
 
 JACKSONVILLE -- Peyton Manning had just watched his Colts finish the season with worst record in the NFL, securing the No. 1 pick in the draft next April, falling 19-13 to an almost equally futile Jacksonville club. 
 
 What was he talking about in the Indianapolis locker room at EverBank Field late Sunday afternoon? 
 
 Next year's Super Bowl -- which Manning pointed out is in New Orleans. 
 
 Seriously? You bet. 
 
 The certain NFL Hall of Famer underwent a pair of neck operations this year which left Indianapolis without its heart, if not its soul. 
 
 "I know how boring it is for me to talk about rehab, I can't imagine how boring it is for you all to write about rehab information,'' Manning said. "It's just not very exciting. So I look forward to when we all can get passed that but unfortunately we're still in the process.'' 
 
 What a process the next few months could be. Manning, who turns 36 before the next NFL Draft, has thrown for almost 55,000 yards and it one touchdown shy of 400 scoring throws. But this year, he didn't throw a pass. He was the highest paid cheerleader in pro sports, making $26 million. He stands to collect another $28 million in March, if the Colts keep him. And owner Jim Irsay said Sunday for the second time in the last few weeks, if Manning is healthy he will be in Indianapolis. 
 
 But that's where it gets juicy. What about that top pick the Colts now own? Where Indy turns with it could change the face of the entire draft next spring with dozens of future pros waiting and wondering. One decision will determine another among the clubs with top selections. 
 
 Right now, it looks like Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck will be a Colt. And he said a few weeks ago at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show that he wouldn't speculate his draft status but would be thrilled to play with Peyton if it came to that. 
 
 But who wouldn't play with Manning? On Saturday, he stood on the Colts' sideline and shouted encouragement the entire contest. 
 
 "He's a team guy, he's a true professional and I wouldn't expect anything less of him,'' said long-time center Jeff Saturday, who has snapped the ball to Manning for 13 years. "He's a Colt all the way and has done a lot of things to help this football team and he's in it whether he's on the field or having to watch.'' 
 
 Once a Super Bowl contender, it's a team that is in transition, however. There's little doubt if Luck joins Indianapolis, the clock starts ticking on Manning's final throws as a Colt. 
 
 "We'll see how it all shakes out,'' said Saturday, who is actually pondering retirement. "Obviously none of us in this room are in control. Mr. Irsay is going to handle all that and you just kind of put it in his hands and trust the organization and the direction it decides to move. Whoever is here, we'll keep playing and suiting up and doing our best to keep winning.'' 
 
 There's also questions about Indy coach Jim Caldwell's future. 
 
 "We'll see what happens,'' Caldwell said, with a team meeting today back home. 
 
 Saturday added, "Listen, you only have control as a player when you win. Once you stop winning all the power gets taken out of your hands. Tough season man, you've just got to trust the organization and what they want to do.'' 
 
 Does he think there's a chance Manning could have played his final game in Indianapolis as well? 
 
 "I don't even want to speculate,'' Saturday said. "Obviously for what Peyton has done for this organization, this team, I've got too much respect for him as a man to try to speculate on what's going to happen with him. Whatever happens he'll do the best that's for his family.'' 
 
 Frustration was obvious on Manning's face in the visiting team's dressing room. 
 
 "It certainly has been a different season, first one not being out there, being a part of it. It was hard not being out there with my teammates I've never taken for granted being healthy and being able to play,'' he said. "I will say that. I don't think I've ever shorted myself any opportunity to play and to practice. That's how everybody should play, that way, so I have always played that way. So I haven't enjoyed watching the team lose guys and guys struggle. … It hasn't been a whole lot of fun for anybody.'' 
 
 Does he ponder sharing the spotlight with Luck? That would be a little strange. Luck once attending the Manning family's passing camp in New Orleans. Peyton's dad, Archie, and Andrew's father, Oliver, were teammates in the NFL. 
 
 "That's something I haven't thought a whole lot about, the draft is four months away,'' Manning claimed. "The Colts are going to do what they have to do. The draft is something that the personnel department will address and they'll deal with that as they see fit. As far as can I co-exist with anybody, I've been able to co-exist with any player I've ever played with. I've always been a good teammate that way. To speculate who we're going to draft and all that, that's more for other people to do, not necessarily the players.'' 
 
 Right now, Manning says, he's got to get healthy. Then he'll take things from there. If anything, Luck is insurance should Manning never make it back from the neck problems. 
 
 There's a really good chance Indy will undergo huge changes anyway, with a host of veterans on their way out. It's a team, Manning confesses, that just got older with time. 
 
 "we all want to do certain things but that doesn't mean you're going to get to do it. I want to play in the Masters but it's not going to happen,'' he said. "It's part of it is the expression that's used a lot but that's just the truth. We'll see how it all works out. 
 
 "The priority for me is getting healthy. I've got to get healthy for me, I've got to get healthy for the team. I'm under contract with the Colts. That's my job is to get healthy for them. It's been hard not being able to help this year on the field. I've learned when you're not playing there's really not a whole lot you can do to help. I've tried to be here, encourage guys, I've tried to give an idea here or there but the best way for me to have helped all the years was by playing. 
 
 I want to get back to be able to play on the field, that's where my priority is at this point.'' 
 
 Despite the nightmare year, Manning still found a little humor in his situation. Last spring, because of the NFL lockout, he couldn't use the team's facilities. 
 
 "Not being able to rehab at our facility this offseason was tough,'' Manning said. "You go to a place (somewhere else), you are rehabbing, the last next to you is getting her bunions worked on, asking if she should draft (Dallas) Clark for her fantasy team. It's kind of hard to rehab and deal with that.'' 
 
 On Sunday, Luck and Manning were about as far apart as possible. Andrew was getting ready for the Fiesta Bowl tonight in Arizona while Peyton was shaking his head in disgust at another failed scoring drive. 
 
 How will it all work out, the debate will rage. Should the Colts dump Manning for the future with Luck. Could the two exist together for a few years while Luck matures. Or will Indianapolis trade the pick to rebuild around its star. 
 
 Old vs. new. The past vs. the future. It's an old obstacle, one that must be debated from time to time in every athletic arena and business. 
 
 But now the main question that really heats the argument has been answered. The Colts lost Sunday. Now Indianapolis has to figure out how to win the biggest question in all of sports, the one that can turn a franchise for decades, the one they made with Manning 14 years ago that paid off huge … which way now? ||||| Tom Brady led the New England Patriots back from a three-touchdown deficit as they scored 49 straight points and clinched home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a 49-21 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. 
 
 New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez celebrates a long gain to near the goal line, which set up a touchdown, against the Buffalo Bills in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Foxborough,... (Associated Press) 
 
 New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez (81) tries to break free of Buffalo Bills linebacker Chris Kelsay (90) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday Jan.... (Associated Press) 
 
 New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, right, hugs Buffalo Bills linebacker Kirk Morrison after an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012. The Patriots won 49-21 to clinch home-field... (Associated Press) 
 
 New England Patriots' Devin McCourty (32) and Kyle Arrington (24) break up a pass to Buffalo Bills wide receiver Ruvell Martin (82) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass.,... (Associated Press) 
 
 New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez (81) steps into the end zone for a touchdown during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday Jan.... (Associated Press) 
 
 New England Patriots defensive end Mark Anderson (95) breaks free from Buffalo Bills tackle Chris Hairston (75) and sacks quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) during the second quarter of an NFL football... (Associated Press) 
 
 Brady finished the regular season with the second most yards passing in NFL history, 5,235, after throwing for 338. Drew Brees, who last week broke Dan Marino's record of 5,084 with the Miami Dolphins in 1984, added 389 Sunday for the New Orleans Saints and ended with 5,486. 
 
 The Patriots (13-3) finished the season with eight straight wins. But for the second straight game, they fell behind early. They beat the Miami Dolphins 27-24 after trailing 17-0 at halftime then rallied after the Bills (6-10) scored touchdowns on their first three possessions, drawing boos from the home fans. 
 
 ___ 
 
 SAINTS 45, PANTHERS 17 
 
 At New Orleans, _ Drew Brees threw for 389 yards and five touchdowns as New Orleans set a slew of NFL and club records. 
 
 The NFL single-season records set by the Saints (13-3), who head into the playoffs on an eight-game winning streak, included offensive yards with 7,474, team yards passing with 5,347 and first downs with 416. 
 
 Brees, who was 28 of 35, finished with a record 468 completions this season, breaking Peyton Manning's 2010 mark of 450. He finished the season completing 71.6 percent of his passes, breaking his own 2009 NFL record 70.6 completion percentage. 
 
 Tight end Jimmy Graham had 97 yards receiving, finishing with an NFL record 1,310 for a tight end. 
 
 The Panthers finished 6-10. 
 
 ___ 
 
 JAGUARS 19, COLTS 13 
 
 At Jacksonville, Maurice Jones-Drew ran for a season-high 169 yards, clinching the NFL rushing title and breaking Fred Taylor's single-season franchise record in the Jaguars' victory. 
 
 The Jaguars (5-11) became the first AFC South opponent to sweep Indianapolis (2-14) since 2002 and gave outgoing owner Wayne Weaver a victory in his final game. 
 
 The Colts may have been the big winners, though. Indianapolis locked up the top pick in April's NFL draft, setting the stage to select Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. 
 
 Indy would have dropped to the No. 2 spot in the draft with a victory in Jacksonville. Instead, owner Jim Irsay will have the choice to draft Luck and give the team a young quarterback to join four-time MVP Peyton Manning. 
 
 ___ 
 
 TITANS 23, TEXANS 22 
 
 At Houston, Matt Hasselbeck threw two touchdown passes as the Titans kept alive their playoff hopes. 
 
 The Titans (9-7) have their first winning record since 2008 in Mike Munchak's first season, but their postseason fate depended on the outcome of later games in Cincinnati, Oakland and Denver. Tennessee got some early help when the Jets lost in Miami. 
 
 Houston (10-6) will head into its first postseason on a three-game losing streak. The Texans were locked into the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs and coach Gary Kubiak played mostly reserves in the second half. 
 
 Rookie starter T.J. Yates left the game after one series with a shoulder injury and was replaced by Jake Delhomme. Kubiak said Yates could have returned if necessary. 
 
 The Texans pulled within a point late in the game on a 5-yard TD pass by Delhomme, but failed on a 2-point conversion that would have won it. 
 
 ____ 
 
 DOLPHINS 19, JETS 17 
 
 At Miami, Mark Sanchez threw three interceptions and the Jets were eliminated from the AFC wild-card playoff race. 
 
 Each turnover led to a field goal, and the Jets gave up six third-down conversions during the Dolphins' 21-play, 94-yard drive for their only touchdown. 
 
 The Jets (8-8) came into the game needing a win along with losses by three other teams to reach the playoffs. Instead, they finished the season with three consecutive defeats, a big step backward for a team that reached the AFC title game each of the past two years. 
 
 The Dolphins (6-10) completed their third consecutive losing season, their longest such stretch since the 1960s. 
 
 ___ 
 
 PACKERS 45, LIONS 41 
 
 At Green Bay, backup quarterback Matt Flynn threw a touchdown pass to Jermichael Finley with 1:10 left to finish off his record-setting day of 480 yards and six TD passes. 
 
 With Aaron Rodgers resting for the playoffs, Flynn set club single-game records for yards passing and touchdowns. It was an ideal afternoon for the Packers (15-1) who got to rest their starting quarterback and several other big-name players without losing momentum. 
 
 Flynn barely got the Packers past Matthew Stafford, who threw for 520 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions. Playoff-bound Detroit (10-6), has lost 21 straight road games to the Packers, including the postseason. 
 
 ___ 
 
 BEARS 17, VIKINGS 13 
 
 At Minneapolis, Charles Tillman's interception return in the second quarter gave Chicago (8-8) the lead, allowing the Bears to stop their five-game losing streak despite 3 1/2 sacks by Jared Allen. 
 
 Allen finished the season with 22 sacks, behind Michael Strahan's NFL mark of 22 1/2 for the Giants in 2001. 
 
 Joe Webb relieved Christian Ponder at quarterback for the Vikings (3-13) for the third time in the last month, but the scrambling Webb wasn't able to keep the Vikings from matching the worst record in franchise history. 
 
 ___ 
 
 EAGLES 34, REDSKINS 10 
 
 At Philadelphia, Michael Vick threw three touchdown passes, including a 62-yarder to DeSean Jackson, as the Eagles closed the season with four straight wins. 
 
 The Eagles (8-8) are hoping to carry the momentum from their strong finish into next season. But they can't be satisfied after entering the year with Super Bowl aspirations. 
 
 It's the first time since 2007 that Philadelphia didn't qualify for the postseason and just the fourth time in coach Andy Reid's 13 seasons. The Eagles set a franchise record for total yards on offense with 6,386. 
 
 The Redskins (5-11) finished in last place in the NFC East for a franchise-worst fourth straight year. It was Mike Shanahan's worst full season in 18 years as a coach. 
 
 ___ 
 
 49ERS 34, RAMS 27 
 
 At St. Louis, Michael Crabtree caught two touchdown passes, one from kicker David Akers on a perfectly executed trick play, as San Francisco wrapped up the No. 2 playoff seed in the NFC and a first-round bye. 
 
 Crabtree and Vernon Davis had big days for a team short of pass catchers and Tarell Brown had a pair of interceptions that led to touchdowns as the 49ers (13-3) beat the Rams (2-14) for the second time the last five games. ||||| Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens had never felt so appreciative of an NFL officiating crew as they did on Thursday.
– The New England Patriots overcame a 21-point deficit today with 49 unanswered points to rock the Buffalo Bills 49-21, the AP reports. The win earned the Pats home-field advantage and the AFC's top seed. Tom Brady threw for 338 yards and finished with the second-most passing yards in NFL history, 5,235—behind only Drew Brees, who threw for 5,486 this year with the New Orleans Saints. More NFL action, from USA Today: The Miami Dolphins knocked the New York Jets out of playoff contention with a 19-17 win, burying coach Rex Ryan's pledge to win the Super Bowl this year. The Jets reached the AFC championship game each of the past two years. The Atlanta Falcons scored a team-record 42 first-half points against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and cruised to a 45-24 victory, securing the No. 5 seed in the NFC playoffs. The San Diego Chargers ended the Oakland Raiders' playoff hopes with a 38-26 victory. The Raiders' 8-year playoff drought continues. The Baltimore Ravens clinched the No. 2 seed in the AFC and a first-round bye by holding off the Cincinnati Bengals, 24-16. Backup quarterback Matt Flynn set Green Bay Packer records with 480 yards passing and 6 touchdowns, out-dueling Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford in a 45-41 victory. Stafford threw for 520 yards and 5 touchdowns. The Houston Texans botched a 2-point conversion and saw their rally fall short against the Tennessee Titans in a 23-22 loss. The New Orleans Saints set several club and NFL records in a 45-17 rout of the Carolina Panthers. Drew Brees threw for 389 yards and 5 touchdowns. The San Francisco 49ers locked up the NFC's No. 2 seed and a first-round bye with a 34-27 victory over the St. Louis Rams. Michael Vick tossed three TDs as the Philadelphia Eagles thrashed the Washington Redskins, 34-10, in a fourth straight victory. The Indianapolis Colts secured the top 2012 NFL draft pick by losing to the Jacksonville Jaguars, 19-13. Hello quarterback controversy? Maybe so, if the Colts draft Andrew Luck, USA Today reports. Click here for more NFL updates.