Dwight Freeney considered the Indianapolis Colts’ upcoming travel itinerary. He paused, then shook his head.

“It’s going to be tough,’’ the veteran defensive end said.

Prime-time tough, which comes with the territory for the NFL’s most successful team in the regular season over the past decade.

A grueling eight-day stretch began with Sunday’s three-hour charter flight to South Florida for tonight’s clash with the Miami Dolphins on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football.” Then, a four-hour flight to Phoenix on Saturday for a date with the Arizona Cardinals the following night on NBC.

“Whew,’’ Freeney said. "By the time it’s over (in Miami), it’s 3 o’clock in (Tuesday) morning when you get back home. Short week of practice, then a long flight to (Phoenix) on Saturday.

“But hey, we’ll worry about that when we get there.’’

Clearly, the NFL schedule maker wasn’t too concerned with giving the Colts ample recovery time from one prime-time game to another. It’s all about putting the marquee teams in the best time slot, which is after dark.

The only other team facing back-to-back road games in prime time this season? New England, which travels to New Orleans for a Monday night game in Week 12, then to Miami for a Sunday nighter in Week 13.

Since 1999, the Colts have the league’s best regular-season record at 115-46. The Patriots follow at 111-50.

As taxing as the upcoming schedule figures to be, coach Jim Caldwell isn’t overly concerned.

“You have to play them the way they fall,‘’ he said. "You can’t complain about (the schedule). You focus in on what you need to get done and make adjustments.’’

The team, Caldwell added, "has not been fazed by the difficulty of scheduling, requirements of playing back-to-back games in a very, very short period of time. We’ve been able to weather the storm and play well.’’

That has been especially true on the “Monday Night Football” stage. The Colts have the best winning percentage among regular participants over the past decade (9-3, .750). They’ve won seven of their past eight MNF games, averaging 33.1 points in the process.

“It has a lot to do with our having good players,’’ Caldwell said.

The Colts feature a prime-time cast. Quarterback Peyton Manning is a three-time league MVP who has won nine of his 12 starts on MNF. He’s one of eight Colts who have combined for 24 Pro Bowl appearances.

Moreover, 24 players were on hand the last time the Colts visited South Florida. It was Feb. 4, 2007, and it was Dolphin Stadium, not Land Shark Stadium. It was Super Bowl XLI, and the Colts defeated the Chicago Bears 29-17 in a steady rain.

Tonight could be a trial run for the Colts. Super Bowl XLIV returns to South Florida on Feb. 7.

As much experience as the Colts can rely on tonight, 11 players, including eight rookies, never have been involved with the MNF experience, when the lights seem a bit brighter and the hype more over the top.

In a preemptive strike, Caldwell talked with the team early in the week about what to expect.

“We don’t harp on it,‘’ he said, "but it is a different atmosphere.’’

Rookie Jerraud Powers listened, but insisted he already was keeping things in perspective. The third-round draft pick will make his second straight start at right cornerback unless a groin injury flares up.

“I know the whole world will be watching ‘Monday Night Football,’ but I try to take it as just another game,’’ Powers said.

But it’s not.

“It’s definitely a time where not only yourself but your team can showcase their talent in front of everybody,‘’ wide receiver Reggie Wayne said. "I know whenever we’re not playing on Monday night I’m glued in watching it somewhere.

“It shouldn’t take much to pump you up.’’