The Colts have clinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs and are once again faced with this conundrum: Do they rest their starters — risking losing momentum and getting off rhythm — or play them and risk injury?
Indianapolis — the winningest team of the decade — has been in this situation numerous times in the past. Four times the Colts have rested quarterback Peyton Manning for a majority of the final regular season game and three of those times Indy proceeded to lose their first playoff game.
Manning saw no rest for their Super Bowl run in 2006. The last team to rest their starters for the final regular season game and win the Super Bowl was the Bucs in 2002.
This year the Colts — as well as the Saints — have an added motivation to continue playing their starters: Completing an undefeated season.
At least for this week, Colts coach Jim Caldwell will continue to play Manning and the rest of the first team.
“We’re going to approach the 14th game exactly like we did one through 13,” Caldwell said. “The only thing that will deter anyone from playing time is a health issue.”
At 13-0, this is a problem every team in the NFL wishes to have. But with the beauty of hindsight, critics will always question the coach’s decision if they don’t bring home the Lombardi Trophy.
