| Authored by Nick Obergan - 24th January, 2007 - 4:17 pm
 Peyton Manning chokes in the playoffs. Peyton Manning will never be as good as Tom Brady. Dan Marino will go down as the greatest quarterback never to win a Super Bowl, and Peyton Manning will be the greatest to never play in one.
These comments and many more have been weighing down on the shoulders of Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning for the past few seasons as he encountered numerous playoff exits despite his team being one of the most dominant in regular season play.
His career numbers and regular season achievements have him on track to be in the discussion of “greatest of all time” - in the same sentence as Joe Montana, John Elway, Johnny Unitas, and Marino. Remember, Manning is just 30 and could have a half dozen or more years ahead of him. He has passed for over 4,100 yards in 7 of his 9 seasons, over 37,000 for his career. He has thrown 275 touchdowns to his 139 interceptions. 111 of those interceptions came after his rookie season, only 39 of them in the last 4 years. He was the co-MVP in 2003 and sole-MVP in 2004. He is a 7-time Pro Bowler; Marino went to 9.
The comparisons to Marino are understandable. Marino set the NFL record for touchdown passes in a season with 48 in 1984. Peyton threw 49 twenty years later. Both have tremendous arm strength. Neither have won the big game.
Until now?
The last three seasons have ended on a sour note for Peyton and the Colts, being eliminated from the playoffs by the eventual champions each season. In 2003 and 2004 they were eliminated by Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Brady, a Super Bowl MVP, ousting Peyton much like Marino was ousted in 1984 by a Super Bowl MVP named Joe Montana. It was clear that the only way Peyton could earn his due respect would be by finding a way past his arch nemesis; the Magic to his Bird, Palmer to his Nicklaus.
The script didn’t look pretty entering this game either. Manning is 0-3 vs. New England in the playoffs with 1 touchdown pass and 9 interceptions. He was going up against a 2-time Super Bowl MVP in Brady who had a career playoff record of 12-1 – good for the highest win percentage of all-time. Manning entered the game with a 5-6 career playoff record; 2 of those wins coming this season. In those 2 wins, Peyton threw 5 interceptions and only 1 touchdown. The numbers were weak, and the doubters were strong.
Strong enough to rattle him?
The first half is all New England as they jump out to a 21-3 lead thanks to an efficient offence and Asante Samuel’s interception for a touchdown. Manning is 6 for 11 for 42 yards. The naysayers are getting louder. Next possession: another punt. And they get louder.
Then with 3:06 left in the first half, Manning drives from his own 12 to the New England 8, ending in a field goal to go into the half down 21-6, but with a little bit of momentum and confidence. A confidence he doesn’t usually feel against the Patriots defense or their coach, Bill Belichick.
But the second half was a different story – it was Peyton’s story.
He started at his own 24. Hooks up with Marvin Harrison for 2 out-curls. He hits Reggie Wayne on a 3rd and 5. He is picking apart the defense and doing whatever he wants. He is “regular season” Peyton Manning. After a quarterback sneak it’s 21-13. 29 of the last 30 plays were by the Indianapolis offence – the lone Patriots play was a kneel down before half. Brady goes 3 and out and the tired Patriots defense is back on the field.
1st play Peyton hits Dallas Clark for 25 yards. Dominic Rhodes follows it with a 19 yard run and the Colts are on the New England 32 in 2 plays. Defensive pass interference in the end zone means the ball goes to the 1 yard line and Peyton hits defensive lineman/goal-line tight end Dan Klecko for a touchdown. Peyton then hits Harrison on the ensuing 2 point conversion to tie the score at 21. Remarkable.
Patriots go ahead, Colts tie it at 28. They are tied again at 31. Then Patriots go ahead 34-31 on a 43 yard field goal by the rookie Stephen Gostkowski.
With 2:17 left, Peyton gets the ball on his own 20. 20 years earlier, John Elway started a game winning drive, “The Drive,” on his own 20 to get to his first super bowl. The comparisons are endless.
11 yard pass to Wayne and out of bounds to stop the clock followed by 32 yards to Bryan Fletcher and out of bounds with 2:01 remaining. After a roughing the passer penalty enforced during a 14 yard gain to Wayne, the Colts are at the New England 11 yard line with 1:53 remaining.
It’s the biggest 11 yards in Peyton Manning’s career and the entire world knows it. The Patriots are rattled now, and watching Manning’s every move. 1st play is a run. 2nd play is a run. 3rd and goal on the 3 and Peyton calls another run and Joseph Addai goes for a touchdown with 1:02 left on the clock. After dominating the entire 2nd half through the air, three straight rushing plays in the red zone put the Colts on top to stay – cemented by a Tom Brady interception with 16 seconds remaining.
Manning’s second half stats are nice: 14 for 23 and 225 yards; threw for one touchdown, ran for another; no interceptions. The Lamar Hunt trophy. AFC Champions.
But if you have seen Peyton Manning at all in the last 3 years, particularly the playoffs, you know he doesn’t play for stats. He plays for a chance at a Super Bowl. A chance that, until now, has slipped through his finger tips like a touchdown pass to Reche Caldwell. But now the monkey is off his back. It wasn’t just a monkey, but a whole zoo. But you don’t hear the naysayers quite as loud anymore. Maybe because they now see that this is finally his year – his year to do what Dan Marino never could. In 2 weeks, the comments could change from “the greatest quarterback never to…” to “the greatest quarterback.” Period.
Comments, suggestions and feedback is always welcome -
nickobergan@hotmail.com |
