INDIANAPOLIS - Defensive tackle Ricky Jean Francois never bought the notion Indianapolis couldnt contend for a Super Bowl this season.He had too much faith in his teammates and coaches to accept that perception.Now, one day after a surprising 24-13 divisional-round win at Denver, the most unlikely entrant of championship weekend finds itself with a seemingly unlikely Super Bowl scenario.We expected to be here, even though no one else may have expected us to be here, Jean Francois said. Were looking at accomplishing something, and we havent finished it yet.Outsiders arent the only ones surprised that the Colts are here.Just last week, team owner Jim Irsay told reporters he didnt anticipate things going this smoothly or this fast after he released Peyton Manning in 2012 and started over with a rookie quarterback, a first-time head coach and a first-time general manager.But Andrew Luck has been better than advertised, Indy has embraced Chuck Pagano and his philosophy and general manager Ryan Grigson has put enough pieces in place to win 11 regular-season games in three straight seasons.The two-time AFC South champs have gone one step deeper in the playoffs each year of the Luck-Pagano-Grigson era, and now they are just one win away from their third Super Bowl trip in eight years.Youre excited that youve done so much so soon but you also feel the weight. You know where you have to go, Irsay said. We know what we have to do as an organization and thats to get to the top of the mountain. Thats what our goals are as we go into this playoff run.Getting there this time will take a monumental effort.After eliminating Manning on his home turf, the Colts (13-5) face Tom Brady on his home field. Brady is 13-3 at home in the playoffs, 3-0 against the Colts, including last years 43-22 divisional-round drubbing.Its exactly the road Irsay expected to face when he told The Associated Press last month that Indys likely path to a championship would go through Denver and New England, then either Green Bay or Seattle, who will square off in the NFC championship game.Most thought winning any of those games would be too much to ask of Indys young team. The Colts never saw it that way.Faith is believing in what you dont see or cant see, and the reward for believing is youll get to see it, Pagano said Monday. Weve got a bunch of guys in this building that believe in what were doing and believe in each other. If you cant speak it into existence, itll never happen.The indications that Indy was ahead of schedule were there most of the season.During a five-game winning streak in September and October, the Colts allowed 75 points and the run defence was on the verge of cracking the top 10. Andrew Luck was throwing for 300 yards on a weekly basis and led the league in touchdown passes thanks in part to an evolving ground game.Then, late in the season, the Colts defence played well enough to win five of its last six games despite an uncharacteristic rash of turnovers and penalties. In the locker room, players and coaches insisted they were getting hot at just the right time.The critics, meanwhile, complained Indys success was largely built against sub-par teams and pointing to their 2-4 mark against playoff-bound teams and blowout losses at Pittsburgh and Dallas and at home against the Patriots (13-4) as evidence the Colts would be eliminated quickly.Even a convincing 26-10 wild-card round win over Cincinnati didnt change those thoughts.Sundays win over Denver will help, even though the Colts remain the biggest underdog left in the playoff field.The Colts dont care. Theyve got bigger things on their mind.It doesnt matter what anyone else thinks, Jean Francois said. As long as the people in this locker room believe, we can accomplish our goals.Notes: Pagano said the Colts came out of Sundays game with no major injuries. ... Pagano also explained that Trent Richardson, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2012 draft, was inactive for the Broncos game because he was not as skilled on special teams as the recently signed Michael Hill. Richardson worked out on special teams last week, but Pagano said he has not been asked to play on those units previously and that Hill was brought in, partially, because of his knack on special teams. ... The Colts believe they will have the same starting combination on the offensive line for the third straight week. The most recent time that happened was Weeks 1 to 3.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Nolan Ryan Jersey . -- Zach Johnson asked his short-iron approach on the par-4 18th to "Do something right, baby. Tug McGraw Jersey . - Frankie (The Answer) Edgar dominated B. http://www.metsbaseballauthentic.com/yoenis-cespedes-mets-jersey/ . Calgarys Bo Levi Mitchell and Montreals Troy Smith will be the starting quarterbacks in a CFL season-opener for the first time in their careers. Both want to reinforce their No. 1 status. You can watch the game live in the first half of a doubleheader on TSN and TSN GO at 3:00pm et/Noon pt. Jacob deGrom Jersey .com) - Former foes from the Mountain West Conference battle in the 23rd annual Las Vegas Bowl, as the 23rd-ranked Utah Utes clash with the Colorado State Rams at Sam Boyd Stadium on Saturday. Mike Piazza Jersey . The team said they will announce a corresponding roster move prior to their series opener on Tuesday night in Kansas City.BOSTON - It started with a torrent of hate. But P.K. Subban was feeling the love after the Canadiens disposed of the Boston Bruins. The charismatic Montreal defenceman, the target of racial abuse after his winning goal in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series, planted a kiss on broadcaster Pierre McGuire to wrap up their post-Game 7 interview Wednesday night. "Yeah baby," said a jubilant Subban after McGuire congratulated him for reaching the Eastern Conference final, which starts Saturday in Montreal against the New York Rangers. More than a few hockey fans may have fallen for the underdog Habs after their performance against the big bad Bruins. The Canadiens are hard-working, proud and tenacious. "Its definitely a special team and if we didnt know it before the playoffs, we definitely know it now," said forward Max Pacioretty, who bounced back from a slow start in the series. "I said when I got here, I just feel like this is a special team," echoed forward Dale Weise, acquired from the Canucks on Feb. 3. "I was on Vancouver the year after they went to the Cup final, we won the Presidents Trophy — theres something about this team thats just special. "Were real resilient. When our backs are against the wall (and) we need a big performance, our big players show up. And weve got so much depth. I really like our team." The Canadiens work ethic was eloquently voiced by coach Michel Therrien prior to Game 2, in words most saw as a prod at Thomas Vanek and other underachieving forwards. "One thing thats not negotiable with our team ... work ethic is not negotiable, attitude is not negotiable and competing is not negotiable," he said. "This is something we ask from every player on our hockey team. We have to make sure that everyone brings those elements to every single shift and every single game." Therrien was rightly proud Wednesday. "This is a great accomplishment from that group. We just beat the best team in the league. We were down 3-2 (in the series) and we showed a lot of character, a lot of passion. To be able to win the series here in Boston, its a tough place for teams to come and play here. Im really proud about the performance of our players." Carey Price was majestic in goal, with ice water in his veins.dddddddddddd. His rebound control was exceptional, he declined to bite on any of the Bruins forwards shake and bake, and he was there to clean up when a mess was left in front of him. He was unflappable. When the zombie apocalypse finally hits, those nearest Price will likely be thanking their lucky stars. The Habs star had plenty of help. Price faced 230 Bruins shots during the series with his team blocking another 146. Mike Weaver, all five foot 10 of him, stopped 20 of those. "A human wall," said Weise. But as Price and Therrien noted, the Boston series win will be yesterdays news come the Eastern final. Montreal faces another Original six rival in the Rangers, who are coming off an emotional win of their own over Pittsburgh. And having survived Vezina Trophy finalist Tuukka Rask with Boston, the Canadiens now face Rangers stopper Henrik Lundqvist who strapped the Rangers on his back in the elimination game against the Penguins. Price and Lundqvist met at the Olympic final in Sochi, where the outclassed and depleted Swedes were beaten 3-0. King Henrik has a 13-11-2 career record against the Canadiens and has struggled in Montreal where he is 4-5-2 with a 3.87 goals-against average and .876 save percentage. That may explain why backup Cam Talbot played the two games at Montreal this season. Lundqvist has not played at the Bell Centre since a 4-3 shootout victory in March 2009. His last regulation victory there was a 5-3 decision in February 2008. His career save percentage against the Habs is .897. Price, meanwhile, is 8-5-1 with five shutouts and a .934 save percentage against the Rangers. Montreal finished four points ahead of New York in the regular season. The Canadiens blanked New York 2-0 in the Rangers home opener on Oct. 28, lost 1-0 at the Bell Centre on Nov. 16 and edged the visiting Rangers 1-0 in overtime on the final weekend of the season. Its the first playoff meeting between the two since 1996 when the Rangers defeated Montreal 4-2 in the Eastern Conference quarter-final. It marks their 15th post-season meeting, with each team having won seven times. And its the third playoff series between the two since the 1979 Stanley Cup final, won four games to one by Montreal. ' ' '