good enough to beat this century’s Sunday night champs on their home turf.

“We are going to roll our sleeves up and get back to work. We have to go on the road and win in a hostile environment,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “We have an opportunity to go seek an AFC road victory. We haven’t done that yet. We need to sharpen our sword for it.”