From ESPN 1070's Kevin Lee:

On the decision whether to rest guys or not, Dungy essentially said he understands the decision will be considered a good one if they win and a bad one if they don't. He doesn't believe resting players had any impact on previous losses in the opening game of the playoffs. He cited examples of playing well and winning coming off of byes or for the first regular season game (when everyone sits out the last preseason game). In regards to momentum - nothing that happens the previous week determines what happens in the next game. As it often does, he refers back to how Chuck Noll handled the Steelers teams. He joked that he only got to play at the end of seasons when the stars were resting, and the Steelers won multiple Super Bowls doing it that way.

I'm going to repeat what I said back in January of this year: Dungy resting starters in the third quarter of the last regular season game in 2007 against the Titans had nothing to do with Indy losing to San Diego in the playoffs that year. Two weeks after that Titans game, the Colts came out in the playoff game against SD red hot and had the Chargers reeling early. SD battled back, took the lead, but then gave it up again on the late 56 yard TD reception by Anthony Gonzalez. Manning was brilliant. Receivers were killing SD's secondary. The defense injured Tomlinson and knocked Rivers out of the game.

But, without a consistent pass rush because Dwight Freeney was out and Robert Mathis was hurt, Billy Volek stepped in at QB and guided a game-winning 4th quarter TD. Ball game.

Now, the one example of "not resting starters equals success" that everyone clings to is the Giants last year. They played starters against the Patriots in the last regular season game (and lost). They then won four playoff games in a row, including the Super Bowl. Lost in this sentimental myth is the fact that New England also played their starters in that meaningless last regular season game. They beat the toothless Jaguars two weeks later and then looked sluggish in barely beating the Chargers before getting beaten up by the Giants in the Super Bowl.

So please, spare me all the "resting starters" whining.

This game coming up on Sunday against the Titans is utterly meaningless. "Pride" don't help you win playoff games. "Bragging rights" are for losers who have never won anything (that's why they brag). And anyone who insinuates that the Colts don't play games to win needs their head looked at. Seven straight playoff appearances, five AFC South titles, and a Super Bowl; thank you very much.

Again, as Dungy said, the Noll led Steelers won four Super Bowls, and they always rested starters in meaningless games leading up to the playoffs. You want to second guess Chuck Noll? Hope you like looking stupid. 

If the Colts want to rest guys like Dominic Rhodes, Freddie Keiaho, or Dallas Clark because they are nicked up, that's fine. If Pierre Garcon and Roy Hall need playing time, why not give it to them? Might as well have them play now in case Indy may need them in a few weeks. You don't think Jeff Fisher is thinking the same thing? Think again. Jeff Fisher may be a douche, but he isn't dumb. He knows that if his 36-year-old QB gets hurt, his team has little chance to win a playoff game.

Everyone, please shake yourself away from these dumb, silly myths peddled on you by people who do not know or understand football. Look past all the phony posturing and fake bravado. The Colts are a tough, veteran team that has a ton of playoff experience. They know how to prepare for the playoffs and know what is expected of them. The key to winning in the post-season isn't playing starters in meaningless regular season games.

It's being healthy at the right time, and if resting starters gets you healthy, then rest them.

Best served cold?

Last year's game in San Diego was one of the greatest games Peyton Manning has ever played. I say that with my chest puffed out, my head high, and my knuckles cracked in anticipation of some blowhard who throws selective stats in my face in a pathetic attempt to debunk my opinion.

The game in SD last year is known for Peyton throwing 6 picks and Dwight Freeney breaking his foot. The game was played at night in a dark, brooding rainstorm. It has harsh. It was physical. And the Chargers were damn lucky to win the game.

The Colts played that game with so many key starters hurt it wasn't even funny. Marvin Harrison, Dallas Clark, Raheem Brock, Freddie Keiaho, Tony Ugoh, and Anthony Gonzalez all did not play. Peyton threw passes to receivers like Aaron Moorehead, Craphonso Thorpe, and Bryan Fletcher. All played wretchedly. All are no longer on the Colts. As stated, lost during the game was Dwight Freeney, and his injury was devastating to a Colts team that was primed to win a second consecutive Super Bowl (and had Freeney not gotten hurt, they would have).

But all that is hindsight and in the past. This year, the Chargers and Colts were expected to compete for their division titles. Now, both are struggling to stay in the playoff hunt. Indy is in better shape than SD. The Colts have a 5-2 record in the conference and have won several significant tie breakers, should the season come down to that. The Chargers are 4-6, and one more loss likely ends their chances for the playoffs. Sorry, but 9-7 don't cut it in the AFC.

Some speculate that the Colts have revenge in mind as they venture to San Diego to take on the Chargers. Not only did SD beat Indy in that rain soaked heartbreaker during the regular season, but the beat Indy in the playoffs in the last game ever played at the RCA Dome. In that game, Peyton Manning all but destroyed SD's defense, but the Colts were unable to generate a pass rush on QBs Philip Rivers or (when Rivers got hurt) his replacement Billy Volek. On the Chargers game-winning drive, Volek could have knitted a sweater in the pocket prior to making his reads and throwing the ball. With Freeney gone and Robert Mathis playing on one leg, the Colts had no pass rush.

A Tampa 2 defense with no pass rush is like Corona without the lime.

And darkness covered the land.

Photo: assets.espn.go.com

But revenge and silly things like "pay back" do not motivate the Colts. Should Indy secure a win (something they have done only once in San Diego since Jim Harbaugh and Zack Crockett shocked the football world by beating them in the playoffs back in 1995) they will further secure their playoff position and knock off a potential Wild Card competitor. The task will not be easy, as the Colts once again face a desperate team willing to do anything to stay alive. The Chargers also have Indy's number, beating them 3 of the last 4 times.

Go Colts!

Peyton Manning owns Monday Night.  He is 9-2 all time, including winning his past 7 appearances on ABC/ESPN.  Included in this list of 7 games are:

• Oct. 6, 2003 @ Tampa Bay:  Down 21 points with 3:41 to go, comes back to win in OT.  I think that game has been discussed this season.
• Nov. 7, 2005 @ New England:  Manning's Greatest Game #9, gets his first win in Foxboro, destroying the 2-time defending Super Bowl Champs.
• Dec. 16, 2006 vs. Cincinnati:  Manning's Greatest Game #7, stops the bleeding after that awful Jacksonville game (sound familiar?), finding Marvin Harrison 3 times, on their way to Super Bowl XLI.
• Oct. 22, 2007 @ Jacksonville:  Division game, on the road, against a team who had won 4 in a row.  Manning walks in and all over the Jaguars 29-7.

Here is a summary of Manning's stats on Monday night.  Pretty damn impressive, if you ask me:

A couple other tidbits about Monday Night:

• The last time these two franchises played on Monday Night was Nov. 1, 1976, when the Houston Oilers played at the Baltimore Colts (The Colts won 38-14). 
  
• The Titans played 2 MNF games last season, winning in New Orleans, and losing in Denver.  This is the only MNF appearance for both teams in 2008.
  
• The Titans haven't hosted a MNF game since Dec. 13, 2004, where they lost a defensive struggle 49-38 to the Chiefs.  Billy Volek threw for 426 yards in the loss.  I assumed this was a career for him, and it was, for 6 days, when he threw for 492, losing to Oakland.  I'm thinking Titan fans like their RB situation much better now than they did in '04.
• The last 2 seasons, the largest margin of victory between the two teams is 6 points, in Week 17 last year, when the Colts played 2nd and 3rd stringers for 3/4 of the game.  The other 3 games were decided by 2, 1, and 3 points.  I fully expect a similar result this Monday night.