Rest, or Play?

[James Rondon]

Should Tony Dungy rest his starters to get ready for the playoffs? Or should he play them, and go for an undefeated season?...

[James Rondon]

(By the way, just in case it needs to be clarified, Tony Dungy is the head coach for the Indianapolis Colts...)

[DCR]

I think he should play them initially to get some points on the board and then bring out the second stringers.  They should play to win but only bring the starters back on the field if they fall behind.

[OkiMar]

He should, but I hope he doesn't.  I would live to see them run the table.

[spurly]

He's a competitor.  He will play to win.  Why play, if you are not playing to win?

[Dennis]

If for no other reason than to let the Dolphin whiners to rest in peace I say play for the streak.

Of course from Dungy's perspective, what happens if Manning gets rolled in the first quarter of the last game and then they lose their first playoff game?  He can't win.

[boringoldguy]

He needs to start them and then put in the second team once the game is in hand.      You don't want your starters to lose their edge.   They need to be in the game.

[Weeble]

These guys make lost of $$$ to play, and people pay lots of $$$ to watch them play, so he has got to play them.

[James Rondon]

He needs to start them and then put in the second team once the game is in hand.      You don't want your starters to lose their edge.   They need to be in the game.

Agreed.

[rick6886]

I think he will start them and keep them in this week against San Diego, a potential team they could face in the playoffs. However against Seattle the following week I see the starters playing one series and getting off the field. Seattle could be playing for home field advantage and will certainly be fired up, the game is absolutely meaningless to the Colts (the game in Seattle will end the streak).

Dungy has said they are in it to win a Super Bowl, there are no awards for going 16-0.

[James Rondon]

Dungy has said they are in it to win a Super Bowl, there are no awards for going 16-0.

Define "award"... People will remember 16-0 more than they will a Super Bowl. And if they add a Super Bowl to 16-0, then they have done something that only one other team has ever done.

[DCR]

Very true.

[rick6886]

The NFL has no award for the team with the best record, only the team that has the Vince Lombardi trophy. The colts will rest all their starters versus Seattle and wil finish 15-1. This is my humble prediction

Rick

[James Rondon]

So much for 16-0!  :eatingpopcorn:

[spurly]

I think he should still play his starters so that they don't lose momentum.  He needs to get the momentum back on the Colt's side after the loss to San Diego if he expects to take the title this year.

[Mere Nick]

Play 'em.  That can earn their dough just like every other son of a biscuit eater.