Open football question regarding a perfect season

[Chuck 54]

All I've heard announcers and players say for the last month, regarding Indy's chance to go undefeated versus resting players for the playoffs, is that the Super Bowl is all that matters. The thought process, therefore, seems to be that winning the last game or two of the season is not as important as making sure your players are healthy for the playoffs because winning the super bowl is more important than going for the perfect season.

I'm sorry, but I don't agree...I think that's illogical.

Yes, the idea is to go undefeated and win the SB, and I think playing your guys in the last 2 games is worth the risk of injury.

My thinking is this: Someone wins the Super Bowl every year...that's a fact. But only 1 team in the history of the NFL has ever had a perfect season, and due to the length of the modern schedule, the Dolphins feat would be overshadowed for all time by the Colts going 19-0 with the title.

If I'm the coach, I play every player, nicked or not, every star, regardless of the risk, and I go for the perfect season, which begins with a 16-0 regular season, which has never been done. If I get an insurmountable lead, then sure, I rest my starters, but I should have been doing that from game 1 in September. I would never accept even the possibility of a defeat and an end to my perfect season by protecting Manning or Harrison or James, even if they have a slight injury, just to have them more healthy or safer for the playoff run.

After all, they still get two weeks with the Bye to get healthy.

Again, SB's are won every season, but winning a SB at the end of a perfect season is (so far) once in a lifetime, now perhaps twice in the history of the NFL...I think you have to go for it.

Am I the only one who feels this way?

 

[Doomsday101]

All I've heard announcers and players say for the last month, regarding Indy's chance to go undefeated versus resting players for the playoffs, is that the Super Bowl is all that matters. The thought process, therefore, seems to be that winning the last game or two of the season is not as important as making sure your players are healthy for the playoffs because winning the super bowl is more important than going for the perfect season.

I'm sorry, but I don't agree...I think that's illogical.

Yes, the idea is to go undefeated and win the SB, and I think playing your guys in the last 2 games is worth the risk of injury.

My thinking is this: Someone wins the Super Bowl every year...that's a fact. But only 1 team in the history of the NFL has ever had a perfect season, and due to the length of the modern schedule, the Dolphins feat would be overshadowed for all time by the Colts going 19-0 with the title.

If I'm the coach, I play every player, nicked or not, every star, regardless of the risk, and I go for the perfect season, which begins with a 16-0 regular season, which has never been done. If I get an insurmountable lead, then sure, I rest my starters, but I should have been doing that from game 1 in September. I would never accept a defeat by protecting Manning or Harrison or James, even if they have a slight injury, just to have them more healthy or safer for the playoff run.

Again, SB's are won every season, but winning a SB at the end of a perfect season is (so far) once in a lifetime, now perhaps twice in the history of the NFL...I think you have to go for it.

Am I the only one who feels this way?

I think the goal is the SB. I also think the starters will start not sure if they will play the entire game. Given the Colts recent history I think all they are concerned about is getting to and winning the SB.

 

[Danny White]

All I've heard announcers and players say for the last month, regarding Indy's chance to go undefeated versus resting players for the playoffs, is that the Super Bowl is all that matters. The thought process, therefore, seems to be that winning the last game or two of the season is not as important as making sure your players are healthy for the playoffs because winning the super bowl is more important than going for the perfect season.

I'm sorry, but I don't agree...I think that's illogical.

Yes, the idea is to go undefeated and win the SB, and I think playing your guys in the last 2 games is worth the risk of injury.

My thinking is this: Someone wins the Super Bowl every year...that's a fact. But only 1 team in the history of the NFL has ever had a perfect season, and due to the length of the modern schedule, the Dolphins feat would be overshadowed for all time by the Colts going 19-0 with the title.

If I'm the coach, I play every player, nicked or not, every star, regardless of the risk, and I go for the perfect season, which begins with a 16-0 regular season, which has never been done. If I get an insurmountable lead, then sure, I rest my starters, but I should have been doing that from game 1 in September. I would never accept even the possibility of a defeat and an end to my perfect season by protecting Manning or Harrison or James, even if they have a slight injury, just to have them more healthy or safer for the playoff run.

After all, they still get two weeks with the Bye to get healthy.

Again, SB's are won every season, but winning a SB at the end of a perfect season is (so far) once in a lifetime, now perhaps twice in the history of the NFL...I think you have to go for it.

Am I the only one who feels this way?

You are absolutely correct. They should do everything they can to go undefeated. They do that, and this team finds itself labeled as possibly the best ever. (I'd disagree that they're the best ever, but they certainly will be called that.)

If they win the Superbowl while losing one or two games, then they're just a good team... not so different from the Rams or many other Superbowl winning teams.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I think the goal is the SB. I also think the starters will start not sure if they will play the entire game. Given the Colts recent history I think all they are concerned about is getting to and winning the SB.

Agreed...they could start the rest of the games...but also pull some of the starters if it looks like a win...instead of staying in the whole game.

 

[baj1dallas]

I disagree. You don't get anything for going undefeated, without winning the Superbowl. The season would be considered a collossal failure. Win the Superbowl with a 15-1 record however, and nobody will remember the one loss. You might not get back to the Superbowl again for the rest of your career, you can't let an opportunity like this slip through your fingers.

 

[Doomsday101]

Agreed...they could start the rest of the games...but also pull some of the starters if it looks like a win...instead of staying in the whole game.

I agree. Perfect season would be great for them but if they lose Manning to injury because of the chase of the prefect season the Colts staff would be looked at as a bunch of idiots. Start the starters then get them out of the game.