The one smudge to Jonathan Ogden's otherwise All-Pro career can be erased in Sunday's season opener.
Ogden will confront Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney as well as memories of Freeney spinning around him for a couple of sacks last year.
This time, Ogden won't be fighting injuries. He won't be fighting crowd noise on the road.
It will strictly be Ogden, one of the best linemen of his generation, against Freeney, last year's NFL sacks leader.
"It's a good test to see where I'm at for the first game of the season," Ogden said. "You'll know where you stand early. That's the way I'm approaching it this week. You're just jumping into the deep end of the pool."
The result of Ogden's matchup with Freeney - which also included two quarterback hurries - shocked many watching last year's nationally televised game.
Consider this: Ogden allowed two sacks to Freeney and just one to everyone else that season. In fact, excluding that Colts game, Ogden has surrendered nine sacks in his last 59 games (dating back to 2001).
One NFL scout recently told Sports Illustrated, "The one time Jonathan Ogden showed me a chink in his armor last year was against Dwight Freeney. That's the only time I've seen him frustrated. Other than that, he was a dominator."
Asked if this game against Freeney gives him any extra motivation, Ogden said, "Yes and no. Last year, I had what I considered a bad game by my standards. But it wasn't a horrible game like everyone thinks."
Ogden, the franchise's first pick in 1996, has silenced some of the best pass rushers over his eight-time Pro Bowl career.
Some of his memorable battles have been against such players as Bruce Smith and Simeon Rice. Ogden said he would put the lightning-quick Freeney in that class, saying the Colt was among "the top five or six" he's faced.
"He can spin without really stopping," Ogden said. "He never stops moving his feet."
Ogden had his way with Freeney in their first meeting three years ago, holding him to no tackles and no sacks. Freeney returned the favor last season, although Ogden probably wasn't at full strength.
According to Ogden, he can't remember how much he was banged up for that late December game in Indianapolis, but last year was his worst involving injuries. Missing a career-worst four games, Ogden sprained his knee in the final preseason game and then hurt his hamstring at midseason.
