Associated Press

ATLANTA — The Indianapolis Colts don't sound too concerned about their lackluster performances the past two weeks. Maybe they took a look at who's coming up on the schedule.

Peyton Manning and Co. will face the beaten-down, banged-up Atlanta Falcons tonight, which looks like just the sort of opponent to get the defending Super Bowl champions back on track for the stretch run.

The Falcons (3-7) are coming off a dismal 31-7 loss at home to Tampa Bay. They are switching quarterbacks again, going back to Joey Harrington for the third time. Both the offensive and defensive lines are plagued by injuries.

"We're in a tough position, there's no doubt about that," Atlanta linebacker Keith Brooking said. "Our backs are against the wall, and we've got some guys out there that haven't had a lot of opportunity in the NFL. It's their time to shine and step up and make some plays for us."

Easier said than done.

Start with the offensive line. Left tackle Wayne Gandy went out for the season weeks ago. Todd Weiner shifted over from right tackle to replace Gandy, but he's unlikely to play against the Colts after aggravating a knee injury that already required surgery.

Harrington might wish he was on the sideline instead of under center when he stands behind a line that now has a couple of second-year players at tackle — undrafted Tyson Clabo on one side, fifth-round pick Quinn Ojinnaka on the other — along with a rookie guard, Justin Blalock.

But the on-again, off-again Harrington is back on. The Falcons have no other choice since Byron Leftwich can't seem to stay on the field for more than a few quarters at a time, and he probably deserved to lose the No. 1 job anyway after a dismal performance against the Buccaneers.

Having already washed out in Detroit and Miami, Harrington knows his hold on the starting spot is tenuous. He began the season as Michael Vick's replacement but has twice handed over the job to Leftwich, who has yet to play a full game in Atlanta.

"I don't want to say it's a lack of patience in this league, but it's very much a 'what have you done for me lately, immediate results' type of league," Harrington said. "The reality is it takes a while. Very, very rarely to you get that bolt of lightning that you're able to hold on to."

Harrington won't have to contend with Dwight Freeney, out for the year with a foot injury, but he will be facing a defensive unit that is giving up the league's second-fewest yards (266.3 per game) and just 15.9 points.