Clearly they're the best team this year, and they've gotten over their early season offensive woes, scoring 36 PPG their last five.

But they have five tough games left.....

Houst
@Cinn
Pitts
Tenn
@Jax
SD
@Sea
Ariz

Your signature says it all......

Difficult, not impossible.


Don Cardi

My money is on them going 14-2. Don't bet the farm on it though.

They do have three tough road games.

..and the Chargers at home might give them trouble.

Wouldn't a Giants v. Colts Superbowl be ...super! Manning v. Manning. The media hype would be unbearable.

So could Pittsburgh.

That's five toughies. 15-1 or Bethie's 14-2 looks more realistic, especially if they lock everything up early and ease off the gas a bit the last few weeks.

Manning vs. Manning? Unbearable isn't the word for it.

The Giants could make it, IMO, but I think that for them to do it the home field advantage throughout is absolutely essential.

I dont see any reason why the Giants and Colts cant both win homefield advantage with the first round bye in their confrences. Colts are almost sure to do that, and in the weak NFC, its definetly possible for the Giants. But at this point in the season, I think its a bit early to start predicting that kind of thing.

..and the Chargers at home might give them trouble.

Wouldn't a Giants v. Colts Superbowl be ...super! Manning v. Manning. The media hype would be unbearable. [/b]
[/quote]Oh god I hope it doesn't come to that, cause if it does then this would be the first year that I wouldn't watch the Super Bowl.

Brilliant observation DC.

I was never alive to witness the '72 Dolphins. But it's the sort of history I would love to be a part of just to witness something like that. A part of me really hopes I see it but whilst the Steelers are challenging I can't wish for it.

But didn't we all say the same things for the Chiefs only a few years ago? Didn't they go 9-0 or 10-0? I think something will have to give sooner or later. I don't know how though. The defense, I don't think, is as good as people say. Stats are skewed based on their opponents. Against teams with winning records they have to outscore them (except the freak 10-3 game against the Jags).

The offense however, from last night, looked super efficient spreading the ball around and having a great running game against a top opponent. How do you close that down? If you can. Personally I think the only chance to do that is if you've got a good secondary then you can stack against the run and create some pass rush.

Sod it. I'm going to be controversial and say the Colts go 15-0 but lose to the Cards final week.

Turi,

A few years ago the Broncos came close to undefeated and the Giants beat them, when they were having a stinky year.

....any given Sunday...

Didn't the Vikings have that 15-1 thing a few years ago? When did they take their first loss that season...was it in the first half of the year?

tony b.

In 1998 they lost their one game in the middle of the season.

Yep...game eight at Tampa Bay. They lost 27-24. They were 7-0 before that game. Came back to edit my post and you already replied SC!

tony b.

And that Vikings team was the first to go 15-1 and not make the superbowl. Pittsburgh were the second.

The '72 Dolphins went undefeated, but played only 14 regular season games. No, the Colts will not make it without a loss. It's too tough - I think that's a record that will stand for 25 more years. Do the Colts have the talent to do it? Yes, but all the stars have to be lined up just right for a perfect season - little injuries, favorable bounces, luck, talent, good coaching, favorable matchups, etc.

I'm sure Peyton would rather lose 1 regular season game than have the team's first loss of the season be in the postseason. Look at Pittsburgh last year - they lost game #2 and didn't lose again the rest of the regular season. That's a lot of pressure. And we saw how Cowher once again folded under the pressure when the games mattered most. Lest anyone forget, the Steelers would have lost in the first round if the Jets kicker could have made either of the 2 easy field goal chances he had.

On Mike and Mike's show they are saying that The Colts won't go 16-0. "Stink" thinks they'll lose to Cincinatti. With their defense that's a possibility. That scenerio wouldn't hurt my fantasy football league with my Cinci defense.

I hope not because we've got them the week after and I don't want to face and angry Manning and co.

Seattle, Pitt, SD, and JAX are all pretty tough games. I doubt theyd go 16-0, but this team looks more poised to do it then any of the other good starters Ive seen in my life

The Colts also need to concentrate on gaining home field advantage so they won't have to play a cold weather game in the playoffs.

The big question has now become "Should they try?", rather than "Can they?" or "Will they?"

It's fairly apparent that if they try , they certainly can . Although they still have two tough games left on their schedule (San Diego & Seattle), I don't think that anyone has any doubts that the Colts seem to be in a class by themselves this year.

But Coach Dungy has clearly stated that his first priority in the next three weeks is to avoid injuries, which means resting some of his starters.

One POV holds that winning the Super Bowl is the most important thing, and finishing 16-0 is meaningless.

Other feel, however, that there's a Super Bowl winner every year, but the chance to have an undefeated season and possibly be remembered as an all-time great team comes along only once in a lifetime.

The players, I'd guess, want to play, and would prefer to go for the 16-0, but I can also understand the attitude of the coaches and management.

I'd try for it, but without taking any unnecessary risks.
I'd play me starters until the game was seemingly decided one way or another, and then take them out.

Of course it would be a shame if, say, the Colts were trailing by a field goal on their last possesion of their last game, and a key player got injured while they tried for the tie or the win.

I think they probably will rest some people, but will still go undefeated. Unfortunately, they'll probably give Edge some rest first, which is driving me nuts this week for fantasy. Do I assume that Dungy will give Edge a light workload, as some suggest, and play Droughns based on matchups or go with my horse? This decision is really starting to piss me off actually because I know I'm going to make the wrong choice.

Anyways, back to the topic. It's not like Dungy really has to sit Manning a whole lot in these next two games to avoid injury. He hardly gets touched in the pocket, so as long as he doesn't take off and try to run, I see no reason why he has to sit down. Even if they sit Harrison to avoid injury, they've still got Wayne, Stockley, and Clark as targets. They shouldn't have to play any of their key starters more than a quarter or half against Arizona, although the Cards did knock the Vikes out of the playoffs on the last play of the year two seasons ago. I think they can make sure Edge and company are completely healthy and still go for 16-0. It will be fun to watch, that's for sure.

Mark my words...

The Colts WILL go undefeated

I can't believe the Colts game isn't televised here in New York. I'm watching Jets vs Dolphins instead

NOOOO!!!!!!!!

AND my Dolphins beat the sorry ass Jets! Once again, The immortal 1972 Miami Dolphins remain...umm...immortal!

What should we mark your words with..?.. invisible ink?

Lol some times I think im the biggest sports jynx in the whole damned country.

NOOOO!!!!!!!!

AND my Dolphins beat the sorry ass Jets! Once again, The immortal 1972 Miami Dolphins remain...umm...immortal! [/quote]I HATE the f'n Dolphins and those classless 1972 players

How are they classless? As far as I'm concerned if you're the only team to ever go undefeated, you can celebrate and say whatever you want. Pop the champagne Old Men!

IM, correct me if I'm wrong but you weren't even born in 1972, much less watching football then.

What was classless about them?

You could still be a professional about it and have class. Just from some of the interviews I've seen with a couple of former teammates, they seemed like a$$holes