Peyton Manning Really Wants to Play, and Win, Sunday Against Tennessee

Normally a statement like the title would be as meaningless as some of those Christmas gifts you received from a distant relative in the gift exchange this past week. Saying Peyton Manning wants to win a football game is definitely like giving someone his third pair of driving gloves. It's a totally unnecessary -- and totally unwanted -- gift. Still, this week it's news. The game means nothing to the Colts. They are the fifth seed in the AFC, no matter what. Their opponent, the Tennessee Titans, have already wrapped up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Really, the game doesn't mean anything to anyone outside of fantasy footballers. Peyton would disagree with that statement.

"We'd like to continue our winning streak, and go into the first week of the playoffs coming off a win. We'd like to keep the momentum going. We're going to do whatever it takes to keep that going."

I don't know if I can buy that.
"Whatever it takes" would mean playing all your best players the entire game. Tony Dungy's track record is checkered with playoff teams not needing a Week 17 (or 16 or even 15, for that matter), and he never risks injury to his key pieces. Why don't we see what he says?

"Everybody would like to play," Dungy said. "There's no doubt about that. They get 16 opportunities a year, and especially when you get in Peyton's situation where you don't have 12 or 15 years left, you do start counting the games. A lot of our veterans feel that way.

"A number of guys have come to me, wanting to play the whole way and wanting to play more. We'll have to gauge it and judge it. We do only have 45 guys who can play, so guys will get to play their share."

See, he's not going to let Manning or Reggie Wayne -- who has also expressed desire to play the whole game -- or Dwight Freeney or Bob Sanders play much more than a half. We know Dungy.

"I want to play the whole game," said Manning.

You know what? This is why you have to love the fire Peyton has. It reminds of how every single fourth down he's looking at the sidelines waving off the field goal or punt unit -- trying to overrule the decision of coach Dungy. The best part about is that sometimes it works and they go for it, and they usually get it.

We'll see if Manning gets his way this time. I'm guessing not.

Fantasy Spin: Don't bother with any of your Colts unless you are desperate. Manning isn't the boss just yet, and Dungy's not going to risk an injury to any of his studs.