For years, one of the perennial powerhouses of the American Football Conference has been the Indianapolis Colts and their MVP quarterback, Peyton Manning.

However, that was the regular season. It wasn’t until Manning’s sixth season that he won a playoff game, despite three postseason appearances.

And once he finally was able to win playoff games, in 2003 and 2004, he was shuffled out by the New England Patriots.

Last season was supposed to be the year for the success-starved Colts. Indianapolis started with a 13-0 record by dominating teams along the way. A Super Bowl appearance seemed to be in the bag. Then Pittsburgh beat them in the divisional round in Indianapolis.

Even though the Colts started 9-0 this season, there was little aura about them. They were just barely getting by in close games against weak competition. And after the Colts went on to lose four times in their final seven games — mostly behind a horrendous run defense that allowed 173 yards a game, the worst in the NFL for 2006 and one of the worst all time in the history of the game.

But somehow, head coach Tony Dungy was able to rally his troops by completely shutting star running backs Larry Johnson of Kansas City and Jamal Lewis of Baltimore in consecutive weeks and advanced to the AFC Championship despite poor performances from Manning.

However, playing long-time nemesis New England would be tough, even though the game would be played in the RCA Dome in Indy.

After a Manning pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown by the Pats’ Asante Samuel, New England held a commanding 21-3 first half lead. It looked like the Colts would be going home once again.

But this time, it was meant to be.

The Colts rallied to tie the game at 21 late in the third quarter and when down 34-31 with the game on the line, Manning marched his troops down for the game-winning TD with over a minute left.

A career marked by postseason failure finally had a defining moment as the Colts are now on their way to Super Bowl XLI in Miami to play the Chicago Bears.

Prediction

If Indianapolis gets out to an early lead, it spells doom for Chicago, given the fact that the Colts defense is built on playing with a lead and that the Bears offense is not built on coming from behind.

The guess here is that the Colts will jump out to an early ten point lead and force Grossman into some costly mistakes. The Bears defense will do enough to keep it close, but Manning makes enough plays to get a somewhat comfortable win.

Final Score: Indianapolis 27, Chicago 16

MVP: Peyton Manning

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