Manning, you played a great game. It’s about damn time. I usually don’t copy a whole article but this one was definitely worth it.

Reining Manning

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.

Damn good game. If Rex Grossman would have been able to win a game that he screwed up so badly like he did today then I would have never looked at NFL the same way. With the current out-come…. things went well.

Cheers to the good guys… Go Colts!!!

Congratulations Manning…. you earned it! And it’s about damn time…

Indianapolis 38, New England 34

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A comeback, a drive, a legacy. And, yes — finally — Peyton Manning gets his Super Bowl trip. So does Tony Dungy.

Football’s most prolific quarterback put on a show for the ages Sunday, rallying the Indianapolis Colts from 18 points down and driving them 80 yards for the winning score in a wildly entertaining 38-34 victory over the New England Patriots.

In his nine years in the league, Manning has never played in a game like this AFC championship contest. He threw for 349 yards and one touchdown and brought his team back from a 21-3 deficit, the biggest comeback in conference title-game history.

Joseph Addai capped Manning’s late drive with the winning score, a 3-yard run with 1 minute left to help the Colts (15-4) complete the rally and send Dungy to his first Super Bowl — and a very special one.

And February 4th will be reckoning day for the Bears. You better believe it!!!

So where can I meet women like this:

Teacher has baby early so hubby can watch Bears

CHICAGO — Chicago school teacher Colleen Pavelka knows how much her husband loves the Bears. Apparently, she loves him even more.

Colleen chose to have the birth of their second child induced a few days early so Mark Pavelka could attend Sunday’s NFC Championship showdown between the Bears and the New Orleans Saints.

The baby was due Monday. But when Colleen went in for an appointment Friday afternoon, her doctors told her she could opt for an early delivery. She decided to do so.

After nearly six hours of labor, 8-pound, 9-ounce Mark Patrick Pavelka was born Friday night.

Colleen Pavelka plans to catch the game on the plasma screen TV in her hospital room, while baby Mark Patrick is bundled up in the Bears receiving blanket his grandmother bought him for Christmas.

Man… I can’t wait for the evening AFC Championship game. Colts are going to whoop some Brady ass this year!!

Has anyone looked at the 2007 Probowl roster? I’m putting my bet on the AFC this year. If you take a look at their roster then you’ll probably agree with me. Click on the schedules to enlarge.

Top QB in the NFL Peyton Manning will have to work with his new starting receivers, Andre Johnson and Chad Johnson. I’m pretty sure it won’t be a hard transition. Also take at look at their TE, Antonio Gates, with 57.5 yards per game and a season 8 touch downs. Last year he ended up with 73.4 yards/game, 1101 total yards receiving, and 10 TD’s. Finally the infamous LaDaimian Tomlinson who is current is at 116.1 yards/game rushing, 1626 rushing yards, and 28 TD’s for the season. Those are some sick numbers. The NFC is currently no slouch either.

Drew Brees, Frank Gore, Torry Holt, Steve Smith and we haven’t even begun to look at their Defense.� It’s kind of weird how you don’t see more Chicago Bears players taking up the NFC Defense.� A couple off the top of my head would be Mark Anderson who has 10 sacks of the season and Alex Brown with 6 sacks.

Either way this game goes it’s going to be fun as hell to watch this year.� Sure wish I was in Hawaii on February 10th, 2007.� If you’re going to be there then� it’s a must that you attend.� Here’s more info.

Now to close this post out on an upswing.� Don’t forget about what the second best part of NFL Football is:

Man this scoreboard sick:

I live right next to Qualcom and let me tell ya. It was damn loud. I seriously didn’t expect Tennessee to even score 7 but San Diego’s defense let off in the 4th quarter allowing Bennett to catch a TD pass from backup Quarterback Vince Young. It’s probably just me but… maybe there’s something about Kerry Collins that doesn’t fit with the Titans offense. I also read that Tennessee doesn’t have any plans to do anything about it. Oh well, as long as Bennett makes at least 1 TD in each game then I won’t complain. Bennett is on my Fantasy Football roster so Tennessee winning or loosing means nothing to me. L.T. was a monster again in the first half and even his partner Running Back Turner who played part of the first half and almost all of the second. He eventually put more yards up than L.T.

This puts San Diego at 2-0 and hopefully they keep this up. Last year was an upset after having such a great run to the playoffs.

Here’s a recap from ESPN.com.

If you missed this game then you really missed out. Phili’s defense became complacent in the 4th quarter and let Eli Manning out of the bag. 17 points in the 4th quarter…. g’damn.

If you missed the game then here’s a recap:

Eli Manning thrived under pressure, rallying the New York Giants to a stunning win Sunday. Manning brought the Giants back from a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter and threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress with 3:11 left in overtime for a 30-24 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

On third-and-11 from the Eagles 31, Manning avoided a blitz and lofted a pass to Burress, who outjumped Sheldon Brown to make the catch and get in the end zone.

On the winning drive, Eagles safety Brian Dawkins appeared to outfight Visanthe Shiancoe for the ball on Manning’s pass to make an interception. But the play was ruled a catch for New York’s tight end. Manning quickly ran off a play before the officials could replay it.

Dominated through the first three quarters, the Giants fought back and tied it on Jay Feely’s 35-yard field goal with 7 seconds left.

NFL Recap - ESPN.com

looks like the San Diego Chargers kicked some ass tonight against the Oakland Raiders. the final score was 34-10 after Clinton Hart intercepted Collins and returned the ball 70 yards for a touchdown, his second score of the season. his runback gave the Chargers a 34-10 lead. no TD’s for LT this game but he still did his part with 86 rushing and 24 receiving yards. as for Drew Brees… kind of reminded me of watching Joe Montana back in the days. again, great game and the chargers needed it because they’ve got a hard 4 games ahead of them.