INDIANDAPOLIS — Whatever it takes.

That’s the mindset the Indianapolis Colts are taking into Sunday night’s nationally-televised game with New England.

“We’re preparing to win however we have to,” head coach Chuck Pagano said this week. “Whether (a) shootout or low-scoring, leading or rallying.”

The Colts-Patriots rivalry has become one of the best in the National Football League, featuring two of the league’s best quarterbacks since the early 2000s.

First it was Indianapolis’ Peyton Manning and New England’s Tom Brady. Now it’s Brady going up against Colts signal caller Andrew Luck.

In Luck’s two previous meetings with the Patriots, he threw for 665 yards and two touchdowns. But the turnovers ended up hurting Indianapolis. Seven interceptions, four coming in last January’s AFC playoff loss, were too much for the Colts to overcome.

Facing a Bill Belichick-designed defense can do that to a quarterback.

“You know to anticipate a dogfight. You know to anticipate some wrinkle, something new. When you have a chance to score points in the red zone, you better score touchdowns. Definitely took that away from the last two games,” Luck said, adding that this week’s game will have a bit of a playoff buzz to it.

“There definitely will be a different buzz. It’s the biggest game of the season because it’s the next game. I truly believe that. It happens to be a great Patriots team. They’re hot, great record. But biggest game because it’s the next one. It’s a home game, it’s an AFC foe. So that’s what’s important.”

There will be several new faces on the New England defense, including cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner.

“Yeah, different personnel at a lot of places than (last year’s) playoff game. Obviously they still have (safety Devin) McCourty back there with (safety Patrick) Chung (along with) Revis and Browner,” Luck explained.

“Some really solid players that can cover and do good things. (Inside linebacker Akeem) Ayers is there now from Tennessee, so a bunch of good pieces. Looking forward to it. Should be great.”

The third-year Colts quarterback says that he doesn’t get all caught up in a rivalry with Brady.

“Great amount of respect for Brady and what he’s done,” Luck said. “He’s one of the premier quarterbacks ever. Great role model for anybody playing the position at any level.

“I think as a quarterback, I’ve never worried about who the opposing quarterback is or what the opposing offense does. If you think about that for five minutes, that’s five minutes less thinking about the defense and what your job is.”

Trying to figure out all the expected nuances Belichick will bring to the Patriots’ defense is enough to be concerned about.

“You have to be aware of what they’re doing and be able to take what they give you in a sense. They do a good job of making you play left-handed or forcing you to be one-dimensional,” Luck added. “You’ve got to stay balanced. You’ve got to be able to, I think, attack the whole field.”

The Colts didn’t have running back Ahmad Bradshaw, wide receiver Reggie Wayne and tight end Dwayne Allen in last year’s playoff meeting. All three were injured. And Indianapolis has added receivers such as veteran Hakeem Nicks and rookie Donte Moncrief to the mix. Will that make any difference this time around?

“I don’t want to discredit who we were playing with, the guys on the team last year, bunch of studs,” Luck said. “It is obviously a new year. They’ve got some new pieces. We’ve got some new pieces.

“I think we’re confident every week in our matchups with our wideouts, with our tight ends and our running backs. Hopefully we can do some good things.”

NOTES: Among those not practicing Wednesday were OT Gosder Cherilis (groin — listed as day-to-day), DT Art Jones (ankle), OLB Erik Walden (quad) and WR Reggie Wayne (veteran’s day off). … Former RB/KR Josh Cribbs worked out with the Colts on Tuesday.