Why the Colts Should (to quote Herm Edwards) "Play to win the game(s)"

The Colts lost last weekend, ending their bid for the undefeated season. Analysts seems to take this to mean that now it is ok for the Colts to take their foot off the gas, and just play the second string from here on out. The Colts can lose the rest of their games and still play every playoff game in Indy up til the superbowl. So why not rest the starters?

Momentum. The Colts have to travel to play in Seattle this weekend, against potential MVP candidate Shaun Alexander and the NFC leading Seahawks. This would be a tough game with the starters. Without them, it could get ugly.

The last week of the season, the terrible Cardinals come to town. And it's true that the Colts should be able to beat the Cardinals with their second string, but it could be close. A couple bad bounces, and the game could go against them.

If you are the Colts, do you want to be heading into the playoffs on a 3-game losing streak? I don't care who was actually on the field, the team has lost momentum.

So what? They'd still get homefield in the playoffs and the starters would be back...

There are two issues here. First, a team that hasn't played its starters in four weeks (three weeks plus the bye week) tends to show some rust. Second, the Colts were playing with a confidence and swagger on their win streak. They still know they're good, but losing two more in a row will take a bite out of that swagger...

And with the possibility of the the annual Colt-killing, red-hot Pats coming to Indy for the Colts first playoff game, the Colts should want all the swagger they can muster...