Quite a performance here tonight by last year's world champs. I don't call them "defending" because, like recent other champs, no one actually wants to be called as much.

I wrote a column about the Saints and what they can take from this game for a column that will be posted on the main page early Friday morning, so here are a few idle Colts thoughts:

Where was Anthony Gonzalez? All summer we heard about how advanced he was for a rookie and how the Clts were throwing a ton at him. Peyton spent extra time showing Gonzalez tape of the best slot receiver he has had (not named Dallas Clark, anyway) -- Brandon Stokley. When Stokley was healthy, the Colts were hard to beat that 2004 season. But other than an overthrow when Manning was hit in the pocket and one play that was wiped out by penalty, I didn't see Gonzalez as the target. Maybe I missed one. He certainly wasn't on the field a lot.

Kelvin Hayden and Marlin Jackson played nice games, though they were barely heard from. They took away the deep stuff when the Saints fell behind, and that's crucial. If those guys can do their jobs, safeties Antoine Bethea and Bob Sanders look very good. They are extremely active against the run, even when they are in coverages designed to take away the deep pass.

Another new starter, WLB Freddie Keiaho, had a nice first start. He came up with an interception and was in on six tackles, showing good recognition and awareness vs. the run and the pass. He looked like the next in a long line of very good weak-siders the Colts have churned out. Credit Bill Polian for constantly stockpiling good, athletic talent at the position, allowing the team to essentially redshirt these guys and get them ready to take their place in line.

And Manning was, well, Manning. He was not spectacular, but he was damned good, especially when he got the looks he wanted. The Saints were in deep trouble when they could not stop the run in their two-deep coverage, and he found a patsy in Jason David -- and his non-assisting safeties -- to pick on.

That's all from Indy. I am going to turn in for the night. Be sure to check out my column if you are a Saints fan. I want to help get you down off the bridge, if possible.