Both the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts did what they had to do. With nothing to gain in terms of playoff positioning, Indy rested their starters for most of last night’s season finale and the Tennessee Titans relied on backup quarterback Kerry Collins, subbing for the injured Vince Young, to get the team to the AFC Wild Card Weekend. It turned out to be a competitive football game, but Tennessee hung on for a hard-fought 16-10 win.

The Titans are a scrappy bunch and here’s why I like them in the AFC playoffs (until they play New England, that is). They run the ball and play defense. It’s always a recipe for success, especially in the playoffs. The Titans are 5th in overall defense and 5th in overall rushing offense. They get a “hat on a hat” — so to speak — and will play hard-nosed, physical football for all four quarters. Tennessee is a team to fear, even by the Patriots, but I won’t go so far as to predict that kind of an upset.

First thing’s first, though. They’ll need the threat of Vince Young’s running ability to advance. Of course I like the veteran savvy Kerry Collins brings to the team, but he’s an elder statesman now — a statue in the pocket — and at only 18.8 ppg, they’ll need every scoring threat they can find. What Vince Young lacks in experience he gives them with some additional offensive firepower. They will be an interesting team in the playoffs.

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Tennessee Titans Win Their Way into AFC Playoffs, Kerry Collins Subs for Vince Young

It’s never a good thing to lose your top sack specialist, even if for a few games, but replacing him with one of the NFL’s top pass-rushers of all-time isn’t a bad trade-off. The Indianapolis Colts may have to do without All-Pro DE Dwight Freeney for at least a month, so they claimed Simeon Rice off waivers late yesterday to ease their pain. Simeon was just released by Denver last Friday and has experience playing for Colts Coach Tony Dungy. His 121 sacks are second only to the N.Y. Giants’ Michael Strahan among active players.

There are two ways to look at this. First of all, the Broncos released him for a reason. They wouldn’t part ways with a guy who would have done their team any good. So, on paper this looks good for Indy. But will it translate to the playing field? Secondly the Colts are desperate for help at D-end. Enter Simeon Rice who has most certainly lost a step, but could still be productive in a part-time role. I think Simeon will prove most beneficial if given select (rested) opportunities to create havoc in opposing backfields. This is a good move for the Colts, but only time will tell if Simeon will pay dividends.

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Dwight Freeney Possibly Out For a Month, Indianapolis Colts Sign Simeon Rice

I knew the ratings were going to be good. This past Sunday’s game between the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts was viewed by 33.8 million fans, ranking as the most-watched regular-season game on an NFL Sunday since at least 1987 (Nielsen Media Research viewership numbers unavailable prior to that date). The New England/Indy game topped the week’s second-most watched show by 12.4 million viewers (”Dancing with the Stars” had 21.4 million viewers) and is the most-watched show on TV since the Academy Awards on February 25, 2007 (40.4 million viewers).

If you think the NFL’s massive popularity begins and ends there, think again. Four of the top five most watched shows on TV from September 6 to November 4 were NFL games. Plus, NFL games topped the local ratings in 28 of 30 NFL markets last week (Oct. 29-Nov. 4). In the 26 non-NFL markets metered by Nielsen Media Research, the Patriots/Colts game was the top-rated program in 19 (73%) of those markets.

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Record Breaking Audience for Patriots, Colts

If you were making plans to watch Super Bowl XLII on February 3, you should adjust your schedule because the game has been moved to one week from today, November 4, when Peyton Manning and the undefeated Indianapolis Colts (31-7 over Carolina today) host Tom Brady and the undefeated New England Patriots (52-7 over Washington). I’ll go on and on about this game all week, but this is the Super Bowl, my friends. There will be no game bigger or better than this one — unless, of course, these two teams should meet again in the AFC playoffs in a couple months. That’s a distinct possibility, but why look ahead when this game has all the makings of an instant classic.

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NFL’s Elite Set the Stage: Colts vs. Pats Countdown Begins as Both Teams Roll

Apparently injuries to key players isn’t a big deal to the Indianapolis Colts. With starters Marvin Harrison, Joseph Addai, Freddy Keiaho, Bob Sanders and Rob Morris out, the Colts plugged in reserves and routed Tampa Bay 33-14 today. Of course, the straw that stirs the Indy drink is quarterback Peyton Manning and the Colts’ offensive line. Peyton is the catalyst. And a quality O-line is imperative to any team’s success. Peyton turned in a 253-yard, two-TD performance. But when he handed the ball off, it was Kenton Keith making his first NFL start in impressive fashion with 121 yards on 28 carries.

So who is Kenton Keith? Well, he played his college ball at New Mexico State. He was signed by the Colts as a free agent back in January (yes, during the playoffs). Kenton was originally signed by the Jets back in ‘04, but he was waived. He ended up going to Canada where he played the past four years (’03-’06) in the CFL with Saskatchewan. It was just a matter of time before he returned to the States to play, though. He’s got the National Football League in his blood. His cousins are Roger Craig (you remember him with the San Francisco 49ers, he’s retired now, of course) and Ahman Green (Houston Texans).

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Who is Kenton Keith? Banged-Up Indianapolis Colts Roll With Reserves

They brought Indianapolis its first major professional sports league championship when they won Super Bowl XLI. They are the winningest team in the NFL in the past five years (60 victories). They can become the first team in history to win at least 12 games in five consecutive seasons. But the Indianapolis Colts really have only one thing in mind –- matching the eight times NFL teams won back-to-back Super Bowls. Indy head coach Tony Dungy played (in 1978) for the only team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, to perform the feat twice, and he learned a lesson from Steeler’s coach Chuck Noll that he and his players will follow this year. Coach Dungy said:

“Chuck Noll’s attitude and the players’ attitude was that they put the rings away before training camp because they wanted to go win another one. Coach Noll and those guys were never intimidated by trying to win another title.”

The Colts will make a run. Yes, they’ll make the playoffs. But I’m sticking with the Patriots as my Super Bowl favorite.

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Can the Indianapolis Colts Repeat?

Did you catch Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy on The Late Show with David Letterman last night? Coach Dungy is making the rounds (5,650 miles) promoting his new book “Quiet Strength.” The Late Show was his last stop before the Colts open training camp July 29.

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Tony Dungy Appears on ‘The Late Show’

And I thought Friday the 13th was my lucky day (I’m anti-superstitious). The Indianapolis Colts signed DE Dwight Freeney to a six-year, $72 million contract today. That includes a whopping $30 million signing bonus. So, Friday the 13th is now Dwight Freeney’s lucky day.

The interesting part of this deal is that the Colts had designated Dwight as their franchise player in February, which would have kept him with Indy for at least one more season. There was a Monday deadline to sign him to a long-term deal before this season, so they get it done with a few days to spare. Under the franchise tag, Dwight had been guaranteed $8.6 million, the average salary of the top five defensive ends next season. The new deal is obviously much more desirable.

Some will argue that Dwight is already on the downside of his career, that he has already seen his best football, but I disagree. Shoulder and leg injuries limited him to only 5 1/2 sacks in ‘06 and he missed the Pro Bowl for the first time since his rookie season. But a healthy Dwight Freeney is as good a pass-rusher as there is in the NFL and I’m sure the Colts are confident in his recovery or they wouldn’t have offered this deal. Even with last season’s troubles, he has managed 56 1/2 sacks and forced 27 fumbles during his first five seasons with the Colts. Expect more of the same in 2007.

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Dwight Freeney Signs For $72M With Colts

Tyndale House today released Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices and Priorities of a Winning Life, a memoir from Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy. Co-written with Nathan Whitaker, and featuring a foreword by actor Denzel Washington and his wife Pauletta, the book describes Coach Dungy’s upbringing, athletic career, family life, and coaching career, as well as his spiritual journey. He reveals the secrets to his success — principles, practices, and priorities that have kept him on track despite overwhelming personal and professional obstacles, including firings, stereotypes, and the tragic loss of a child. In the face of so much adversity, Coach Dungy has not only survived but risen to the very top of his profession in a way that’s won the respect of fans, players, and even his competitors. His thoughts on leading, succeeding, and attaining true significance will inspire you to take a long, hard look at the things that really matter in your own life.

People of all ages crave heroes. But it’s rare to find someone — especially someone in the media spotlight like Tony Dungy — whose life and work reflect positive, value-driven precepts. In Coach Dungy, many have found a role model. Sports fans admire the way he intensely pursues success without sacrificing his team members’ well-being. Parents point to his example when teaching their children about the importance of hard work, persistence, and graciousness whether they win or lose. Even his fiercest competitors acknowledge that Coach Dungy is a class act who knows how to get the job done and who keeps his priorities intact while he’s doing it. To all these people and more, Tony Dungy is a real-life hero — one who teaches us about the importance of quiet strength, fierce determination, and a humble heart.

“I really wanted to show people you can win all kinds of ways ….. For your faith to be more important than your job, for your family to be more important than that job ….. we all know that’s the way it should be ….. I’m not afraid to say it.”

Quiet Strength is now in stores along with an accompanying Bible study — or you may order the book and/or men’s Bible study online.

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Colts Coach Tony Dungy Unveils Memoir: ‘Quiet Strength’ In Stores Today