Will the Colts go undefeated this year?

It feels strange that the Colts and Saints are both 10-0 this year yet virtually no one in the national media is suggesting that the Colts may go undefeated. A couple weeks ago, Mike Ditka predicted that the Saints would run the table but, so far, I’ve not heard anyone even ask that question about the Colts. In fact, numerous football analysts are ranking the Colts as the 3^rd best team in the league behind the Saints and Vikings (9-1) with some suggesting the Colts should be in a virtual tie with New England (7-3) for that spot. This seemed peculiar enough to me that I began wondering if the Colts really do have any hope of winning out. It looks like they have a decent chance to do just that. Here are some reasons why.

Schedule:

The most important consideration for victory is always the opponent. The Colts’ schedule for the remainder of the season is filled with playoff pretenders contenders. They have road games against Houston, Jacksonville and Buffalo and host Tennessee, Denver and the Jets. The Colts will be clear favorites in all those games and in the last two they’ll be playing against AFC East teams who are playing out the string. The Broncos will arrive at Lucas Oil playing desperate football but between a still wobbly Kyle Orton and their hideous defense, the Broncos will be lucky to still be in the game at halftime.

The division games are the ones that should worry Colts fans (and sports history lovers). All three of these teams will likely be in playoff desperation mode when they play the Colts. So far, none of them have been impressive. The Jags are 6-4 but have allowed more points than they’ve scored this year, a horrible sign for them. The Titans and Texans both have the capacity for a surprise win but if they get it, that will be more likely caused by Colts failings.

New England:

Yes, the Patriots may finally prove helpful to the Colts. Obviously, if the Colts keep winning, Bill Belichick’s already infamous 4^th and 2 call will take on historic proportions. Beyond that though, the Pats undefeated season of two seasons ago has dramatically reduced the level of ambient noise surrounding the Colts and Saints. So far this year, I’ve heard nothing at all about the ’72 Dolphins, still the only perfect team in NFL history. The Colts’ streak of regular season wins is getting more notice than being undefeated this year. ESPN’s Gregg Easterbrook noted this week that the only game the Colts have lost in their last 20 was an overtime defeat in which they never saw the ball.  

There are probably some other Patriot related incentives for the Colts this year. This is clearly the most interesting and important rivalry in the last decade and although the momentum is in the Colts favor, the historic weight still says the Patriots have been better. An undefeated regular season would match New England’s only unique accomplishment.  (And just imagine the conversations between Rodney Harrison and Tony Dungy on Sunday Night Football!)

FDO

Will the Colts go undefeated this year?

Part 2

The Saints:

    No one is thinking about the Colts going undefeated and if the Saints beat New England Monday night, the drumbeat for a perfect Saints season will become deafening. It’s a great story to be sure and I’d love to watch the Saints go marching toward history. As long as that possibility continues, the Colts can stay under the radar and relatively pressure free.

Individual player goals:

    Even though the Colts won’t admit it publicly, they would love to see their players get individual recognition. For a team with such a consistent high level of achievement, the Colts have few perennial Pro Bowlers. Coming into the season, Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne and Dwight Freeney were the only guys everyone would have assumed to achieve that status. This year, there’s a good chance that Dallas Clark, Jeff Saturday, Robert Mathis and Gary Brackett will join them in Hawaii. That possibility is enhanced by the extra attention winning a couple more games (and staying in line for an undefeated season) will provide. And yes, I think the Pro Bowl selection process is a bad joke but it’s still an honor.

The Manning factor:

At the moment, Manning is one of a small group on the inside track to the MVP. With a perfect regular season, Manning would almost certainly win that award. (The same is true for Drew Brees in New Orleans.) For Peyton, winning that award again this year would accomplish some impressive things. He would become the first 4 time MVP (a goal Brett Favre is in position to match 12 years after his last MVP!) and the first double repeat MVP winner.  In unofficial terms, another MVP season would clearly separate Manning from Tom Brady in the minds of unbiased football fans and would elevate Manning into the highest levels of the football pantheon. 

Quickies:

There are some other good reasons the Colts may keep pressing toward a perfect season this year.  For instance, instantly elevating Jim Caldwell into a top tier coach; blowing a perfect season late in the 2005 season then losing in the first round of the playoffs; and let’s not forget about the amazing Ewing Theory potential of being perfect after Tony Dungy leaves the team!

So, no, I’m not planning to bet on an undefeated regular season for the Colts but I wouldn’t bet against it either.

FDO