[JayTrotter]

going back to 2001..

NFL teams in the previous years conference championships, have been 6 for 36 on returning to the conference championships.. There were only three teams who accomplished this feat, NE 2, PIT 1, PHI 3. All of these teams had great defenses, and great QBs at the time of their repetition.

The super bowl LOSER never made it back. sorry Peyton. And a super bowl champion has returned only once. Sorry Payton.

Surprisingly there has been at least 1 out of the four returning, in 5 of 9 years, (2 teams in 2004) despite the overall poor performance of this group in returning. The surest path back to the conference championship was losing in the conference championships. A loser from last year came back 5 times( 3 PHI, 1 PIT, 1 NE)..

This probably counts out, MIN, and leaves us with the JETS who made last year's championship on some great D and the twisted feet of Nate keading, and Shayne Graham who went a collective 0-5 (0-4 inside the 25).

So there is probably very little statistical reason to bet on any of the FINAL FOUR from last year, unless you believe Sanchez will have his name in the conversations they have about BRADY, ROTHLISBERGER, and MCNABB.

FUN ANGLE.. When Dungy, left the BUCS, they won the super bowl the following year. the next year 7-9 kept them out of the playoffs.

When Dungy left the COLTS, the next year they were in the super bowl, the following year they will....

[jhack704]

that be awesome if the gay colts go 7-9

[filter15]

phsssss whatever

[Straight Cash]

I give this a zero chance of happening unless Manning gets hurt early in the season.

[plzkthx]

I bet anything the colts will have a winning record.

[xxxvince]

u got no idea abt nfl man.. colts easily will win 10 games.. wtf u are blabbering abt?

[Shafted69]

Only if Peyton breaks a leg or shatters a knee.













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[Jag8917]

Not happening. Sorry.

[GunShard]

Peyton is to Lebron James, as the Colts is to the Cavaliers.

Without Peyton, the Colts will fail.

[slacker00]

Super Bowl Loser, the year after:

2009: Cardinals 10-6 (1-1 in playoffs)
2008: Patriots 11-5 (no playoffs)
2007: Bears 7-9
2006: Seahawks 9-7 (1-1 in playoffs)
2005: Eagles 6-10
2004: Panthers 7-9
2003: Raiders 4-12
2002: Rams 7-9
2001: Giants 7-9


Yeah, not real promising for the Super Bowl loser. 7-9 does seem like a predominate theme with 4 of the last 9 going exactly 7-9.

[jackny]

not happening and i'm sure

[Z_Wipf]

The stats do show that teams dip the next year but those are all bad teams in my opinion. Peyton wont let that happen but I can see the saints being one and done in the playoffs

[slacker00]

The stats do show that teams dip the next year but those are all bad teams in my opinion. Peyton wont let that happen but I can see the saints being one and done in the playoffs

You've gotta be kidding, right? Teams that win playoff games and get to the Super Bowl are bad teams? Um, ok.

I think it's the emotional drain of playing an extra month more than everyone else with nothing to show for it.

[Nomocino]

only if Manning gets hurt there depth at QB is the horrible

[TheGuesser]

If Manning gets hurt, they'll be closer to 1-15 than 7-9.

[cecbo]

I agree that the only way the Colts have a losing record next season is if Manning gets hurt. Let's hope that doesn't happen.