Quote:I've argued that point on the side of the tanking - if you recall, the Colts played both weeks 15 AND 16 very well that year - which I am sure is of no coincidence that they had "built up" a 2 game cushion for the first pick at that point. In week 17, they all of a sudden played as flat as a pancake and gave the win to the Jaguars. The Colts clearly had no intention of winning that game week 17. None. I even read somewhere that they made every pass attempt on the same side of the field to make it easier for the Jaguars to defend them. (not sure if that was indeed accurate, as we're talking a 2 year old game....but found it interesting). 

 

Irsay wasn't going to have the horrible stigma of finishing winless if he didn't have to. He won as many as he could while still finishing with the top pick.