Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy will play his regulars when his Colts try to match Miami's 1972 NFL regular-season unbeaten streak with their 14th straight win against San Diego on Sunday.
Then if the Colts do win, the question becomes whether Dungy will play his usual starters for the rest of the season to try to stay unbeaten. With home-field advantage for the playoffs clinched, his top priority, of course, is winning the Super Bowl.
His reasoning for now is that the Colts are home and playing an AFC team on Sunday. They wind up against two NFC opponents -- at Seattle and at home to Arizona.
"We'll probably play this game like a normal game," Dungy says. "Once we get to the NFC games, we'll see. You want to win this week because you could see them again, and we're playing at home, and I don't think you ever want to lose a home game."
The San Diego Chargers (8-5) are in a desperate chase for one of the AFC wild-card spots, having lost at home to Miami last week. They played well at the RCA Dome last season, losing 34-31 in overtime after the Colts tied the game with 56 seconds left on a touchdown and 2-point conversion.
But those were last season's Colts, who needed to outscore the opponent to win. The reason they are on the brink of history this year is defense. They are one of just two NFL teams who have allowed fewer than 200 points: 180, second to Chicago's 148.
They'll be missing important defenders this week. Pass rusher Robert Mathis, linebacker Cato June and defensive tackle Corey Simon all are likely out and may not play again until the playoffs. That makes sense as Dungy continues to stress that given a choice between winning the Super Bowl and going unbeaten, he'd take the former.
But Peyton Manning, Edgerrin James, Marvin Harrison, Dwight Freeney and the rest of the stars will play on Sunday. After that? There could be a sighting of Jim Sorgi, Manning's little-used backup quarterback, in Seattle or against Arizona.
"One thing we have to do is get our backup guys comfortable with being in there, including Jim Sorgi," Dungy says. "I think that can be done with a series here or there, when the game really matters."
New England, Cincinnati, Denver, Jacksonville and Chicago all can clinch postseason berths this weekend, joining Indianapolis and Seattle, which are in.
Defending champ New England can clinch the AFC East division with a win over Tampa Bay at home on Saturday or a loss by Miami. Cincinnati can win the AFC North with a victory against Detroit or a Pittsburgh loss at Minnesota, putting it in the playoffs for the first time since 1990. Denver can clinch the AFC West with a win at Buffalo on Saturday, and losses by Kansas City and San Diego. The Broncos also can clinch a wild-card spot with a win.
Chicago can get an NFC wild-card berth if it wins, and the New York Giants and Dallas lose. Jacksonville can get one in the AFC with a win over San Francisco, losses by Pittsburgh, Kansas City, San Diego, and a Denver win.
There are three games today, all involving contenders: Tampa Bay at New England; Kansas City at the New York Giants; and Denver at Buffalo.
Tomorrow, the New York Jets are at Miami; Arizona at Houston; Seattle at Tennessee; Philadelphia at St. Louis; Carolina vs. New Orleans at Baton Rouge; San Francisco at Jacksonville; Pittsburgh at Minnesota; Cincinnati at Detroit; Cleveland at Oakland; Dallas at Washington; and Atlanta at Chicago. Green Bay is at Baltimore on Monday.
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