INDIANAPOLIS — This is just what the Indianapolis Colts wanted — another meeting this season with former Colts quarterback and franchise icon Peyton Manning.

By virtue of Baltimore winning at Pittsburgh Saturday night in an AFC wild-card playoff game and Indianapolis’ 26-10 wild-card game victory over Cincinnati on Sunday, the stage is set for a Colts and Manning redux Sunday in Denver.

Since the start of the 2013 season, both teams won against each other on their home fields. Indianapolis netted a 39-33 victory at Lucas Oil Stadium last year. And the Broncos won the 2014 season-opener 31-24 on Sept. 7 at Mile High Stadium.

While the two franchises are set to face off in a regular-season game next year, again back in Indianapolis, their next meeting will come in an AFC Divisional Playoff Game with a chance for a trip to the AFC Championship Game as the prize.

The formula going forward is win and play either the New England Patriots or the Baltimore Ravens; lose and go home until next season.

“Great opportunity,” Colts coach Chuck Pagano said. “After Week 1, it seems like a lifetime since that ballgame. We came out of that one and we dug ourselves a hole if I remember correctly, and found a way to get back within a touchdown,” he said.

“But we got in that locker room and we said, ‘Hey, we’re going to stick to the process.’ Even though Week 2 didn’t work out, this group is, like I say all the time, they’re a resilient bunch. They found themselves a way to get in the tournament, win the division, all those type of things.”

In that game at Denver earlier this year, the Broncos were in control early before Indianapolis was able to rally in the second half.

The Colts came within a touchdown of tying the game in the final minutes, but a pass to wide receiver Reggie Wayne fell incomplete.

Now Pagano, quarterback Andrew Luck and the rest of the Colts will have a chance to try to win again.

“Find a way to win a home playoff game and give yourself an opportunity at another shot at their place,” Pagano said. “It’s always a challenge to play the Broncos and play a great team. They’re a great football team and obviously they’ve got a great, great quarterback.”

“It’s always a huge challenge and at the same time, we’re going to embrace the opportunity, embrace the moment. It’s exciting, it’s fun. It’s always a great chess match. Hopefully we can play just a little bit better than we did in Week 1.”

As was the case in the meetings between Denver and Indianapolis the last two seasons, the focus will be on Manning and Luck. The Colts qauarterback, though, would prefer to see it as a battle against a pretty good Broncos defense.

“I think we face the Broncos in a sense, it’s not the quarterback versus quarterback thing,” Luck said. “We’re not on the field at the same time. I have a lot of respect for him, what he does, what he still does is amazing. He’s a stud. I’ll worry about the Denver defense — that’s what I worry about.”

One things is certain. The Colts will begin preparations to face Manning’s Denver team quickly. The usual 24-hour rule for celebrating wins has been narrowed to the locker room after the Cincinnati game. It’s now all about the Broncos.

“Absolutely, absolutely,” Luck said. “And preparation starts I think when that game ends because it’s a really good Denver team. We’ll have our work cut out for us, but I think guys are excited and up for the challenge.”

Of course there are some Colts who actually will be on the field at the same time as Manning. Safety Mike Adams, who played at Denver with Manning last year and against him earlier this year, gave his take on the star quarterback.

“He’s so smart, he understands,” said Adams. “He knows when you’re disguising. He knows when you’re coming down. He knows when you’re in the box and knows when you’re back. There’s not much you can do, but just disrupt and disrupt the timing.”

Adams knows that it is no accident that Manning is so in tune, so difficult to fool. Adams remembers what Manning was like during last year’s playoffs when they were teammates.

One thing stands out.

“His work ethic,” Adams said. “In all the media, you hear about that all the time. Well, it’s true. He’s a workhorse. He studies, but at the same time he’s loose. He makes jokes. He cracks jokes with the defense and offense, but at the end of the day when he goes on the field, it’s business.

“He knows that and he understands that. He wants to win. We don’t know how many more he’s got. Another rumor is if he’s going to play again, is he going to retire? He’s going to give it his all. He’s going to study, he’s going to make sure he does everything he can do, everything he needs to, to win the game.”

–Notes: ESPN reported that the Oakland Raiders interviewed offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton on Sunday night. The 40-year-old Hamilton also has drawn interest from the Buffalo Bills, who are in the market for a head coach after Doug Marronne bolted. … Rookie center Jonnotthan Harrison (concussion) is currently undergoing the league’s concussion protocols. … Guard Hugh Thornton (shoulder) remains day-to-day after missing six games. … Center A.Q. Shipley (left ankle) is expected to be able to return to practice by Wednesday.

REPORT CARD VS. THE BENGALS:

–PASSING OFFENSE: B-plus — QB Andrew Luck was on fire against Cincinnati, completing 31 of 44 passes for 476 yards and one touchdown. He ended the day with a 104.0 passer rating. Luck could have had a few more completions if not for a handful of drops, including three by WR T.Y. Hilton.

–RUSHING OFFENSE: B — Dan Herron got his third straight start and had a game-high 56 yards rushing on 12 carries, including a 27-yard run. Rookie RB Zurlon Tipton added 40 yards in 11 carries. As a team, the Colts had 114 yards on 25 carries and ended the team with a 4.6 team rushing average.

–PASS DEFENSE: B — Bengals QB Andy Dalton connected on 18 of 35 passes for 155 yards. Dalton was sacked three times, led by ILB Jerrell Freeman’s 1.5. DE Cory Redding had one and DT Ricky Jean Francois added 0.5 of a sack. Dalton ended the day with a 63.4 passer rating.

–RUSH DEFENSE: A-minus — Cincinnati rookie RB Jeremy Hill came into Sunday’s wild-card game as one of the hottest rushers in the league. Hill had gained over 1,000 yards and had nine rushing touchdowns during the regular season. The Colts’ run defense, however, limited him to 47 yards in 13 rushing attempts. Hill scored the Bengals’ lone touchdown with a 1-yard run in the first quarter.

–SPECIAL TEAMS: B-plus — PK Adam Vinatieri made four field goals, hitting from 38, 29, 22 and 53 yards. P/KOS Pat McAfee averaged 36.5 yards net and 51.5 yards overall on four punts. He also had two touchbacks on kickoffs. PR/KR Josh Cribbs averaged 33.5 yards on two kickoffs and 7.0 yards on five punt returns. Indianapolis won the field position battle.

–COACHING: B-plus — The Colts played their most complete game of the season since the last time the team faced Cincinnati during the regular season. Indianapolis got off to a quick start offensively and except for one early first quarter drive, the defense did a pretty good job of controlling the tempo. Now the task at hand is to be able to have two straight strong performances, something that the Colts’ haven’t been able to accomplish since midseason.