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Nah, can't happen - but oooh, let's hope

By GARY SHELTON
Published November 23, 2005

Because of the coach.

Because of the quarterback.

Because of the interest.

That's why you pull for somebody else's team in some other city's conference. That's why you want to see the Indianapolis Colts beat the opponent, beat the odds and beat history.

Because of the personalities.

Because of the reputations.

Because of the fun of it.

The season has reached the stretch drive, and the Colts' victory total has reached double digits. They are 10-0 now, and somewhere, Nick Buoniconti's shorts are getting tight. These days, when you hear "Indy 500," you don't know if the subject is a race or a partial score.

Question: Can the Colts really pull off an unbeaten season?

Answer: For goodness' sake, let's hope so.

Because of the running back.

Because of the receiver.

Because who doesn't like to see Dolphins sweat?

It is time. Nothing against the '72 Dolphins, who went 17-0, but aren't we due for another slice of perfection? Wouldn't it be a hoot to watch Tony, Peyton and the guys take a run?

Of course, the odds against the Colts pulling off an unbeaten season are staggering, like climbing Mount Everest barefoot with cannibals roaming loose. Look, they aren't playing the '72 Dolphins' schedule, which won only 43 percent of the time. They would have to beat Pittsburgh and San Diego, Jacksonville and Seattle. They would have to win three playoff games. They would have to keep their poise against meaningful opponents and maintain focus in meaningless games. They would have to survive injuries. They would have to withstand bad bounces and referee's whistles and mounting pressure.

That's a lot to ask. On behalf of the viewing nation, we are willing to ask it.

This is history, okay? Ask yourself: Do you remember which of the 49ers' championship teams had only one loss? Do you recall what year the Raiders went 16-1? Do you remember what year the Bears, the best team of the generation, lost only once?

Probably not. One-loss seasons are like one-hit baseball games; it's a nice accomplishment, but nobody saves the scorecard.

Remember this: We are not talking about the Colts winning six more games. We are talking about them winning nine more games, which means they're a stride more than halfway. None of this counts for beans unless the Colts win the Super Bowl.

Can you imagine the reaction to the Colts if they were to finish the regular season unbeaten and lose in the playoffs? It happened twice before, to the '42 Bears and the '34 Bears. Given the evolution of the second guess, what would the skeptics think of Dungy's character then?

As long as we are listing reasons to pull for the Colts, let's list that one, too. Wouldn't it be nice to put an end to all the malarkey about how Dungy hasn't won a big game because he lacks character? Usually, those are the ramblings of people who know nothing about football and less about character.

For all those psychologists down at the appliance store, look: Dungy leads the NFL in character. So because he loses two playoff games on the road to the Patriots, the closest thing to a dynasty we have seen lately, he has a personality flaw? When Peyton Manning throws an interception, when Tom Brady throws a touchdown, when the referees rule that Bert Emanuel didn't make a catch, that has something to do with Dungy's character? Please.

Look, Don Shula listened to this garbage for years, and he won more games than anyone. Tom Landry got his share of it, too.

"Until you win the big one, they're always going to say you can't," Shula said. "I know that from first-hand experience."

For the record, Shula says the Colts "have a legitimate chance" of going unbeaten. If so, he says he will be the first to phone Dungy. The image of the Dolphins pulling against the last unbeaten team, Shula says, has been overblown.

"We've been accused of being grumpy old men, hoping and praying the last team would lose," he said. "That's not true."

Shula did allow that Buoniconti, Dick Anderson and Bob Griese all live in Coral Gables and perhaps, as a trio, would celebrate. "If they do," Shula said, "they're too cheap to invite the rest of us."

Once, in '84, the 49ers were good enough to go unbeaten; they lost by a field goal to Pittsburgh in Week 7. Once, a year later, the Bears were good enough to go unbeaten; they were beaten by Miami 38-24 in their 13th game. Six times since the Dolphins of '72, a team has started 10-0. None finished unbeaten. All it takes is one slip.

Look at the potholes ahead for the Colts. They have a Monday night game against Pittsburgh. They travel to Jacksonville. They play against San Diego. They travel to Seattle on Christmas Eve. They will play games, particularly the finale against Arizona, with nothing on the line. Then come the playoffs.

Yes, you would bet the toaster the Colts would win any of those games.

But would you bet they would win all of them?

They are an interesting bunch, these Colts. Great teams always seem to have triplets on offense: Peyton Manning, Edgerrin James and Marvin Harrison in this case. Now, the Colts are starting to play pretty good defense, too.

How can you not pull for these guys?

Because of the memories.

Because of the storylines.

Because of the guys down at the appliance store.

[Last modified November 23, 2005, 00:45:14]