facing Ravens #1 defense on the road... late game drive to eat up a huge amount of clock and up the lead from 6 pts to 9 pts to seal the victory. guess manning was an obstacle there?
down 18 points to the Pats... drove for a critical FG b4 half to get a bit of momentum back. demolished the 2nd half with 32 points, including the gw td drive. Guess he was an obstacle here too? yet still left a minute plus for Brady... which w/a Manning defense in the playoffs = time to lose the lead and game... but not this time, not this 1 time in Peyton's entire career. defense actually finding a way to close out the game and intercept Brady.
Colts gave up a kickoff return to start the SB. So basically, Manning had to start out the game already trailing 7 points. He threw 1 pick in the game and it was
very early in the game on a 3rd and long that he just threw down field to give the WR a chance to make a play when the Colts were around the 50 yard line. so it was basically a punt. so where was manning an obstacle? by again fitting in unreal passes to D.Clark in tight coverage on convert 3rd downs just like in the Ravens game? by correctly using his run game to keep the 3rd downs manageable and staying out of 3rd and long most of the time?
hey, sounds like I'm describing Brady in his last playoff game. So what you're saying is Brady was an obstacle in his last playoff game and the Pats found a way to dominate and win the game regardless....good job SportsMushroom I guess Brady was an obstacle in 2001 03 and 04 too, since those playoff runs were dominated by good defensive play, clutch special teams and awesome coaching preparation for the games.
the bears were the #2 defense in the NFL after the Ravens in 06. the more "physical team". the team that got to play with a head start of 7 points. yet... who found a way to gain control of the game and the situation with the weather at hand? Manning; and with a lead late in the game, you're mad that once again, for the only year in Peyton's career as a Colt the defense again found a way to seal the victory instead of finding a way to lose it.
teams win the SB with a correct amount of good play from all phases of the game; and/or with the team getting on a hot streak entering the playoffs or early on in the playoffs. add in a bit of luck, sometimes, one guy making a huge play to seal the deal (K.Hayden for the Colts, T.Porter for the Saints, S.Holmes catch for the Steelers)... and you've got yourself a Lombardi.