They have already clinched the 5th seed in the Playoffs. Yes Pagano is coming back and they want to win next week but you have to believe that they won't REALLY be trying that hard after all, with what happened last week with Luck getting blasted by our D-Line would the Colts be justified in taking that risk again?
Count me as one who thinks they will try and just because they clinched a playoff spot, they'll rest or take it easy.
Why not...The likelyhood of them sitting a Rookie QB is low...more likely to sit Wayne...and a few linemen...The Texans will have to earn it...
they appear to be locked into the 5th seed, no matter the outcomes of other games. Usually teams with nothing to play for don't risk a lot of injuries. This is good for the Texans next week
Yup, young players are literally immortal as well. You couldn't hurt someone under 25 even if you took a crowbar to 'em.
They'll try to win, but there's no way they risk important starters in a meaningless game. 2nd half will be backups.
I suspect they will play it the way the Texans played the final game vs the Titans last year. I think we will see Luck for a quarter or a half depending on how the first quarter goes.
Yes, if we play Atlanta in the Superbowl then the Superbowl will be played in Houston if we win next week.
I say they try...playing a division opponent on your home field, a team you lost too a few weeks ago, a team trying to secure home field which means you have the chance to play spoiler. Maybe they put in backups at key positions in the second half, but those backups will be playing their asses off. And seeing how this team has played against elite teams and bottom dwellers, it may not be easy either way.
If both teams are 10-6, who wins the tiebreaker between Cinci and Indy? They didn't play each other and would both be 7-5 in conference play. There's a pretty significant advantage in being the #5 seed over the #6 seed because you avoid the HOU/DEN/NE trio and get to face an up-and-down Baltimore team.
As you said, i'm too lazy to figure out their record against common opponents or strength of schedule. That's why I'm asking.
@AdamSchefter: AFC wildcards now locked in: Colts will be AFC's No. 5 seed, Bengals will be No. 6 seed. Questions are AFC's 1-4 seeds. Wide open.