AFC:  Indianapolis Colts

NFC:  Chicago Bears

Date:  February 4, 2007

Super Bowl XLI

 

Scoring:

Team                1          2          3          4          Final

IND                 6          10        6          7            29

CHI                 14        0          3          0            17

 

AFC playmakers:

RB Dominic Rhodes, WR Reggie Wayne, DB Kelvin Hayden, DB Bob Sanders, DT Anthony McFarland

 

NFC playmakers:

DB Devin Hester, WR Muhsin Muhammad, DB Chris Harris, CB Charles Tillman

 

Network:  CBS (KCTV Kansas City)

Announcers:  Jim Nantz, Phil Simms

 

Pregame:  Yes

Halftime:  Yes

Postgame:  Yes

Commercials:  Yes

 

Grade:  95/100

 

Notes:  It was the first rainy Super Bowl and the first time an opening kickoff was run back for a touchdown, when sensational Bears rookie Devin Hester sped downfield for 92 yards.

   

And not since the Buffalo Bills self-destructed with nine turnovers in losing to Dallas 14 years ago had there been so much messiness. The first half was marred by six turnovers, three for each team. Even football's most clutch kicker, Adam Vinatieri, missed a chip-shot field goal for the Colts, who botched an extra point attempt, too.

 

When much-maligned Bears quarterback Rex Grossman's wobbly pass was picked off and returned 56 yards for a touchdown by Kelvin Hayden with 11:44 remaining in the fourth quarter, it was over.

 

Chicago (15-4), which led the league in takeaways this season, finished with five turnovers, including two interceptions by Grossman.

 

And with a running game that perfectly complemented Manning, thanks to Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai, who combined for 190 yards -- 113 on 21 carries by Rhodes and 77 on 19 carries by Addai, who also caught 10 passes for 66 yards.

 

Chicago was denied its first Super Bowl title since its powerhouse 1985 team. These Bears could have used Da Coach, Sweetness and their buddies.

 

It rained from start to finish; there was even Purple Rain during halftime when Prince sang some of his signature songs. And though Vinatieri twice was a victim of the slop, he kicked three field goals.

 

Leading 16-14 at halftime, the Colts spent half the third quarter with a march to Vinatieri's 24-yard field goal. Twice on the drive, Manning fell to the ground while throwing. But he completed them.

 

Grossman had it even worse on Chicago's initial possession of the second half, slipping and getting sacked on back-to-back plays. Maybe he would have done better on icy turf.

 

Thomas Jones, forced to carry the Bears' entire rushing load when Cedric Benson was hurt in the first half, was Chicago's best player. But with Grossman ineffective, even inept, all the Bears managed in the second half was Robbie Gould's 44-yard field goal late in the third period.

 

Running time:  4:10 (2 discs)