Nothing to play for
1. Give the Colts credit. When they decide not to win, they go all out. Peyton Manning left early in the second quarter Sunday with the score 7-7. Indianapolis lost 30-7, once again proving Peyton Manning’s insane value to the team.

2. The Colts have weird priorities. They rest their starters for safety reasons, but only after achieving individual records. Peyton Manning stayed in Sunday for the expressed purpose of getting Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne to 100 catches. Wayne left the game immediately after his fifth catch gave him 100 for the year. On the next play, the Colts faced a third-and-four with Clark being one catch short of reaching 100.

Peyton Manning tossed the ball to Clark on a play that clearly had no chance for a first down. It lost seven yards. And Manning and Clark didn't return to the game after that. It's bad enough the Colts don't try to win the game by pulling starters.

It's a joke they still choose to pad individual stats over trying to continue a drive.

3. While Curtis Painter was trying to win the MVP award for Manning, Mark Brunell was doing the same for Drew Brees. Brees’ backup only threw for 102 yards in 29 attempts in a 23-10 loss for the Saints. New Orleans finishes the regular season on a three game losing streak, while Carolina reached .500 for the first time since Week Zero.

Slideshow   Week 17 action Take a look at shots from the NFL's 17th week of play in 2009. NBCSports.com

Winning by losing
The St. Louis Rams have clinched the top seed in the NFL Draft with their loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Forget the gaping quarterback need: Come on down, Ndamukong Suh!

Lasting impressions
1. Eric Mangini may not be the coach in Cleveland next year, but Jerome Harrison should be the team’s starting running back after he rushed for 561 yards in the last three weeks alone.

2. Matt Moore should compete for Carolina’s starting quarterback job next year after his excellent close to the season. Moore finishes with 8 touchdowns and only two interceptions in five starts this season.

3. Kudos to my favorite tweeter in the NFL: Chris Johnson a.k.a. “Every Coach’s Dream.” He set the all time record for yards from scrimmage in a season. Really, what’s more significant than gaining yards? Johnson also became only the sixth running back to top 2,000 rushing yards.

NFL game stories Quick look at Week 3 games JETS 31, DOLPHINS 23: Edwards returns to makes key TD catch  |    Highlights COWBOYS 27, TEXANS 13: Dallas avoids rare 0-3 start  |    Romo excited FALCONS 27, SAINTS 24, OT: Champs miss short FG in OT  |    Saints explain loss TITANS 29, GIANTS 10: Johnson scores 2 TDs  |    Coughlin takes blame EAGLES 28, JAGUARS 3: Vick makes Reid's decision look great  |    QB thrilled COLTS 27, BRONCOS 13: Manning throws 3 TD passes VIKINGS 24, LIONS 10: Peterson's career-long 80-yard TD keys win PATRIOTS 38, BILLS 30: 14th straight win in series for New England SEAHAWKS 27, CHARGERS 20: Washington has two kickoff returns for TDs CHIEFS 31, 49ERS 10: K.C. 3-0 for first time since '03  |    Chiefs confident STEELERS 38, BUCCANEERS 13: Batch shines in first start in 3 years RAMS 30, REDSKINS 16: Only second win in last 29 games for St. Louis RAVENS 24, BROWNS 17: Flacco fires 3 TD passes BENGALS 20, PANTHERS 7: Clausen struggles in first NFL start CARDINALS 24, RAIDERS 23: Janikowski misses 32-yard FG on final play