IF I'M AN NFL COACH, I want my team to lose once in September. That way, I never have to deal with the can't-win frenzy that has swept up the Indianapolis Colts' Jim Caldwell. We could still go 15- 1 - as the Colts might - without ever having to weigh playing for perfection over playing for the playoffs.

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Me, I don't like what Caldwell did, calling off his Colts (despite a 15-10 lead) in the third quarter against the New York Jets - who were playing for their postseason lives - and guaranteeing the end of Indy's shot at a 16-0 regular season. But sure, I understand it. And honestly, in Caldwell's shoes I might have done the same thing. The focus on winning the Super Bowl just overwhelms everything today, including striving for a special place in history. Seventeen franchises have won Super Bowls. But only one - Miami in 1972 - has done so without losing along the way.

Caldwell obviously reasoned he could live with himself better if he pulled starters and lost a meaningless game - the Colts already have home field for the playoffs - than if he kept them in and lost an important player to injury for the postseason. I can't blame him; he'd be vilified forever, and Caldwell knows it, if Peyton Manning or Dallas Clark wound up prone on the turf this week or next, clutching a knee.

Runs at unique history make for idealistic chatter, but - sorry, all you full-price-paying fans - they clash with the ber-pragmatism of the modern NFL, which is clearly fine with its contenders opting out of competition mode.

That's going to gift-wrap the playoffs for the lucky-dog Jets, of course; the Colts lay down, and their Sunday night foe, the AFC North champion Bengals, will, too, in the same name of self- preservation. Cincy's Marvin Lewis won't get torn apart, though.

Ridicule and scorn are in the timing. Tank one early, you don't have to worry about tanking one late. Get it over with, then get on with winning a championship. It's the professional way.

The 29-15 loss to the Jets doesn't bump the Colts from the top of The Pilot's Top 10, though. I think they're still the favorites to win the championship, although Indy's nemesis San Diego is looking scary. And Manning is the MVP. The annoying, ever-watchable Brett Favre continues to make you shake your head. But it's Manning, over and out.

Indianpolis colts (14-1; last week: 1)

If only Manning and the Boys had scored a quick 30, we wouldn't be having this conversation. Oh, well. But to think, only the lousy Buffalo Bills are left to play in the regular season. Going 16-0 would've been cool, say that.

san diego chargers (12-3; last week: 3)

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Ten straight for a team that averages only 91.5 yards on the ground, 29th in the league. Of course, the Colts are last, and look how much it's hurt them.

new orleans saints (13-2; last week: 2)

Saints owner Tom Benson, who evidently is easily duped by errant field goals, probably shouldn't look now - but after two straight flops at home, that road through the Superdome in the NFC playoffs suddenly doesn't look so intimidating.

philadelphia eagles (11-4; last week: 5)

The Birds have won 11 for the first time since their '04 Super Bowl season. The bad news: They're 0-3 against teams that are already in the playoffs - New Orleans, San Diego, Dallas.

green bay packers (10-5; last week: 6)

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