INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts are trying to repress those old playoff memories.

Back in 2005, they were undefeated entering December, had a bye week in early January and a home date against the AFC’s No. 6 seed (Pittsburgh), which had lost in the AFC championship a year earlier.

The Colts lost.

Tonight, Indy faces the same scenario against another AFC North foe, Baltimore.

“That was 2005, and that was a completely different team,” defensive end Dwight Freeney said. “It was a completely different defense. There’s not much that needs to be said other than ‘This is the playoffs.’ Either win or go home.”

It’s a simple philosophy the Colts (14-2) understand as well as any team still in the hunt.

Despite having the most successful decade in regular-season history (115 wins), an NFL record seven straight 12-win seasons and the league mark for most consecutive regular-season wins (23), Indianapolis has won just one Super Bowl title.

Critics contend they’ve struggled in the playoffs because those long, late-season breaks made them rusty. This time, they’re at least healthy. Not one player missed practice this week, a first this season.

But the lesson is clear: Regular-season success, seeding and oddsmakers mean nothing in the postseason. Being sharp does.

“Don’t go out there and look like you haven’t played a game in six months,” receiver Reggie Wayne said when asked what the Colts learned from their early exits. “As long as you can just go out there and play football and play all four quarters, somewhere in there you’ll have the opportunity to win the game.”

A victory clearly would help the Colts change perceptions after two straight playoff losses, both to San Diego. Indy hasn’t won in the postseason since beating Chicago in the Super Bowl after the 2006 season.

Baltimore (10-7), meanwhile, understands what it takes to win playoff games on the road — a suffocating defense and a proficient running game.

That was the game plan Baltimore used to win its Super Bowl title following the 2000 season as a wild-card team. They won their first-round game again last Sunday, handing New England its only home playoff loss since 1978 though quarterback Joe Flacco threw only 10 passes and finished with just 34 yards. It didn’t matter on a day when the Ravens defense intercepted Tom Brady three times and its offense ran for 234 yards, including Ray Rice’s 83-yard burst for a score to open the game.

“Playing away is kind of an advantage because we always look at it as there’s no pressure on us,” former Super Bowl MVP Ray Lewis said. “The bottom line is, no matter where we go play at, no matter who we’re playing, going to play in somebody else’s home, there is no pressure. Just go let your hair back and just go play football.”

Baltimore (10-7) at Indianapolis (14-2)

When: Today, 5:15 p.m. TV: CBS

Last week: Ravens beat Patriots 33-14; Colts had bye

Streaks, stats and notes: Colts have seven straight wins in series, including 15-6 victory in only other playoff meeting in 2006. … Ravens and Colts have combined for 15 playoff appearances since 2000, each team owns one Super Bowl win, and Ray Lewis and Peyton Manning were both voted Super Bowl MVPs. … Baltimore has won six road playoff games since 2000, matching 1970s Dallas Cowboys’ league record for most in a decade. … Ravens had 3,000-yard passer (Joe Flacco), 1,000-yard rusher (Ray Rice) and 1,000-yard receiver (Derrick Mason) for first time in franchise history. … Baltimore tied franchise record with 391 points this season. … Ravens have allowed average of 12.0 points in 12 playoff games this decade, lowest of any team with at least five postseason games. … Baltimore has not allowed 100-yard rusher in any of franchise’s 12 playoff games. … Ravens led AFC in turnover margin at plus-10 during regular season. … Four-time MVP Manning is 7-8 in playoffs. Last player to win MVP and Super Bowl in same season was Kurt Warner with St. Louis in 1999. … Colts DE Robert Mathis has six sacks, forced four fumbles and recovered two fumbles in six career games vs. Ravens.