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The Colts Influence
The Colts Influence
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Peyton Manning
PEYTON
MANNING
Despite his inability to win the big one at Tennessee, Peyton was the talk of the 1998 NFL draft. The Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers owned selections #1 and #2, and both teams needed a quarterback. Indy GM Bill Polian made the call, settling on Peyton over Ryan Leaf, Washington State's much-ballyhooed signal caller.
Head coach at the time; Jim Mora,
wasted no time turning the offense over to his rookie. Peyton took
the reigns in minicamp and impressed the Indy staff by making only
one bad throw in three days. He then got waylayed by contract
negotiations, which caused him to miss the beginning of training camp
in August. But the two sides finally agreed on a lucrative six-year
deal, the richest in NFL rookie history. Manning signed a
$48-million, six-year contract, a rookie record at the time and, as
they say, the rest is history. Under the
contract, Manning is also eligible to earn an extra $19m in incentives. Keenly aware of how the NFL eats up young quarterbacks, Peyton became a top student again, amassing and deciphering information. "His mind is like a projector," Colts quarterback coach Bruce Arians said. "One time, that's all it takes." Manning lacked speed, a long-distance arm and the ability to throw off-balance like Favre. He had superb technique, though, and was an accurate thrower who could read defenses. In scouting reports, Manning is known as a "pure" pocket passer rather than a "scrambler." Manning is well-known for his frantic hand gestures and shouting before the play while calling out audibles, often stretching play preparation near the end of the play clock but rarely receiving "delay of game" penalties.
Since becoming the starting
quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, Peyton Manning has put up mind-boggling
numbers, scorched the record books, earning several NFL Most
Valuable Player Awards. He's the only quarterback in NFL history to
pass for 4,000 yards in six consecutive seasons; more yards and
touchdowns than any other quarterback in that span. He is the only
quarterback in NFL history with 25 or more touchdown passes in seven
consecutive seasons. He is also the only player in NFL history with
3,000 passing yards in each of his first seven seasons. His pass completion percentage, which started at 56.7 percent as a rookie, improved every year, reaching 67.6 percent in 2004. Manning and his favorite target, Marvin Harrison, developed into a feared passing combination.
All along, Manning pushed himself
and his teammates, his perfectionist tendencies as evident as ever,
as he built arm strength, spun tape and repeated practice plays. "If
for some reason, I'm off a step," Harrison said, "we'll
run the same route over and over again until it's perfect." 1998
Because The Colts posted the
league's worst record in 1997, due in large part to an appalling
defense, Mora was uncertain about his team's chances in 1998. As was feared, the Colts struggled to stop anyone and limped home at 3-13, while Manning, in his rookie year, threw more interceptions than touchdowns, 28-26. And the losing hurt. "You don't really accept it," he said. "You just deal with it." The bright spot was the chemistry that Peyton developed with Harrison. Both were workout freaks. They spent long hours on the practice field together, and by the end of the season, they were in perfect sync. Peyton seemed to go to Harrison whenever he needed a big completion. The Syracuse product caught 59 passes, seven for touchdowns. Peyton, meanwhile, enjoyed one of the finest rookie campaigns ever by a quarterback. Though he threw 28 intercetions, he never took his foot off the gas, feeling this was the best way to accelerate his development. With 575 attempts, 326 completions and 3,739 yards, he broke the NFL first-year records of Rick Mirer. His 26 touchdown passes tied him for second on Indy's rookie list with Earl Morrall, six behind Johnny Unitas. Peyton was also the only Colts QB to crouch under center for every snap of a season. April 18, 1998
Peyton is selected by the
Indianapolis Colts as the No. 1 overall pick in the 1998 NFL draft.
In July, he signs a deal worth a
reported $48 million over six years with an immediate $11.6 million
signing bonus. August 8, 1998 In his first appearance in a pro uniform, Manning's first pass goes for a 48-yard touchdown to Marvin Harrison in a Colts' preseason game against Seattle. September 6, 1998 At 22 years, five months, Peyton becomes the seventh-youngest opening day rookie starter in NFL history. His father, who started for New Orleans at 22 years, 4 months, was the sixth youngest in that category. Manning's regular-season debut ends with three interceptions and one TD pass to Harrison in a 24-15 loss to Miami. October 4, 1998
After a 0-4 start, including
a loss to his father's old team New Orleans in week 3, Peyton enjoys
his first pro victory as The Colts beat Ryan Leaf and the San Diego
Chargers 17-12. The game marks only the second time in NFL history
that quarterbacks selected first and second in the same draft met in
regular-season play. (The first instance
occurred September 19, 1993 when New England's Drew Bledsoe, a No. 1
pick, went up against Seattle's Rick Mirer. The Seahawks won, 17-14.) November 15, 1998 Peyton is named AFC Offensive Player of the Week after his performance against the New York Jets in a 24-23 victory. Peyton threw for 276 yards (26 of 44) with three touchdowns. He becomes only the sixth rookie QB to win the award since its inception in 1984. November 29, 1998 Manning has his best game as a rookie, completing 27 passes for 357 yards and three TDs in a 38-31 loss at Baltimore. December 27, 1998 Colts end season 3-13 with Manning taking every snap at quarterback, completing 326 passes for 3,739 yards and 26 TDs. Rookie records Most passes attempted in a season: 575 Most passes completed in a season: 326 Most yards gained in a season: 3,739 Most Touchdown Passes in a season: 26 Most Consecutive games with a Touchdown: 13 In the offseason, Polian gambled by trading Faulk to St. Louis, then drafting Edgerrin James over Ricky Williams, the player the fans in Indianapolis really wanted. To bolster their defense, the Colts signed free agents Chad Bratzke, Shawn King, Cornelius Bennett and Chad Cota. With Peyton getting better every day and an improving offensive line, the team was stronger on both sides of the ball. Edgerrin James also made the Colts better. Like Peyton and Harrison, he was the gridiron equivalent of gym rats. As Peyton's urging, James joined them on the practice field, and the trio began to operate like a well-oiled machine becomming known as "The Triplets"
The hard work paid off as James
was marvelous as a rookie, rushing for 1,553 yards and 13 touchdowns.
His 2,139 yards from scrimmage were just 73 short of the NFL's record
for first-year players. Harrison also had a breakout season with 115
receptions for 1,662 yards and 12 TDs. Peyton set the tone early in the campaign. In a September win at San Diego, he burned the Chargers with 404 yards through the air, breaking Unitas's single-game yardage mark. Three months later, on the first Sunday in December, he rallied the Colts for a crucial victory over the Miami Dolphins, directing the game-winning drive with less than a minute remaining on the clock. The following week, Indianapolis clinched the division title by defeating the Redskins. The win in Washington was one of six fourth-quarter comebacks Peyton orchestrated in 1999. Not even Johnny Unitas, the master of the two-minute offense, could match that total. Peyton, Harrison and James keyed one of the NFL's biggest turnarounds in years. Indy reversed its record, finishing first in the AFC East at 13-3. The Colts, however, faltered in the playoff with a loss to the Tennessee Titans. The defense again was Indy's downfall, so the team used its first two draft picks in 2000 on middle linebacker Rob Morris and pass-rush specialist Marcus Washington. The idea was to create turnovers by applying more pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Manning establishes his charitable organization, the PeyBack Foundation, to help disadvantaged youths of America. January 1999 Peyton sets NFL rookie records for attempts (575), completions (326), yards passing (739), touchdowns (26) and consecutive games with a TD pass (13), and is named to the NFL All-Rookie team. January 9, 1999 At a ceremony in Washington, D.C., Peyton is recognized by the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce as one of 10 outstanding young Americans. Past honorees include John F. Kennedy, Elvis Presley, Christopher Reeve and Nelson Rockefeller. Spring 1999 Forbes magazine ranks Peyton No. 63 in its "Power 100". He also stars in a Gatorade commercial with Michael Jordan, Mia Hamm and Mark Martin. September 12, 1999 Manning completes 21 of 33 passes for 284 yards and two TDs in the Colts' season-opening 31-14 victory against Buffalo. Fall 1999 In his second NFL season, Peyton leads the Colts to a 13-3 record, reversing the previous year's mark of 3-13. The 10-game improvement is the best single-season turnaround by any team in NFL history. Indianapolis goes on to clinch the AFC East with a 24-21 win over Washington and gets a bye in the wild-card round before falling to Tennessee in the divisional playoffs, 19-16. Peyton is named to the Pro Bowl squad, following in the footsteps of former Colts greats John Unitas, Earl Morrall and Bert Jones. September 26, 1999 : Manning breaks Johnny Unitas' Colts record for most yards passing in a game with 404 against San Diego. The 2000 season started promisingly enough. Indianapolis was 6-2 after its first eight contests, but then old problems began cropping up. The team staggered through November, falling behind in most games and then furiously trying to come back. Thanks to a pair of important victories in December, the Colts finished at 10-6, which earned them a Wild Card berth against the Dolphins. After moving ahead 14-0 early in the contest, Indy fell apart and lost 23-17 in overtime. The defeat was particularly hard for Peyton to swallow. He had put together another terrific season, setting new club standards in passing yards (4,413), completions (357) and touchdowns (33)-all of which also led the NFL. Harrison (102 catches for 1,413 yards and 14 TDs) was on beneficiary of Peyton's continued development. So was James. In fact, when the halfback captured his second straight rushing title, he and Peyton became the first pair of teammates since to top the league in running and passing since Cliff Battles and Sammy Baugh did it for Washington in 1937. In the postseason, however, Peyton came up short again. His numbers against the Dolphins-17 for 32 for 194 yards and a TD-looked good, but Miami stymied the Colts after their first few drives. When the Fish found their rhythm on offense, Indianapolis was helpless to stop them. Lamar Smith punished the Colts with 209 yards on the ground, sending Peyton and company home early for the second year in a row. January 16, 2000 Manning goes 19 of 42 for 227 yards in a 19-16 playoff loss at home to the Tennessee Titans. Manning makes his first Pro Bowl with a 90.7 QB rating, 4,135 yards passing and 26 TDs. September 3, 2000 Indianapolis opens its regular season at Kansas City. September 25, 2000 In his first career Monday Night Football game, Manning sets a franchise record by throwing for 440 yards against Jacksonville. The quarterback also connects on four touchdown passes as the Colts cruise to a 43-14 victory. The performance earns Manning the AFC Player of the Week award. November 19, 2000 At Lambeau Field, Manning throws for 294 yards against the Packers to eclipse the 3,000-yard mark for the season. He also becomes the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for more than 3,000 yards in each of his first three years. December 24, 2000 Against Minnesota in the Colts' final regular-season game, Manning throws four touchdown passes, to finish the campaign with an NFL-high 33, breaking another Unitas record for the Colts that was set in 1959. He also sets the Colts' single-season records for passing yards (4,413), completions (357) and touchdowns. Manning is on his way to a second consecutive Pro Bowl. Colts lose 23-17 to Miami in wild card playoff game. 2001 Withstanding an assortment of injuries, including a broken jaw in 2001, Manning kept playing and didn't miss a start during his first seven seasons. The disappointing end to the 2000 campaign lingered into 2001. Polian confused many by selecting receiver Reggie Wayne in the first round of the draft, even though Indy clearly had a need for bulk on the defensive line. Giving Peyton another option on the outside was an intriguing prospect, but the Colts still faced the challenge of keeping opponents off the scoreboard. The most notable additions on defense were veteran tackle Christian Peter and rookie free safety Idrees Bashir. Given the make-up of the team, no one was overly surprised when Indianapolis slumped to 6-10. The defense, ranked 29th in the league, couldn't stop anyone, which forced the offense to be almost perfect. When James went down with a knee injury, the Colts turned one-dimensional. Unafraid of Indy's running game, opposing defenses focused solely on Peyton. While he passed for 4,131 yards and 26 scores, his interception total climbed to 23, second most in the league. Too often Peyton relied on Harrison, which made it even easier to defend Indianapolis. The Colts finished with the NFL's second best overall offense, but they didn't dominate as they had in the past. The fall-guy for Indy's poor showing was Mora, who was fired by Polian. In his place stepped Tony Dungy, also recently fired from Tampa. The former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head man promised to bring in simpler schemes and a more committed approach to the defense. To underscore Indy's new attitude, the team grabbed Dwight Freeney and Larry Tripplett in the draft and signed cornerback Walt Harris. Peyton also welcomed a few fresh faces-receiver Qadry Ismail was added at receiver, and James returned from his knee injury. Peyton surpassed 15,000 passing yards in his 59th career game and 100 touchdowns in his 56th game, the second and third-fastest streaks in NFL history. His 112 consecutive starts, through 2004, were the longest by any NFL quarterback to begin a career and broke Johnny Unitas' Colts' record of 92. March 17, 2001 Peyton marries his college girlfriend Ashley Thompson in Memphis.
Manning throws the 100th touchdown pass of his career. It takes him 56 games to reach the milestone, making him the third-fastest player in history to hit the mark (Dan Marino did it in 44 games and Johnny Unitas in 53). Sept. - Dec. 2001 Throws for 4,131 yards and 26 TDs, but Colts struggle to 6-10 finish. December 2, 2001
With 310 yards in the air against
Baltimore, Manning exceeds 15,000 passing yards for his career. 2002 Dungy's presence had an immediate impact. The Colts broke from the gate with three consecutive victories in 2002. The Colts would then lose 3 straight and stood at the halfway with a mediocre 4-4 record. However they would quickly rebound with a 4 game winning streak that included a 35-13 upset of the Eagles in Philadelphia. Peyton was awesome in the win, throwing three TDs and producing the second perfect QB rating (158.3) of his career.
Two weeks later, Indianapolis
corralled the Broncos in Denver for a dramatic primetime win on the
road in the snow with PK Mike Vanderjagt hitting a 54-yard FG with
time winding down in regulation and a 51-yarders in overtime as the
Colts beat the Broncos 23-20. Having lost three straight playoff games, Manning felt "a sense of urgency" after that to win in the postseason and feared that time could run out on him - and Harrison. "He and I talk about this," Manning said. "We do have a window of opportunity." His final stats (4,200 yards, 27 TDs and 88.8 rating) were excellent-particularly given the fact that James was only a shadow of himself for most of the year. Yet Peyton was pegged as a guy who couldn't win in the playoffs. Even Vanderjagt jumped on the bandwagon, criticizing his quarterback and coach in an interview on Canadian television. That was too much for Peyton to take. On the sidelines in Hawaii for the Pro Bowl, Peyton called his teammate, Mike Vanderjagt, an "idiot kicker." Vanderjagt later apologized for his remarks. Sept.-Dec. 2002
Starts 16 games and takes
every snap from scrimmage for second time in career, passing for
4,200 yards and 27 TDs. 2003 Peyton led the NFL with 4,267 yards in 2003, his record fifth consecutive season topping 4,000+ yards. He also led the NFL in completions and completion percentage. Peyton set a club record in 2003 with six touchdowns against New Orleans in 2003 and became the first NFL quarterback since 1991 to throw for six TD passes. That controversy abated, the Colts moved into the 2003 season full of optimism. The team was now comfortable in Dungy's system, and several key additions bolstered the lineup. On defense, rookie Mike Doss was installed as a starter, while second-year linebacker David Thornton was given more freedom and responsibility. The offense looked for help along the line from two draft choices, tight end Dallas Clark and right tackle Steve Sciullo. The health of James, however, remained a pressing question. If he could approach his former Pro Bowl form, Indy would again be among the league's most lethal offenses. In the first three weeks of the year, the Colts showed they could win in any style. First they beat the Cleveland Browns 9-6 in a defensive struggle. Then they leveled the Titans, 33-7. The following Sunday Indy blew open a tight one against the Jacksonville Jaguars for a 23-13 victory. To this point in the year, Peyton was solid, but hardly spectacular-which was actually welcome news. The Colts were learning that they didn't have to rely solely on their quarterback to win games. That didn't mean they didn't need him. This was apparent on the last Sunday in September when Peyton burned the New Orleans Saints for six touchdown passes in a 55-21 rout at the Superdome. In all, he completed 20 of 25 attempts for 314 yards and registered the third perfect QB rating of his career. The next week, on Monday Night Football in Tampa, Peyton spearheaded a startling comeback victory over the defending Super Bowl champs. Trailing the Bucs by 21 points with less than four minutes left in the contest, the Colts charged back to tie the score, then won in overtime on a field goal by Vanderjagt. Peyton threw for nearly 400 yards and two touchdowns in the stunner (which happened to come on Dungy's birthday). Some in the media began touting him as an MVP candidate. Peyton did little to quiet that talk. Through November, the Colts were 9-3. James was rounding into shape, and the defense was playing a more physical brand of football. Peyton, however, was the most intriguing story in Indianapolis. Even though the team had just dropped a tough one to New England, he finally solved Bill Belichick and the Patriots, passing for four scores in the 38-35 defeat. The Colts would go on to win 2 of their last 3 games to finish the season with a solid 12-4 record as a week later the Colts held on for a win over the Titans-a match-up that many believed would determine league MVP honors. Tennessee's Steve McNair having a great campaign, making him and Peyton the front-runners for the award.
The Titans had won 11 of their
previous 12 regular-season games and had never lost to the Colts -
until now. Titans quarterback Steve McNair was sacked five times. Peyton put an exclamation point on his candidacy the following Sunday with five TD tosses in a 38-7 laugher over the Atlanta Falcons. Though Indy split its last two contests the club had given itself enough breathing room to claim the AFC South crown. Colts went 12-4 to win their division despite having a defense that ranked 20th in the NFL in points allowed (336) as Manning was almost perfect in the first two playoff games. He threw for eight touchdowns and no interceptions, completed 78.6 percent of his passes and had a 156.9 quarterback rating. Indianapolis didn't punt in either game. As the Colts prepared for their opening-round tilt versus Denver in the wildcard playoff round, they learned that Peyton and McNair had been voted co-MVPs. The news pumped up everyone on the team. Against the Broncos in the RCA Dome, Indianapolis put on a clinic. Peyton Manning and The Colts erased the perception they could not win a big game in convincing fashion when The Colts would win their first playoff game in a revenge match against the Denver Broncos The Colts built a 28-point lead at the half. He ended the day with his second perfect QB rating of the season, as Indy cruised 41-10. Manning threw for touchdowns on each of the Colts' first four possessions and finished 22-of-26 for 377 yards and five TDs, the third time in 17 games this season he had five or more TD tosses. That made Manning the first ever to do that. His four TD passes in the first half tied a playoff record held by 10 others, most recently Kerry Collins of the Giants in the NFC title game three years ago. When he left game in the fourth quarter he had a perfect passer rating of 158.3 for the second time this season, the fourth perfect playoff game in NFL history Afterwards, his face expressed equal parts relief and satisfaction-he finally had a playoff win. Manning's first playoff win after first round losses in the 3 previous seasons which was the first home playoff win for the Colts since moving to Indianapolis. In the divisional playoffs, with the monkey off their back, the Colts flew to Kansas City thinking upset. The Chiefs had started the season as the AFC favorite to go to the Super Bowl, a team who had not lost at home all season, but a suspect defense was exposed by year's end. Peyton and his mates attacked KC from the opening kickoff, winning 38-31 in which for the second week in a row Punter Hunter Smith did not make a single punt, the first puntless game in NFL playoff history. Peyton again stole the headlines. With 304 yards and three touchdowns, earning a 138.8 passer rating. Peyton was almost as good as he had been against Denver. Indy's bubble burst in the AFC Championship Game where they faced the New England Patriots and their 12th Player. Peyton-whose battle of wits with Belichick and his defensive coordinators left him on the short end of the score once again-accepted the blame for the 24-14 loss. The Patriots bedeviled him with disguised coverages, but he wasn't at his best, either as Manning was intercepted three times by Ty Law. In his most disappointing performance of the year, Peyton threw four interceptions and posted the third lowest passer rating of his career at 35.5. September 28, 2003 Manning throws for six touchdowns in a 55-21 victory at New Orleans, earning the third perfect single-game QB rating of his career. October 6, 2003
Manning makes some NFL history
when he rallies the Colts from a 35-14 deficit at Tampa Bay in the
final four minutes. Indianapolis wins 38-35 in overtime. 2004 Year of Record Breakers In 2004, Manning had one of the greatest regular seasons in NFL history. He completed 336 of 497 passes for a career-high 4,557 yards and 49 touchdowns surpassing the record for TD passes in a season (48) held by Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino for two decades. His quarterback rating in 2004 of 121.1 also surpassed the previous single-season mark of 112.8 set by Hall of Fame San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young.
Manning
also led the Colts to a 12-4 record and their second consecutive AFC
South division title. In addition, he was The Sporting News Player of the Year, Pro Football Weekly NFL MVP and NFL Alumni Quarterback of the Year. The Colts finished with a 12-4 regular season mark and a playoff berth.
Peyton Manning had just signed on
a seven-year, $98 million contract that includes a landmark $34.5
million signing bonus. Peyton looked forward to avenging the playoff loss in Week 1 of the 2004 campaign, as the Colts returned to face the Pats in a rematch of the AFC title game. Again, Belichick & Co. found a way to keep Peyton under wraps. New England dared Indy to run the ball, which took prescious time off the clock. Meanwhile, the Patriots exploited Dungy's spotty defense. In the end, it was another defeat for Peyton against his nemesis. One stat understandably overlooked after the contest was Peyton's 256 passing yards, which put him over 25,000 for his career. He reached the plateau in his 95th game-making him the second fastest to this mark behind Dan Marino. It would not be the last time on the season that a comparison between the two would be drawn. Eager to avoid an 0-2 start, the Colts traveled to Tennessee and won 31-17. The Titans kept Peyton off the field for much of the first half, limiting him to just 84 yards passing. But Indy began to gain its rhythm in the third quarter. When Peyton connected with Reggie Wayne for a score, the Colts were on their way to an impressive comeback victory. By mid-season, however, the Colts still had not put it all together. At 5-3, a playoff spot was no certainty. The defense was the primary problem. Outside of Freeney, who was enjoying all All-Pro campaign, Dungy couldn't coax a consistent performance from his troops. This placed even more pressure on Peyton, who was up to the challenge. After a 31-28 win over the Minnesota Vikings, he had a league-best 26 touchdowns passes against just three picks. Peyton was now on pace to break Marino's record of 48 TDs-a mark once considered by many to be untouchable. There was no real secret to his success. Peyton was using his entire receiving corps-Wayne matured into one of the NFL's toughest matchups, Brandon Stokely continued his development, and Harrison was Harrison. With James providing a threat out of the backfield, the Colts were almost impossible to defend. In one five-game span in the season's second half, Peyton threw for 24 touchdowns and had an average passer rating of 126.6. In a 41-9 dismantling of the Detroit Lions, he tossed six TDs in less than three quarters. Afterwards, with reporters clamoring for headline-making quotes, Peyton deflected the attention. The best he could muster was that he wanted to help Indy "keep winning." Peyton moved closer to Marino's mark in a 20-10 victory over Baltimore-the Colts' seventh win in a row. Now with a comfortable lead in the AFC South, Indy fans turned an eye toward the playoffs, though their main focus remained on Peyton. As the Colts prepared for the Chargers the day after Christmas, his TD total stood at 47. For the first time all year, Peyton appeared tense and nothing normal happened that Sunday at the roiling, boiling RCA Dome. History. Drama. Playoff seeding. Sudden-death victory. Without a touchdown pass at halftime, Peyton finally solved the San Diego defense in the third, hitting running back James Mungro on a short scoring toss. He and Marino were even in the record books. The soldout RCA Dome (minus Peyton's parents, who had yet to arrive because of a snow storm) exploded in applause. But the Chargers quited the crowd with a touchdown that gave them a 16-point lead. The Colts responded emphatically. First, Domonic Rhodes returned a kickoff 88 yards for a score. Then Peyton led an 80-yard drive capped by his 49th touchdown pass, a 21-yard touchdown pass to Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Brandon Stokley with 56 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter breaking one of the NFL's most honored records. Dan Marino set the record of 48 back in 1984 with the Miami Dolphins. Archie and Olivia-finally on hand, though still a little chilly-joined the raucous celebration. Intent on the battle at hand, Peyton quickly lined up the Colts for a two-point conversion, which was converted by James and carried the Colts into overtime, where Vanderjagt nailed a 30-yard field goal for the win beating the San Diego Chargers 34-31 to lock up the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs. Peyton was all smiles afterward. He admitted that surpassing Marino's was of great significance to him, though mostly because he did it in a victory. Winners of eight of their last nine, the Colts entered the playoffs with high hopes. Thanks to Freeney, the team had a difference maker on defense. On the other side of the ball, there was no club in the league that could match Indy's scoring output. The Colts relied on this formula in their postseason opener, a 49-24 blowout of the Broncos. Peyton was fantastic, completing 27 of 33 passes for 458 yards passing, four TDs and a passer rating of 145.7. His 360 yards passing in the first half were the most since the NFL and AFL had merged in 1970. But as in years past, the Colts were again derailed by the Pats on their road to the Super Bowl. Peyton fell to 0-7 in Foxboro, and his numbers were reminiscent of earlier efforts in New England. He hit on 27 attempts, but for only 230 yards, and the Colts never found the endzone. Peyton didn't get much help, either. His receivers dropped several passes early, setting the tone in the 20-3 defeat. Manning again was criticized for his inability to lead his team into the Super Bowl. It was a hard way to go out for Peyton, who was all too accustomed to losing the "big one." His '04 campaign was historic in so many ways. Besides the obvious achievements-49 TDs and a 121.1 passer rating-Peyton was voted league MVP for the second straight year, earned recognition as the AP Offensive Player of the Year, and was also the only unanimous pick to the NFL All-Pro Team. For good measure, he finished second to Lance Armstrong for AP Male Athlete of the Year. January 4, 2004 Manning completes 22 of 26 passes for 377 yards and five TDs in a 41-10 wildcard playoff victory against Denver. January 11, 2004 Manning leads Colts to AFC Championship game by passing for 304 yards and three TDs in 38-31 victory at Kansas City. January 18, 2004 Manning is sacked four times and intercepted four times in a 24-14 loss to New England in AFC title game. Manning shared 2003 NFL MVP honors with Titans' Steve McNair. September-December 2004 Magical season for Manning sees him break Dan Marino's single-season TD pass record with 49 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions. Named NFL Most Valuable Player for second consecutive season. 2004 season
During the 2004 season
With Marvin Harrison Manning and Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison hold a number of QB-WR tandem records: Completions: 677 (set in 2004; previously held by Buffalo Bills QB Jim Kelly and WR Andre Reed) Yards: 10,253 (as of November 13, 2005; previously held by Kelly and Reed)
Touchdowns: 106 (as of December 31, 2006; previous
record was 85 by San Francisco 49ers QB Steve Young and WR Jerry Rice),
broken on October 17, 2005 2005 The 2005 season started with a bit of concern, as Indy dropped all of its preseason games. The team immediately reversed itself, powering through the early part of its schedule. Peyton was brilliant as expected. The big news was the consistently solid performance of the Colt defense. Early in the year it ranked among the league's stingiest. Later in the season, it made key takeaways in games when Manning & Co. were not firing on all cylinders. Of course, these games were few and far between. In a Monday Night game against the St. Louis Rams, the Colts erased a 17-0 deficit and won 45-28, as Peyton and Harrison surpassed Steve Young and Jerry Rice as history's greatest touchdown duo. In early November, the Colts sent a message to the Patriots with a 40-21 pasting in another Monday Night contest. Two weeks later, they beat up on the Cincinnati Bengals 45-37 for their 10th straight victory. Manning finished the season with 3,747 passing yards, the first time he had thrown for under 4,000 yards since his rookie season of 1998, largely due to the fact that Manning sat out much of the final two games with the top AFC seed clinched. Unfortunately, the playoffs brought disappointment to Peyton and the Colts once again. On January 15, 2006, the Pittsburgh Steelers visited the RCA Dome for the second AFC divisional playoff game of the 2005 season. The Steelers shocked most fans and analysts by gaining a 14-3 lead by halftime. In the 4th quarter the Colts were almost able to pull off an improbable comeback, after a series of unlikely (and controversial) events. With only a few minutes left in the game, Manning threw what looked to be the game-ending interception to Troy Polamalu, but the interception was overturned (a call the NFL later admitted was incorrect). The Colts went on to score, and were able to get the ball back down three points near the end of the game. On 4th down Manning was sacked near his own goal line, and the game seemed to be over as the Steelers were one yard from a touchdown. On the play the ball was handed off to Bettis who fumbled the ball. It was picked up by Colts defender Nick Harper who appeared to have a clear path down the sideline for what might have been the game-winning score. However, he inexplicably cut to the center of the field where Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was running backwards hoping to get into position to tackle. He managed to dive in front of Harper and tackle him by the leg, saving a touchdown. The Colts drove down the field from their own 42 yard line to the Steelers 27 yard line. The Colts had to settle for a game-tying field goal attempt from 46 yards. When Vanderjagt's kick drifted wide right, the Colts were done. Peyton received some criticism for his decision-making on Indy's last drive. Indy could have moved into easy field-goal range had he managed the clock better. Peyton came in second in voting for the 2005 MVP award to Shaun Alexander (19 to 13, out of 50 voters), ending his streak at two years. He was named the 2005 winner of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. He was also nominated for the 2005 FedEx Air Player of the Year Award, along with Tom Brady and Carson Palmer, the winner of the award. The two runners up were both also quarterbacks for the Pro Bowl that year. January 9, 2005 Manning again lights up Denver in a 49-24 playoff victory, going 27 of 33 for 458 yards and four TDs. January 16, 2005 New England again a thorn in Manning's side as Colts suffer 20-3 loss. October 29, 2005 Manning's #16 University of Tennessee player number was retired as he, his mom, dad and wife were on hand along with a capacity crowd prior to the University of Tennessee Volunteers game against the South Carolina Gamecocks. Everyone at Neyland Stadium watched as Manning's number was unveiled in the endzone. From 1994 to 1997, Peyton Manning played at the University of Tennessee where he broke nearly every passing record and led the team to 39 victories. Prior to the game, Peyton's PeyBack Foundation held a fundraiser, which raised over $12,000.00 to be used for funding grants and events involving disadvantaged youth in Knoxville. November 13, 2005 Manning and Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison hold a number of QB-WR tandem records: Completions: 677 (set in 2004; previously held by Buffalo Bills QB Jim Kelly and WR Andre Reed) 2006 Manning had a good season, throwing for 31 touchdowns, 4397 yards, and leading the NFL with a 101.0 Quarterback rating. In addition, by throwing 31 TD passes and only 9 interceptions he became the second quarterback in league history (the other being Donovan McNabb) to throw 30 touchdowns and fewer than 10 interceptions in a single season. Peyton's final 2005 numbers were superb, though short of his record-smashing the year before. He threw for 3,747 yards and 28 TDs, and had a triple-digit passer rating for the second time in his pro career. Peyton collected some hardware after the year, but almost immediately his focus was on the 2006 season. The Colts had cut loose James, with plans to work rookie Joseph Addai into the mix. Addai would surpass 1,000 yards despite not starting a single game. The Colts have had one of the NFL's most potent attacks with Manning, wide receivers Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Brandon Stokley - running backs Edgerrin James and Dominick Rhodes However, there has been a blemish on Peyton Manning's pro career; and that was the fact that he could not win a playoff game for the Colts. That blemish was obliterated in 2007 (2006 season). The Colts started fast again, winning their first nine games. With the offense running smoothly, the defense once again fell under intense scrutiny. Injuries eroded its depth, and the addition of Booger McFarland proved only marginally effective. Indy couldn't stop the run, and when their opponents realized it, the Colts were almost helpless. They lost three of their next four, as well as their grip on a playoff bye. It took a Week 15 Monday Night win over the Bengals-in which the now-healthy defense finally answered the call-before Indy could nail down the AFC South title. Peyton finished the season with 4,397 passing yards and 31 touchdowns to go with a 101.0 rating. He threw at least one TD pass in all but one of the season's 16 games. January 6, 2006 In his Wild Card matchup with the Chiefs, Peyton took what the Kansas City defense gave him, completing 30 passes, most of them underneath the coverage. Though he was picked off three times, it hardly mattered, as the defense smothered Kansas City in a 23-8 win. The Chiefs didn't make their first first down until the second half. On Saturday, January 13, 2007, the Colts won their Divisional Playoff game against the favored Baltimore Ravens by the score of 15-6, Peyton was unable to put the Colts in the end zone, but he got the team's new kicker, Adam Vinatieri, close enough to knock five field goals through the uprights., which tied an NFL record. January 21, 2007 Once again, the Patriots stood between Peyton and his first Super Bowl.
A full house at the RCA Dome
watched in stunned silence as New England took a quick 14-3 lead,
then made it 21-3 on an interception return for a touchdown by Asante
Samuel, who stepped in front of a sideline pass from Peyton to
Harrison. No team had ever erased an 18-point deficit in a conference
championship. It was up to Peyton to make a little history. The Colts trailed 21-3 before coming back to defeat the Patriots for the AFC title by a score of 38-34, after Manning led a 7-play, 80-yard touchdown drive to take the lead with 1:00 left in the game. The 18-point comeback was the largest deficit ever overcome in a conference championship (NFL record). On Friday, February 3, 2006, Peyton Manning was recognized as the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year. This award was named in recognition of the legendary Chicago Bears running back, Walter Payton, who passed away in 1999. This award is the only one in the league to recognize a player's off-the-field community service in addition to his playing excellence. Connie Payton, the wife of Walter Payton, proudly presented the award. Fans around the nation celebrate Manning's accomplishments and achievements in football and in life. On February 4, 2007, Manning led the Colts to a 29-17 victory over the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI (247 passing yards on 25 of 38 passes; 1 TD pass and 1 INT) and was voted the Super Bowl MVP. According to NewsMax.com Manning, a seven-time All-Pro quarterback slammed by his critics for failing to win when it matters, exorcised his big-game demons with the win. "In years' past when our team's come up short, it's been disappointing," he told reporters. "Somehow we found a way to have learned from some of those losses and we've been a better team because of it." Ironically, Manning won his first championship during a year in which he was having arguably his worst statistical post-season throwing for 7 interceptions, and finding the end zone only 3 times (though in the last two post-season games, he threw/ran for three touchdowns, threw two interceptions, and averaged 298 yards a game). Peyton, who earned MVP honors after completing 25 of 38 passes for 247 yards and a touchdown, looked like a man whose reprieve from the Governor came at the same time he realized he was holding the winning lottery ticket. At midfield after the contest, Peyton acknowledged that Indy's win was a total team effort. No longer the quarterback who can't win the big one, Peyton is hungry for more. He is not just the league's premier passer, he is amassing numbers that have already made him a no-brainer for the Hall of Fame. But Peyton is a history buff, so he knows that he will ultimately be judged by a different number: Super Bowl titles. Following the Super Bowl win, Manning agreed to restructure his contract to save the Colts $8.2 million in salary cap space. August 10, 2006 Manning pledges $1 million to University of Tennessee athletics and Peyton Manning Scholarship announced. NFL awards
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