Peyton Manning threw 4 TD passes.
For the first time this year, I think the Colts will go 16-0. They made it 14 straight this season after a wild, 35-31 win at Jacksonville that saw nine lead changes. It was an NFL-record seventh time this season the Colts have won despite trailing in the fourth quarter, and it was their 23rd straight regular season win.
Before Thursday, getting to 14-0 had been accomplished only twice — by the 1972 Dolphins and 2007 Patriots. The 1985 Bears, 1998 Broncos and 2005 Colts each started 13-0 before losing their first game. Game 14 seemed to be hurdle that tripped teams up, so now having jumped that, the Colts chances of finishing 16-0 seem much easier.
Their next game is home against the Jets (7-6) and they end the season in Buffalo (5-8). The Colts will be favored in both games and I defy anyone to boldly predict that either quarterback Mark Sanchez of the Jets or Ryan Fitzpatrick of the Bills will best Peyton Manning.
Indy has 10 days off to get ready for the Jets and survived Thursday with no major injuries, so I see starters playing Game 15 until the outcome is decided. If they go to 15-0, I can’t see the Colts shutting it down against Buffalo if the game is in doubt; anybody healthy will play. On Thursday, for example. Manning and the offense starters played the whole game. On defense, star pass rushers Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis played sparingly, but both were in for the entire final drive by the Jaguars that saw the Colts seal the win with an interception.
Cyd and I were talking about how Colts’ drive for 16-0 doesn’t feel as big as the Pats two years ago. That’s partly because the Saints (13-0) are also playing for a perfect season and national interest has been split. It’s also not as novel, since it was done just two seasons ago and so seems less historic. Also, the Colts are an amazingly resilient and smart team, but not dominant, so they don’t have an aura of inevitability (eight of their wins have been by eight or less points). But for fans (I have seen all their games save one), they are the best entertainment in town and one that with two more wins would join some select company.
Bonus pics
I was going through my files and came across these shots I took of Peyton Manning and Dallas Clark stretching during the January playoff game against San Diego. This is for you butt fans:
on Dec 18th, 2009 at 4:23 AM
yeah they’ll finish 16-0 but no way they get past the Chargers in the AFC title game, we’re looking at a Saints-Chargers Super Bowl, and there will be more than enough stories to fill the 2 weeks until the big game, MVP Drew Brees against the team that let him walk, lifting up post-Katrina New Orleans, 19-0, etc.
and in keeping with the spirit of bonus butt fan photos here’s one of new Texas Ranger Rich Harden i saw on deadspin yesterday HOT DAYUM!: http://www.flickr.com/photos/72715243@N00/1820246801/
on Dec 18th, 2009 at 7:56 AM
Interesting that it is the Dungy-less Colts making a run this time. Perhaps Peyton Manning or someone else
was running the offense all along. 
Winning close games would benefit from having a “coach on the field” in a critical position like QB.
Kudos to the playbook nerd if that’s the case. Other QBs could learn from Manning and Brees what it takes: hard work, talent
on Dec 18th, 2009 at 1:55 PM
I never realized Peyton had such a good body.
Jim, do you know when that first photo of Peyton shirtless was taken?
on Dec 18th, 2009 at 2:51 PM
I think the Peyton shirtless shot was summer 2007 from what I gather, after he was seen shirtless in a less-than-flattering way on “SNL.”
As for the Chargers beating the Colts, could happen, but anyone who writes absolutes about the playoffs needs to be careful since the lack of a dominant team means anything can happen.
Also, as for Dungy — the year after he left Tampa the Bucs won it all. Can history repeat itself?
on Dec 19th, 2009 at 12:06 AM
And thanks for that butt shot of Clark. Yum yum. He gave a good post-game interview on Thursday, too. Funny how all the players give public statements that they just take orders and the coach will and should make the decision to play or rest them in these final weeks of the season. Clearly, they want to keep playing — you can see it on their faces — but they don’t disagree in public. (At least, I haven’t seen it.) Good discipline in that team.