Could the set up have been any more perfect? With every Super Bowl being bigger than the last, it would only be fitting that the biggest Super Bowl be played in America's sexiest city. All week long, stars and tourists have flooded the city anticipating the culmination of the National Football League season.
The storylines were abundant. Could Peyton Manning remove the dreaded monkey off the back, after a week of tactfully avoiding the elephant in the room? Can the NFL's most prolific, and marketed player finally capture a world championship? What was the social significance of the Colt's Tony Dungy, or the Bear's Lovie Smith becoming the first African American coach to win a Super Bowl?
Super Bowl XLI featured the league's best offense in the Colts, and one of the league's most feared defenses in the Bears. The stage was set. Unfortunately for those in attendance, South Florida was unable to hold up its end of the bargain. No, I'm not referring to the dreaded traffic situation; I'm referring to the weather. And while the weather did not live up to expectations, Bears fans sadly got what they have come to expect from their quarterback? bad decisions and turnovers, aided by a textbook South Florida soaking.
I lucked into my Super Bowl ticket just hours before the game, and nothing can prepare you for the shear spectacle of the event. Primed and ready to, fueled by a rumbling six jet fly by, the game began with an explosion, literally and figuratively. The 74,000 plus people at Dolphin stadium were drunk with anticipation for the 6:30 kickoff, and Devin Hester of the Chicago Bears served up a shot of one hundred proof liquor. In a game where many experts expected the Colts to outclass the Bears, Hester quickly silenced the critics and incensed Bears fans by taking the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown. The return was Hester's seventh of the season, and the first opening kickoff returned for a touchdown in playoff history.
The Colts would answer back nearly seven minutes afterwards, when Peyton Manning connected with Reggie Wayne for a 53-yard touchdown pass. The ?U? was well represented as the first two touchdowns of the game scored by former Canes standouts. The touchdown also signified that Manning was able to bounce back from early game jitters that caused him to throw an interception on the Colt's initial drive. It was Peyton's first mistake of the game, and it would be his last.
A missed extra point by the sure footed Adam Viniatieri, allowed the Bears to retain the lead, and a quick strike from quarterback Rex Grossman to Mushin Muhammed allowed them to expand on that lead. The touchdown gave the overly pro Bears crowd another reason to celebrate, and croon their beloved fight song. However, at 14-6, there would not be much more for the Bears fans to cheer for.
The second quarter saw the Colts capture all of the momentum, and eat away the majority of the clock. Indianapolis took the lead 16-14, going to the half, yet they failed to convert on a 36-yard field goal attempt to end the half.
Armed with the lead, and with weather conditions worsening, Peyton Manning opened the second half with a 13 play, 56 yard drive that gave the Colts a eight point advantage, and may have broken the spirit of the vaunted Bears defense.
With 7 minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Bears found themselves in an unenviable position. Down twelve points to the league's top offense, and forced to rely on their inconsistent quarterback.
While Peyton Manning, aided by a stellar ground game rose above the weather, Grossman simply whittled. A Robbie Gould field goal late in third quarter repositioned the Bears to take over the game, but neither the Colts nor Grossman would comply. The Bears next three possessions would result in turnovers, including two interceptions by Grossman. The second pick was returned 56 yards by Colt's defensive back Kevin Hayden for the game sealing touchdown that served as the final soak for the Bear's and their traveling contingent.
Amidst the rain and hoopla of America's largest sporting spectacle, the Colts emerged as World Champions, and Peyton Manning got to deliver one of the world's most recognized phrases. Peyton won't be leaving Florida just yet?he's going to Disney.
The Indianapolis QB had a sub par performance when compared with his gaudy, sometimes unbelievable statistics. However, it isn't every week that you play against the Bears on the world's biggest stage. Manning repeatedly took what the Bears defense gave him, opting to dump it off to running backs instead of forcing the ball downfield to the Colt's dangerous receivers. It may have been Manning's mind that got him the MVP award instead of his ?rocket, laser arm.? The fact of the matter is that the MVP award could have gone to several players on the Colts. Running backs Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai combined for 194 yards against a normally stingy Chicago defense.
The Indianapolis defense also shines, stifling Rex Grossman, and taking advantage of timely miscues. Colts safety Bob Sanders also shined, recording 3 tackles, a forced fumbled, and snagging a Rex Grossman floater in the fourth quarter.
But in the end it was Peyton Manning securing the award. Manning also has a league MVP to his credit. The championship was the first Super Bowl for the Colts since they moved to Indianapolis, and finally answered the question of whether or not Peyton Manning could win the big one, He did. And Tony Dungy answered the question of whether or not a black coach could win the big one. We can.