Here's why the Colts will win out
Now the road to perfection gets really bumpy.
The Colts, who Sunday became the fifth team in league history to start a season 12-0, begin their most difficult three-game stretch of the season next week with a visit to division rival Jacksonville. The following week, Indianapolis plays host to San Diego. In two weeks, on Christmas Eve, the Colts travel to Seattle.
The perfection pessimists (it wasn't long ago that we were among them) have long pointed to Indy's next game as the first game the Colts would lose, citing Jacksonville's physical defense and relatively successful history against the Colts (they lost at Jacksonville last year).
Here's why the Colts will make it a baker's dozen, and it hasn't anything to do with the Jags having to rally to beat Cleveland on Sunday: Tony Dungy (pictured) established as his team's goals for this season to, first, make the playoffs, then win the division, earn a first-round bye, and win the Super Bowl. They became the first team to clinch a playoff spot Sunday, and by beating the 9-3 Jags the Colts will clinch the AFC South title and secure home-field advantage (and the first-round bye) by virtue of their 13th win and 11-0 conference record.
With those incentives, the Colts will treat this game as if their season depends on it. And they will win it.
The way they're playing, the Colts will not be beaten. They have the most complete team, and they can win playing any style of game. The Colts will go 16-0 ... if they want to. The only way they will lose a game in the regular season is if Dungy does, indeed, rest his starters in the final week(s). But you'd like to believe Dungy would not pass on an opportunity to match NFL history.
Come to think of it, here's a little incentive to play Peyton Manning & Co. down the stretch. Indy could face San Diego again in the playoffs and Seattle in the Super Bowl, so the Colts could use those games as practice runs. As for the finale, the Triplets -- Manning, Edgerrin James and Marvin Harrison -- probably need only play a half at home against Arizona to sew up win No. 16, and with a bye the following week, it wouldn't be a bad idea for the starters to get a little work so to stay sharp.
Now the road to perfection gets really bumpy.
The Colts, who Sunday became the fifth team in league history to start a season 12-0, begin their most difficult three-game stretch of the season next week with a visit to division rival Jacksonville. The following week, Indianapolis plays host to San Diego. In two weeks, on Christmas Eve, the Colts travel to Seattle.
The perfection pessimists (it wasn't long ago that we were among them) have long pointed to Indy's next game as the first game the Colts would lose, citing Jacksonville's physical defense and relatively successful history against the Colts (they lost at Jacksonville last year).
Here's why the Colts will make it a baker's dozen, and it hasn't anything to do with the Jags having to rally to beat Cleveland on Sunday: Tony Dungy (pictured) established as his team's goals for this season to, first, make the playoffs, then win the division, earn a first-round bye, and win the Super Bowl. They became the first team to clinch a playoff spot Sunday, and by beating the 9-3 Jags the Colts will clinch the AFC South title and secure home-field advantage (and the first-round bye) by virtue of their 13th win and 11-0 conference record.
With those incentives, the Colts will treat this game as if their season depends on it. And they will win it.
The way they're playing, the Colts will not be beaten. They have the most complete team, and they can win playing any style of game. The Colts will go 16-0 ... if they want to. The only way they will lose a game in the regular season is if Dungy does, indeed, rest his starters in the final week(s). But you'd like to believe Dungy would not pass on an opportunity to match NFL history.
Come to think of it, here's a little incentive to play Peyton Manning & Co. down the stretch. Indy could face San Diego again in the playoffs and Seattle in the Super Bowl, so the Colts could use those games as practice runs. As for the finale, the Triplets -- Manning, Edgerrin James and Marvin Harrison -- probably need only play a half at home against Arizona to sew up win No. 16, and with a bye the following week, it wouldn't be a bad idea for the starters to get a little work so to stay sharp.
