We’ve drawn comparisons to Dan Marino and Tom Brady the past few weeks, praising their efforts on and off the field and in analyzing them, we’ve also mentioned Peyton Manning in a short 2-3 sentence; so now, let’s focus on Peyton Manning. Again, we’ll try to focus on just Peyton Manning, so forgive us if we happen to mention anyone else along the way.
Our beloved Manning has been to 7 Pro Bowls, including 6 in a row from 2002-2007, owns two MVP awards in 03-04, and also has many awards and honors that could fill multiple NFL history books. Now, how much does this matter to us, the writers, and to you, the fans? We wonder what he had done to deserve such luck?
For years, Peyton had been trying unsuccessfully to win the game, the big game! Tom Brady had already won three Super Bowls, hurting Manning and the Colts multiple times in the process. After years of making the postseason but disappointingly, many began to wonder if Manning would ever finish what Brady had already done 3 times.
In our stat book, he topped the mark for touchdown passes, passer rating and consecutive games with at least four touchdown passes in a single season in 2004, but none of that seemed to matter to those on most limits. of the NFL (particularly the fans). ..until he lifted the Lombardi Trophy.
In the early months of 2007, Peyton Manning led the Colts to Super Bowl XLI vs. Chicago Bears During the game, Chicago’s Devin Hester returned the early kickoff 92 yards toward the touchdown zone; Manning promptly threw an interception on the Colts’ first drive. For those who witnessed that play and the game, on the sidelines, it seemed fear began to creep up on the quarterback’s shoulder pads. For those who know the game, this play has always been avoided in any kind of division football, especially professional.
So for sports fans, feature writers, and critics, Manning was missing another chance to shine. Why is Manning always choking up in important situations? Was she going to waste her luck like all the previous years, was it a plan or a strategy?
As soon as he threw the interception, Manning saw his mistake and immediately responded with a touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne after Chicago’s secondary lost the receiver in coverage. The game seemed close on both sides and the final score could have been much lower, but again Manning made a brilliant 25 of 38 for 247 yards, two touchdown passes in the Colts’ 29-17 win. Manning was named the game’s MVP, but even better was the supervised curse of the Super Bowl that he shook off.
The big and deserved smile could not be better and after so long of being battered by critics, the Patriots and even the fans, Peyton Manning was finally Super Bowl champion.
They say you can lose a single battle, but no one can take your honor away and for Peyton Manning, who will enter the fray for the 08-09 campaign, he’ll be aiming high this time and things will look achievable, from a positive standpoint. .