Why did you bemoan that? Is it something you would do against your better judgment?
The Colts had a chance to go undefeated and chose to sit their players. The Patriots had a chance to go undefeated and played out the string. Both teams failed to win a Super Bowl. There is no evidence that sitting the players will improve or reduce the chances of winning it all, but choosing to play to win WILL give this team a chance to accomplish something that's never been done before: a 25-game winning streak with two consecutive Super Bowl victories. We'll probably never see a string of success like that in our lifetimes.
Who wouldn't want to be a part of that? When you get a chance to make history, you take it. But do it smartly. Keep the pedal to the metal, play as if the games mattered, and rest the players who are banged up. There is no reason for players like Clifton, Hawk, Starks, or Sitton to play until they are 100 percent.