Not that a 62-7 nationally televised loss to the New Orleans Saints was needed to emphasize how much the Indianapolis Colts miss quarterback Peyton Manning, but it did anyway.

For the first time since 1997, the Colts are off to an 0-7 start.

If you’re someone who believes the Most Valuable Player Award should go to the best statistical player on the best team in the league, then Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers is your guy.

But if you’re someone who believes the MVP is the player with the most value to his franchise, Manning should win it hands down.

It’s a foreign concept to think that a team as great as the Colts have been for the last decade could all of a sudden be winless reaching the halfway point.

When it was announced during the preseason that Manning would likely miss most of the 2011 season, Indy frantically signed Kerry Collins out of retirement to lead the team until Manning’s return.

Collins struggled early and the small glimmer of hope that Manning would tie on the superman cape to come save the day transformed into a Hail Mary.

When Collins suffered a concussion Week 3, the Colts turned to Manning’s natural backup Curtis Painter to take the reins. Indianapolis has looked better at times but still hasn’t managed to win a game.

Manning’s impact on the Colts was obvious before. Now it’s even clearer than it has ever been.

Realistically, the Colts should realize they’re fighting a lost cause this season and elevate their white flags. Why the front office hasn’t officially put Manning on the injury reserve and shut him down until July makes no sense.

Perhaps such a move could be coming in retrospect to Sunday night’s beatdown in the Superdome.

The immediate road ahead looks easier for Indy, but the Colts may very well fold for the rest of the year in order to get higher draft picks.

Indianapolis will be on the road for the third consecutive week when they battle the Tennessee Titans. The Colts then play three straight home games against the Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers. Their bye week is sandwiched in that stretch as well.

One thing’s for sure. Manning truly is the most valuable player to any franchise in the entire NFL. Not having him has cost the Colts an entire season on a team whose window for a title run is already starting to close.

Could the Colts finish just as bad, if not worse than the 1-15 season of 1991?

Realistically, it seems that way.

Brett Lyons is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained firsthand or from official interview materials.

Follow Brett Lyons on Twitter  @BrettLyons670.