Mike Chappell

mike.chappell@indystar.com

They're next-door neighbors in the locker room, which is appropriate considering Trent Richardson and Ahmad Bradshaw represent the one-two punch charged with injecting life into the Indianapolis Colts' running game.

They've grown close since Richardson arrived nearly 12 months ago in the trade with Cleveland.

"He's a brother, man," Richardson said Thursday. "He comes to my house, spends time with my kids."

Often, their relationship is more sibling than teammates.

"One day he wore my shirt and one day I took his shoes," Richardson said, smiling. "I caught myself today putting on his shirt. I didn't even know it."

The interaction is constant and genuine.

Earlier this week, Richardson was wrapping up his day. He slipped on his shoes and grabbed his backpack. He and Bradshaw continued their playful back-and-forth dialogue.

Then, Bradshaw turned his attention to Sunday night's season opener at Denver against the defending AFC champion Broncos. He considered the prospect of sharing the backfield and workload with Richardson for the first time since Sept. 22 when he suffered a season-ending neck injury at San Francisco.

"We know what we've got, man," Bradshaw said. "We can be a great tandem."

The sample size is small — one game against the 49ers — but a Bradshaw-Richardson combo generated the desired results. In a no-frills, no-doubt 27-7 win over San Francisco, the Colts rushed 40 times for 184 yards, both season highs. They powered for three rushing TDs, tying a season high. Richardson's first carry as a Colt was a 1-yard TD in the first quarter.

Coach Chuck Pagano and offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton are unabashed advocates of what Richardson and Bradshaw offer. Neither is dissuaded by:

Richardson's 2.9 average gain a year ago.

The running game ranking tied for 20th in yards per game.

The preseason offering little encouragement. Richardson and Bradshaw played sparingly — a combined 23 carries for 53 yards — and the Colts averaged a modest 3.4 yards per attempt and 99.8 yards per game.

Bradshaw coming back after undergoing surgery that fused two vertebrae in his neck.

"We expect to be able to run the football," Hamilton said.

Added Pagano: "I see the glimpse. I see them in practice. I see them do the things necessary that gives us a chance.

"Now we've got to go play."

Quarterbacks Andrew Luck and Peyton Manning figure to fuel the hype machine Sunday night, and rightly so. But it might be prudent for the Colts to at least attempt to establish a viable ground attack.

Manning set NFL single-season records a year ago with 55 touchdown passes and 5,477 yards. The Broncos careened their way to a record 606 points. They eclipsed the 30 points 13 times, including in a 39-33 loss to the Colts in Indy.

During that wild Oct. 20 evening at Lucas Oil Stadium, Manning directed 73 plays and a staggering 17 possessions. Luck countered with 71 plays and 18 possessions, including a game-ending kneel down.

If the Colts are to be believed, they have little interest in participating in a track meet at Sports Authority Field at Mile High even though Luck might be most effective when running a no-huddle, up-tempo attack.

"It may not be a bad idea for us to try and keep Peyton Manning off the field," Hamilton said.

Bradshaw agreed that some degree of ball control might be the best approach, similar to the game plan that worked so well last season against San Francisco.

"I think that's how we're going into this game, just knowing (the Broncos) want to fly around and we want to pound 'em," he said. "We want it to be the same style as that 49ers game."

That should quiet the critics, who will remain vocal until Richardson, Bradshaw and the rest prove them wrong.

"Most definitely. Most definitely," Richardson said. "They're going to question it all day until we prove it."

"We love it that way," Bradshaw said, "because we know what we have. Trent and I have taken this seriously all offseason to really learn this offense and learn the running schemes.

"We've got a point to prove. Last year (at San Francisco) was a statement how good we can be. It'll show this year."

Call Star reporter Mike Chappell at (317) 444-6830. You can follow him on Twitter at @mchappell51.