Head coach of the Indianapolis Colts Jim Caldwell is a rookie head coach NFL. But Caldwell is no ordinary rookie head coach; he's a seasoned veteran rookie head coach. Yes, I know that's an oxymoron but oxymoron's are different then regular morons and Jim Caldwell is no moron. As Ricky Ricardo would say, "Let me splain....."

Caldwell will be 55 years in 30 days and has served as an assistant coach at the University of Iowa, Southern Illinois University, Northwestern, Colorado, Louisville, and Penn State. He was the head coach of Wake Forest from 1993 to 2000. It's a safe bet to say he's had a bit of experience, and you don't need to hit the casino to place it.

In 2001 Caldwell entered the NFL as coach. Caldwell served as an assistant coach for Tony Dungy at Tampa Bay in 2001 and under Dungy from 2002-2008 in Indianapolis.

On January 13, 2008, a succession plan for Tony Dungy was announced and Caldwell was formally announced as the future replacement for former Colts head coach Tony Dungy. On January 12, 2009, Dungy announced his retirement, putting Caldwell in the head coaching position. He was formally introduced at a press conference the following day.

Caldwell has plenty of on the job experience, was primed and hand-picked for this job, and obviously has the pulse of the team and is on the same page as Peyton Manning as evidenced by their 13-0 start.

The Colts (13-0) clinched the AFC's No. 1 seed and home field advantage throughout the postseason last Sunday, raising questions about how many starters will play - and for how long - in their remaining three regular-season games. Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell said Monday while he hadn't yet addressed the final two games the Colts will approach this week's game as they approached the first 13.

The Colts, who also started 13-0 in 2005, remain one of two unbeaten teams this season along with New Orleans, and will play host to an AFC Divisional Playoff game on January 16-17.

Caldwell reiterated the week's approach during his Tuesday session with the media, saying healthy players will play. Caldwell stated;

"We're just going to treat like we have these previous 13 games played. If they're not able to go, if doctors don't release them to play, they won't play. That's the only reason why they won't go."

When Manning got to the podium he gave the comapny line;

"The plan is business as usual. This team truly has bought into Coach Caldwell's approach about one week at a time - truly one opponent at a time. That has served us well to this point and that's really the same approach this week. It's really kind of been that one week at a time. I know it's kind of a boring cliché, but it's what Coach Caldwell kind of laid out for us when he first got here. I think the team has bought into it so far and it has served us pretty well."

Here's the thing. Although the Jacksonville Jaguars desperately need this game to make the playoffs, the Jaguars rank last in the league with just 14 sacks. It's not that Manning won't get hit, but it's not exactly like the Jaguars spend a whole lot of time lying on top of the other teams QB. I would expect Peyton Manning and most of the starters to be in the game and attempting to put a "W" on the board if the game is close either way. If they are up or down by a lot, there is no way Manning steps across the white line, not even to hand off.

But next week when the NY Jets travel to Indy it will be different. A lot different. The blitz happy Jets are as desperate as the Jaguars if not more so because they don't own any tie breakers and they have to beat everyone by a game to make the playoffs.

From a Peyton Manning playing or not perspective, the Jets have 21 sacks in their last 7 games and they specialize in hitting the quarterback. In their last 7 games the Jets have knocked the other teams QB down 91 times. That's 13 times per game! Even when they don't get a sack, they hit the QB. It's what they do. Their entire philosophy is built on pressure. Pressure the QB and make the ball come out early.

The Jets have the league leading scoring defense at 16.2 points per game. The Jets defense has been so dominant that the league leading 16.2 points per game includes eight touchdowns scored while they were sitting on the bench by either an offensive turnover or special teams play taken to the house for a TD! Think about it, while the Jest defense is on the field they have allowed less than 12 points per game. Less than 12 Points per game is '85 Bears-like! They just let Darrelle Revis cover your best reciver and let the other 10 guys take chances taking pot shots at your QB.

I started out this piece by telling you that Jim Caldwell is a seasoned veteran rookie coach. There is no way that Caldwell gives Peyton Manning gets any significant time in the Jets game. Could you imagine if Manning got hurt in one of these last three games? Could you imaging the uproar?

If there is even the slimmest of doubt of playing Manning significantly next week against the Jets, the Jets themselves will take care of it. The Jets will start talking as soon as their game with the Falcons is over this week about they are going to hit Peyton Manning attempting to play mind games to make certain that Manning doesn't play. Manning won't play much, they Colts will lose, and then there will be absolutely no reason what so ever for Manning to step on the field in their last game against Buffalo other than to take the first snap of the game to keep Manning's consecutive game playing streak alive.

The Colts may very well win tonight (in fact I have money on it) but Peyton won't play much next week and they will lose, and he will barely see the field in the last game of the year.

If you are a die-hard Colts fan, sorry, they won't go 16-0 (and it's the right thing to do.)

If you have Payton Manning as your fantasy quarterback you need to start making plans for the last two weeks of the season. - Robert Finley

Bob has been covering College and Pro Football as an "interested party" for over 20 years. He's pretty darn good at it too......

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