Requiem For A Perfect Season

Well, today it happened: Indy lost. Bummer. I can tell you, I can relate. I think nobody out there knows how Colts fans really feel as much as '85 Bears fans. Survivors of a similar disappointment: 15-1, no matter how good it turned out, it might seem to be a little incomplete.

At least Indy fans can take heart they were beaten by a contender. In the 80's the Bears lost to an also ran, Miami, the team that happens to own the only undefeated record in NFL history. They got all pumped up and ranted "great teams win when they have to win" and then promptly disappeared into draft speculation. So even though there won't be a doughnut in the loss column at the end of the season, fans can at least take consolation that they lost to a contender.

Also, dejected fans might take some solace from the way the '85 Bears story ends: First Round Playoff Shutout, Second Round Playoff Shutout, most lopsided Superbowl victory in history. We actually had conversations before the game about whether New England would even score (of course New England fans had conversations about how the Patriots were going to win, so there's how much stock to place in pregame speculation). So, today's loss may have stung, but if it puts you on the same path as the '85 Bears it will have been a pain well worth enduring.

So relax. The pressure is off for the rest of the regular season. You are in the playoffs and on the right foot for a dominating post season performance. Anyway, there's no extra points or playoff handicap for going undefeated, and being the second team to have an undefeated season will never surpass the achievement of the '72 Dolphins. That title is theirs, forever. Set it aside, get healthy, start planning your playoff run, and concentrate on the goal that actually means something - winning the championship.