DENVER -- Remember when the Indianapolis Colts' starting defense shut down the New York Jets and Giants in their first two preseason games?

Seems like a long time ago the way it has struggled to defend two of the best tight ends in the NFL. It started with Jimmy Graham of the New Orleans Saints on Aug. 23 and carried over the Denver’s Julius Thomas on Sunday.

Thomas had seven catches for 104 yards and three touchdowns.

"He’s a monster, a really, really good player," Colts coach Chuck Pagano said. "He is a matchup and a nightmare. Credit them, they did a nice job of moving him around and getting him in position to make the plays. Of course (Peyton Manning) was really good again and got the ball to those guys and found those matchups."

The Colts added D'Qwell Jackson from Cleveland to go with Jerrell Freeman as their middle linebackers.

Thomas picked on both of them.

It started when Thomas lined up on the outside isolated against Freeman. The tight end got a step on Freeman and Manning threw a perfect ball where only Thomas could catch it. Thomas later beat Freeman for a 3-yard touchdown.

Thomas got his second touchdown when he had Jackson beat by several yards and scored from 35 yards away.

Beating the Colts’ linebackers wasn’t challenging enough, so Thomas decided to embarrass safety LaRon Landry.

Lined up on the outside again, Thomas made a fake and cut back inside, leaving Landry stumbling, for an easy 5-yard touchdown reception.

Thomas had 90 of his 107 yards in the first half.

"You are working with an all-pro, all-world, quarterback (Manning) and that helps," Jackson said. "(Thomas) is a great talent, he fits what they do well scheme-wise and they work to their strengths. They are not overly complicated, but they execute well and they are really good at what they do, and he works well with that system."