Dungy won’t say if starters will play

Tony Dungy expects the lobbying from Cleveland and Nashville to start in earnest later this week.

While the phone didn’t ring much Monday morning, the Indianapolis Colts coach anticipates a barrage of calls the next few days from the 216, 440 and 615 area codes, which encompass the two cities vying for the AFC’s final playoff spot.

“I’m looking for those area codes to show up on my phone,” Dungy joked. “Not necessarily from the coaches, but from the fans in those cities.”

Nobody would blame them for trying.

In an odd twist, the defending Super Bowl champions find themselves squarely in the spotlight entering their regular-season finale against Tennessee.

A Titans win would give them their first postseason berth since 2003. A Tennessee loss sends the Browns to the playoffs for the first time since 2002. Cleveland doesn’t even have to win to make it.

So all AFC eyes are focused on Indianapolis to see if Dungy plays his starters in the NFL’s final regular-season game, a meaningless game for the playoff-bound Colts.

And the usually cautious Dungy won’t tip his hand much.

He’s scheduling backup quarterback Jim Sorgi to play at least one half, perhaps longer if perennial Pro Bowl wide receiver Marvin Harrison doesn’t return to the lineup after missing nine games.

If Harrison doesn’t play, quarterback Peyton Manning could leave even earlier.

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Willis McGahee will miss Baltimore’s season finale against Pittsburgh because of two fractured ribs, an injury that further thins an already depleted roster.

McGahee was hurt in Sunday’s 27-6 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Baltimore played without linebacker Ray Lewis, cornerbacks Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle, tight ends Todd Heap and Daniel Wilcox, and quarterback Kyle Boller.

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The broken foot Larry Johnson sustained on Nov. 4 turned out to be season-ending after all.

Kansas City Coach Herm Edwards confirmed Monday that the running back would not play in the season finale at the New York Jets.

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A torn knee ligament will keep Detroit running back Kevin Jones out of the team’s final regular-season game at Green Bay and could sideline him until the start of training camp. Tests revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament in Jones’ right knee. . . . Arizona defensive tackle Ross Kolodziej went on injured reserve and linebacker David Holloway was promoted from the practice squad. . . . Tennessee cornerback Eric King had season-ending surgery on his broken left forearm.