INDIANAPOLIS — Jim Caldwell traded the perfect season for what he hoped would be the perfect ending. Today, Caldwell and the Colts will play it by the book.
Nearly a month after the Indianapolis coach pulled his starters against the New York Jets, granting Rex Ryan’s Christmas wish, the Colts can show they made the right move by redeeming themselves in the AFC championship game.
“We’re very eager to get out there,” Colts defensive lineman Raheem Brock said. “We’ve got something to prove. They’ve got a good running game, a good offensive line, but now we’ve got to go out and prove ourselves again.”
In December, the Colts didn’t have to prove anything. They were rolling along on an NFL record 23-game regular-season win streak and had just set a franchise record with their 13th consecutive home victory. They had swept the AFC South, beaten seven consecutive teams fighting to make the playoffs, locked up the AFC’s top seed and had everyone talking about completing a 19-0 season. Then Caldwell did the unthinkable. With less than six minutes left in the third quarter, the Colts leading 15-10 and six quarters from being 16-0, he yanked Peyton Manning and other starters to avoid risking injury.
Fans responded with a cascade of boos in Lucas Oil Stadium. Those were replaced the next several days by even louder complaints from fans on local radio shows and comments on blogs after the Jets rallied for a 29-15 victory. The decision set off a national debate about whether the Colts did the right thing.
Nobody has forgotten what happened — least of all the Colts (15-2).
“In history they’ll be remembered as the team that gave us our first loss of 2009,” Colts left tackle Charlie Johnson said. “Going out and playing everybody a full four quarters, it’ll be a good test for us to see who is really better.”
New York (11-7) took advantage of the Colts’ help and hasn’t lost since.
