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Can't win the Big One, huh? On the world's biggest stage and in a driving rainstorm, Peyton Manning steered the Colts to victory in Super Bowl XLI. The Colts rattled Rex Grossman and beat the Bears 29-17 in a turnover-filled game.
Can't win the Big One, huh? On the world's biggest stage and in a driving rainstorm, Peyton Manning steered the Colts to victory in Super Bowl XLI. The Colts rattled Rex Grossman and beat the Bears 29-17 in a turnover-filled game.
The grim look on Peyton Manning's face walking back to the locker room after the pregame warmup -- nausea is the first word that hurtles immediately to mind -- was as disturbing as it was understandable.
Despite setting a passel of passing records, the Indianapolis Colts' quarterback understood that, fairly or unfairly, Super Bowl XLI would probably define his legacy. One way or another. And then two of Manning's first four passes against the Chicago Bears were very nearly intercepted -- and a third actually was, by Chris Harris.
But Manning collected himself and, four hours later, he collected the Vince Lombardi Trophy. And so, after nine seasons, Manning finally has the one thing that matters to him most: an NFL championship.
The Colts prevailed over the Bears 29-17, but Manning would be wise to send a thank-you note to Chicago quarterback Rex Grossman. The much-maligned Grossman will be savaged far and wide after completing 20 of 28 passes for only 165 yards. His fourth-quarter interception to defensive back Kelvin Hayden was returned 56 yards for the game-turning touchdown.
In the end, the Colts' (vaunted) offense broke even with the Bears (equally vaunted) defense. The Indianapolis defense, however, was far superior to the Bears' offense in a sloppy, eight-turnover game.
Colts head coach Tony Dungy, who built a championship team in Tampa Bay -- only to be fired the year before the Buccaneers won Super Bowl XXXVII -- became the first African-American head coach to win the Super Bowl.
It was the second Super Bowl victory for the Colts' franchise, going back to Baltimore (Super Bowl V, 16-13 over Dallas), but the first since moving to Indianapolis in 1984.
Indianapolis rookie running back Joseph Addai caught 10 passes for 66 yards and carried 19 times for 77 yards.
In the previous 40 Super Bowls, it had never, ever rained. After a week of pristine weather, naturally, the 41st proved to be the charm. Oddly enough, the steady drizzle did not throw a devastating wet blanket on the game. In fact, none of the six first-half turnovers could be solely attributed to the weather.
Two weeks ago, the Colts were burned for an 80-yard kickoff return by the Patriots' Ellis Hobbs. One of the leading questions heading into Super Bowl XLI was this: Would Indianapolis kick to the Bears' scintillating rookie Devin Hester? The answer came about three seconds into the game.
Adam Vinatieri kicked away and Hester settled under the ball on his own 8-yard-line near the left sideline. Showing great patience, Hester ran toward the middle of the field, then faked Marlin Jackson off his feet, feigning left and cutting right. After sprinting past the falling Vinatieri, Hester was in the clear -- so much that he was able to watch the last 20 yards of his achievement on the massive electronic screen above the end zone.
It was the seventh touchdown return for Hester -- in his 19th professional game. Fourteen seconds into the game, the Bears led 7-0. Arrogance or stupidity on the part of the Colts? On their next kickoff, they squibbed it down the middle. Later, when the Bears tried to sneak Hester up into the second tier of returners, the Colts recognized it and kicked deep to Rashied Davis.
Manning weathered a rugged first series, but got the Colts even, well, almost. Hit by Tank Johnson as he released, Manning floated a punt-like pass down the middle to Reggie Wayne, which he caught because Harris inexplicably broke the wrong way. It was good (very good) for a 53-yard touchdown, but the Colts couldn't handle the snap-hold exchange and it stayed at 7-6.
After Bears running back Thomas Jones broke one for 52 yards -- Chicago's longest run of the season -- Grossman threaded a sweet little pass across the middle to Muhsin Muhammad, just inside cornerback Nick Harper for a four-yard touchdown. Make that 14-6. Three touchdowns had been scored inside the game's first 11 minutes.
And then the Bears' offense began to deteriorate. None of their next five possessions produced points. They ended this way: fumble, punt, punt, punt, fumble. Remarkably, the Bears escaped the first half with a two-point deficit.
The Colts' offense gradually found an equilibrium and scored on a 29-yard Vinatieri field goal, followed by a 1-yard run by Dominic Rhodes.
At the end of the half Vinatieri, considered the best clutch kicker in the history of the game, missed a 36-yarder, barely, wide left. Brian Urlacher kept the Bears in the game by stopping Addai a yard short of a first down.
Chicago bent dangerously again as the second half opened, but again survived by allowing only a 24-yard field goal by Vinatieri. The Colts led 19-14 and, amazingly, the game was still open to suggestion.
Jones picked up a first down, their first in more than 25 minutes and had a second-and-1 at the Colts' 45-yard-line and, for some reason, they decided to pass. Defensive tackle Anthony McFarland, with a spin move reminiscent of Dwight Freeney, sacked Grossman for an 11-yard loss and Grossman fumbled and was stopped for no gain by defensive end Robert Mathis.
The Colts, inexorably, reeled the game in. Rhodes broke a 36-yard run, but the Bears made another stand and Vinatieri licked another field goal. And yet, at 22-14, it was still a one-possession game.
It was still a one-possession game after Robbie Gould kicked a 24-yard field goal, but then Grossman effectively ended the game by throwing that interception to Hayden. His 56-yard, sideline-skirting return gave the Colts their first insurmountable lead.
Manning, who had lost six of nine playoff games coming into this season, won all four of his postseason games this time through.
He will now be remembered in the category of John Elway, who won Super Bowls in his final two seasons. He has distanced himself from Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino, who owns many important career records, but never earned a Super Bowl ring.
The look of utter joy on his face as the clock ran out? Priceless.
Source: AP
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