Dungy plans to rest Colts starters down the stretch

The Indianapolis Colts figure to make it a little easier for the Seahawks to claim home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs when the teams play Saturday at Qwest Field.

As expected, the game has become a watered-down potential preview of the Super Bowl as Colts coach Tony Dungy plans to rest his top players during the game.

The Colts clinched home field throughout the AFC playoffs two weeks ago, so Dungy was expected to rest them, anyway. But a loss to the San Diego Chargers on Sunday ended the Colts' perfect season after a 13-0 start and took the pressure off Dungy to play against history — the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins — for the next two weeks.

"I guess people won't have as much to say if we don't play our starters the whole way or ask, 'How can you denigrate the game that way?' " Dungy told reporters in Indianapolis on Monday.

Dungy reiterated that he plans to rest quarterback Peyton Manning and running back Edgerrin James, among others, over the next two games.

Some Colts might not play at all because of injuries suffered against the Chargers. Right tackle Ryan Diem is out indefinitely with a sprained left knee, and Pro Bowl receiver Marvin Harrison could sit out against the Seahawks to rest a hand injury.

Defensive tackle Corey Simon (foot) and defensive end Robert Mathis (foot) missed the San Diego game and are expected to sit out again Saturday.

"We're going to go out there and play to win, but we are going to use everybody," Dungy said. "How much we will play everyone is still to be determined. But, in any case, we plan to play a lot of people."

Manning, Alexander most popular

Manning received a record number of votes — 1,184,142 — in a record year for fan balloting for the Pro Bowl.

A record 70.5 million votes were cast in fan balloting that ended Friday. Players and coaches will conclude the voting today; fans, players and coaches each count as one-third of the vote to determine the 43-man rosters. The teams will be announced Wednesday.

The Pro Bowl will be played in Honolulu on Feb. 12.

Chris Cluff: 206-464-8787 or ccluff@seattletimes.com