I’m not sure what is more interesting at this point. Who wins the Texans vs. Colts game or whoe wins the ratings battle between Monday Night Football and the World Series.

Last night, Sunday Ngiht Football beat out the World Series in ratings. It was the first time ever that a regular season game beat out a World Series game in ratings. Go Rangers!

Tonight it shouldn’t be close. Everyone has the networks on their TV. But ESPN is cable. This would be really embarassing if Peyton Manning and Arian Foster on cable really beat out the World Series clincher. Although, I can see it happening, and it might.

To the Monday Night Matchup. Colts were probably pretty damn embarassed in week 1 when the Texans won probably their most important win in franchise history. Arian Foster, an undrafted free agent, ran ALL OVER the Colts to burst onto the scene with 231 yards and 3 TD’s.

Superbowl hangover for sure. But the Texans finally asserted themselves as a threat to that division in finally beating Peyton Manning. This one shouldn’t go the same. Although pretty much everyone on the Colts is injured and out on both offense and defense, the Colts are so well coached and stacked with similar talent at the WR position that it shouldn’t be much of a factor. The Texans will either try to force it to Andre Johnson early or go to the ground heavily to test the Indy defense. If the Colts run D can stand strong in the first quarter and the can grab a lead, it should be all Colts all night.

Have you ever bet against Peyton Manning in a night game? Well you lost that bet. Peyton is just deadly at prime time and night games.

The win is definitely on the Colts side, but I the Texans are being overlooked by Vegas as 10.5 point underdogs. Andre Johnson is back and healthy, and they have found a second running back threat in Derrick Ward.

I have the Colts projected to win as 77% favorites in the game, by a spread of -6.18.

For more stats and projections on the matchup visit the Texans vs. Colts Matchup page.

Don’t worry, thats not a typo, its an indication of the lack of competitiveness and softness of the Colts franchise over the last few years.

Year after year, Peyton Manning dominates the regular season, putting up insane stats consistently, and beat the best teams in the league (at least of late).  However, come time for the playoffs and things unravel.  The coaches decide to sit their players, give their team a rest, and sit back, and watch other teams fight for playoff spots.  Is the wild-card weeknd Bye week not enough rest?  Sure, dont play your most injured players obviously.  Pulling Peyton and his offense off the field serves no good.  This offense works so well because of their rhythm and preparedness.

Those are just the reasons for every OTHER season that this has happened.  THIS year, the team was close to something no one has ever done and every player wants it.  Going 19-0 for the season means more to players than they will let on from their politically correct mumbo jumbo in the press conferences after the game.  You ruined the hopes and dreams of your players.  They have a Superbowl already, sure they want another but perfection would mean far more than just one more ring.  By essentially quitting on the last two games of the season Caldwell has stripped a good 50% of their playoff motivation away from them.  Not only that, but players start questioning their coaches when they make stupid calls like that.

Now the history of this decision for the Colts.  When resting players and ‘shutting it down’ the last game or two of the regular season, the Colts are 0-5 in playoffs in terms of Superbowl victories.  Now the one year, 2006-2007, that they needed to work and keep momentum to actually make the playoffs, ended in their lone Superbowl.  Second guessing your players and their health just makes them think about it themselves even more.  Caldwell, you’re no Belichick.  Because He never rests his player and just gives up on the last games of the season.  He keeps momentum and keeps the competitiveness of the team up entering the playoffs with force.  Thats why the Patriots have 3 rings to the Colts 1.

After you lose in your first game this year Caldwell, please change your soft uncompetitive ways and take a play out of Belichicks playbook and get Peyton a few more Superbowls.

Disclaimer:  I am a Colts fan over any other NFL team(esp. Patriots), but since the coach and GM gave up on the players and fans of the Colts, I am heavily considering giving up on the Colts.

Peyton Peyton Peyton. Is this guy good or what? He’s led the Colts to a 14-0 start, in which 7 of those were come from behind IN THE 4TH QUARTER. Which of course, another NFL record set by Manning and the Colts.

The question now is should they go for 16? I think the answer is absolutely, Yes. When have the colts ever done well after resting players going into the playoffs to keep them “fresh”? The answer is never. Manning’s lone Superbowl was one from one of his very few wildcard games. Since they have the first round bye in the playoffs solidified, there is no reason to rest anyways. Every year, the colts look great going into week 15 of the season and then something happens. They lose their edge. They get complacent and start resting players for the playoffs. Then they come out soft and unprepared mentally and physically after 2-3 weeks of rest without hard game action.

This time they have something to play for. The undefeated season that lives forever, and can never be topped. The Colts are so close, they ahve to go for it. Now that the Patiots have done it, not a single analyst and ‘expert’ are saying rest your players. Play full out. Dominate the last two game vs the Jets and Buffalo and go into the playoffs with the undefeated season, looking to make it 19.

I can’t decide if Manning is really that complacent with just a superbowl here. And think about the other records on the line. 23 regular season games in a row. If they can get it to 25 straight going into next year that record would likely go to 30 since they always start fast, being the best mentally prepared team early in the year. Manning is having a season for the ages and is on the cusp of all the major NFL QB records. An undefeated season, even if it doens’t result in a Superbowl win, would add to Manning’s elite status and strengthen his argument for best of all time.

Go for it Colts. You owe it to your players who have worked so hard to get it to 14-0, dont give them a let down going into the playoffs, AGAIN.

Peyton is still undefeated facing a division rival who have spoiled Colts undefeated seasons in the past. The Jaguars defense a few years ago would give Peyton trouble, put times have changed and Peyton owns the Jags team of late.

We are starting to hear whispers out of players in Indy indicating they want to go for the undefeated season. I mean, why not? All it does is keep up momentum going into playoffs. The Colts will rest their injured players in the final 3 weeks as much as possible.

But 3 points in this situation is just not enough to give the jaguars the betting edge. The Colts have the advantage in all of the major statistical categories that are causal to a win (with the exception of the large gap in rushing).

Look for the Colts defense to come through again and lead the colts to a 6 point victory.