Is An Undefeated Season Worth Going For In The NFL?

So we all saw Peyton Manning get benched in the 3rd quarter against the Jets, and the Colts fumbled away the win and the perfect season. The problem I have with this is the players play to win. What would be more memorable than having the possibly the best quarterback of all time have the best season of all time? And what better way for Jim Caldwell to start of his coaching career than to be the first coach to go 19 – 0? Sure his excuse will be that we he didn’t want to risk injury for his star players and to give some of his bench players a chance to play. But players come to a game hoping to win, not to sit the bench. Every player on that sideline wanted to win that game and wanted to be playing. If you are worried about Peyton or Wayne getting hurt then I would be more worried about the following scenarios. They could get hurt tripping over their dog at home (Brian Griese), sneezing and throwing out their back (Sammy Sosa), or Tripping over a box and falling down the stairs (Ron Artest). I didn’t even mention that the Colts’ back up quarterback Jim Sorgi is out for the season without playing a single snap this year. Peyton Manning has never missed a start in his NFL career and I don’t think he is going to miss one now. Plus the coach had of heard the boos that were happening as Painter fumbled a touchdown and then threw an interception. After Peyton Manning was pulled the Colts looked like a high school football team and it was disgraceful. If I remember correctly, the last time they had a season start off like this, they pulled players in the last few games and then went on to lose in the first round of the playoffs. If that happens again this year that would serve them right. You should come into every game looking to win and play as hard as possible every game. Sure you play to win the Superbowl but you also play to stay consistent and win every week.

Pulling Peyton and Wayne was actually a good idea. Caldwell let them play long enough to get into rhythm and then pulled them before they got hurt. Plus when Peyton was pulled the Colts had a 5 point lead and most of their defense was still playing. The fact they gave up a kick return for a touchdown and then the defense stunk wasn’t Peyton Manning or Reggie Wayne’s fault. They don’t play in either of those line ups. Sure Painter fumbled the ball and that turned into a touchdown. But the Colts have already locked up home field advantage all the way through the play offs. This game basically meant nothing except for Peyton Manning to get his 50,000 yards. If Peyton, Clark, Wayne, or any other big name player had gotten seriously injured then we would all be saying that they should have been pulled earlier in the game. Sure you come in wanting to win every game and when they were pulled they were ahead and winning. But the last thing you want to do is go into the playoffs with Painter leading the way. We saw what he could do. If your team was to lose their starting quarterback, wide receiver, and possibly some starting defensive players you would go from playing like the Colts to playing like the St Louis Rams really quick. Sure players can get hurt anywhere, but they have a far better chance getting hurt on the field. And although some of the injuries referenced in the “yes” argument are good, they are rare compared to what happens on the field. It is a far better decision to let your players get some reps in so they stay warm and then pull them so you don’t risk any injury.