Peyton is finally on top

Dealing with overwhelming adversity and pain...

I would first like to dedicate this blog to Colts defensive end and one of the NFL's best overall players, GARY BRACKETT. He was a walk-on at Rutgers University and an undrafted player coming into the NFL. He lost his mother, father, and brother in a 17 month span...To see someone who had to deal with all that emotional pain and adversity, along with being a walk on NFL player and then becoming one of the game's best players and play in the Superbowl, it just inspires me and is a great story that I will always remember.

I have been an Indianapolis Colts fan for the past 6 years, and for the last 5, I have witnessed heartbreak, grievance, and failure time after time.....whether it would be losing to the New England Patriots twice in Foxboro in 03 and 04, to the Steelers last year on that botched Vanderjagt field goal, or to the blowout in Queens when the Jets blew them off the face of the earth in a 41-0 massacre in 02.

Learning from past failures...

Peyton Manning has had his critics constantly romping him for his lack of production in the postseason after he plays like an MVP during each regular season. (2 time MVP). However, he has constantly pushed them to the side knowing that the pain felt during all those racaus playoff losses would soon provide a light at the end of the tunnel, especially after last years postseason loss in the division round to the Pittsburgh Steelers, a loss which came at home on a year in which they had home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Well......

That loss to Pittsburgh provided the spark the Colts needed coming into this year, a year in which they became the first team in NFL History to start back-to-back seasons 9-0.

Rookie RB Joseph Addai had a spectacular rookie campaign washing away all the harsh critics who thought he would never replace the Edge with over 1000 rushing yards, and QB Peyton Manning had another MVP calibur year. They might have lost 3 out of their last 4 games, including a backbreaker to lowly Houston Texans in week 15 in overtime, but, they finished undefeated at home and went into the wild-card round against the rising Kansas City Cheifs at home with something to prove and a chip on their shoulder.

They would blitz their way through the Chiefs with a stellar defensive effort on a day that Peyton through 3 INT's with only 1 TD in a 23-8 romping. Going to Baltimore the next week proved to be a daunting task as Baltimore had its best season in its history going 13-3 behind former Titan QB Steve McNair. In a game which featured no touchdowns and 7 field goals, the Colts prevailed yet again behind Adam Vinateri's foot on another night in which Peyton Manning had another forgettable performance.

Vintage Vinateri... (Clutchest Kicker of all time)

The Colts would be scoreboard watching the next game because if San Diego would lose to New England, the Patriots would have to this time go to Indianapolis instead of having to go to Foxboro, where almost no team could beat the Patriots, especially in the playoffs. The Patriots would later beat the Chargers and reigning MVP Ladanian Tomlinson.

In a game that will go down as one of the best in playoff history, the Colts found themselves down 21-3 and looking down as Tom Brady and company were looking like they were about to head to their 4th superbowl in 6 years and begin yet another year of turmoil for Peyton Manning and his legacy, while also dropping him to 0-3 against his arch rival..... Well, for every story there is a new beggining. The Colts would come back and tie the game at 21 and from there it would be a see-saw affair with the game going back and forth until the final, waning moments which saw Houston Alief product Joseph Addai burn into the endzone with 1 minute left capping the biggest comeback in Championship game history. Estatic euphoria didn't set in however until Colts safety Marlin Jackson intercepted Tom Brady at the Colts 40 yard line.... 3 years of pain had ceased, and Peyton Manning and company were heading to their first super bowl since their days in Baltimore....

Joseph Addai... (Game Winning TD against NE)

Couldn't have gotten there w/o Peyton Manning and Joseph "live and let" Addai's game winning heroics against New England.

It's off to Miami to face the NFL's best defense and one of the most storied franchises in football, the Chicago Bears.

It all leads to the winning formula and a team hungry for a Championship...

Wow, I couldn't be happier; One of my teams is finally going to a championship game. I am hoping that the Rockets will now follow....although I'm not making any promises with that one.

Tony Dungy made history by being one of the first coaches along with Lovie Smith to coach a team in the Superbowl. A few hours later, he would win a ring as well, not a bad night considering that it was a soaker and Prince was terrible at halftime. Long saddled with a reputation as a coach who couldn't win the big one, Dungy shook that label when his Indianapolis Colts beat the Chicago Bears 29-17.

Reign Manning...

He won because he had the better quarterback. Like his coach, Peyton Manning filled a void in his impressive resume by winning a ring. Steady rain made for a sloppy game that included eight turnovers, but Manning threw for 247 yards, including a 53-yard touchdown pass to Pro Bowl wideout Reggie Wayne.

Peyton Manning: 25-38 247 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT.
Dominic Rhodes: 21 carries, 113 yards, 1 TD.
Joseph Addai: 10 receptions, 66 yards 18 carries, 77 yards; 143 all purpose yards.

Smith's erratic young quarterback, Rex Grossman, made the same kind of mistakes that had Bears fans lobbying for his benching all season. He threw two interceptions, with one returned for a touchdown, and he fumbled twice, losing one. Smith stayed with his quarterback, and the underdog Bears found themselves gradually overpowered by the Colts.

In the early going, it appeared Smith might pull off an upset against his former mentor. Devin Hester returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a score, and Smith followed the rookie down the sideline and signaled touchdown.

The Colts running game led by Dominic Rhodes and rookie wonder Joseph Addai proved to be the key element in the Colts' success gaining crucial first downs on many third down situations which would later prove costly since the Colts controlled much of the game clock throughout the entire game. Many people thought that the running game would prove to be a weak element in their success if they were to win against the Bears "wrecking havoc" defense. Couple that with Grossman's 2 interceptions in the fourth quarter and the Colts success is valued with their defense which definitely proved us wrong in all four of their postseason games....Goes to show that it all matters when it comes down to the postseason.

Indy would rally from eight down in the first period to claim its first Super Bowl championship in Indianapolis. The Colts had been perennial title contenders since Dungy became coach in 2002 but fell short each year, but now, those critics claiming that Manning and Dungy can "shut it" because they are champions of the Football World of 2006. It all goes to show what an MVP like Peyton Manning can do to win the big one against the league's most talked about and perrenial defense. They are the Champs and are well deserving.

Indianapolis Colts; Superbowl Champions 2006