Oh, what a relief
Tuesday, Oct 7, 2003
B. Duane Cross, SI.com
The hunt for big game was on Monday night -- and Peyton Manning bagged a trophy.
No, it wasn't a Vince Lombardi, or even a Lamar Hunt for that matter, but Manning can hang the Colts' 38-35 OT win against Tampa Bay above his mantle. Finally, the perception that No. 18 cannot win the big game has been dealt the death knell.
In three playoff appearances in five seasons with the Colts, Indianapolis was 0-3 and Manning was tabbed as a player who couldn't win the big game. Actually, that label was placed on him almost a decade ago, when his University of Tennessee team was outscored 41-7 in the second half of a 62-37 loss to Florida in 1995.
The next year Manning's Vols again lost to Florida. And again in 1997. And then there was the final game of his college career, a 42-17 shellacking administered by Nebraska in the national championship game.
He even lost the Heisman. All Manning had to show for his four years in Obnoxville were a bunch of records, a street sign, a nursery full of babies named in his honor (including my daughter) -- and now a horse, of course, if you believe the DirecTV commercial.
Through it all, however, Manning remained steadfast. Through the losses. Through the untimely INTs. Even through Mike Vanderjagt, the "idiot kicker."
"The same thing was said about a lot of people in the Hall of Fame or who will be in the Hall of Fame," Tony Dungy said after Indy's 41-d'oh playoff loss to the Jets. "People said that about John Elway until he won a Super Bowl.
"Until we win a playoff game, people are going to say that."
Monday night wasn't a playoff game, but it's as close to one as Indianapolis will play until January. With Dungy now riding herd over the Colts and returning to his Tampa haunt, Indy was unbeaten and looking to garner some respect at the expense of the defending Super Bowl champion Buccaneers.
Facing Jon Gruden, whose offensive mind was a better fit for Tampa Bay after Dungy's defensive philosphy could not break the glass ceiling of the NFC Championship Game, Dungy knew this game would be a measuring stick for his ongoing reclamation project. And Manning knew that his second primetime game in as many weeks was even bigger than his triumphant 55-point return to hometown New Orleans eight days earlier.
With the game plan squarely on Manning's shoulders -- running back Edgerrin James was out with a bad back -- Indy went to the air on two of its first three plays before punting. One play later, the Colts were in a 7-0 hole. Two Tampa Bay possessions later, Indianapolis was down 14-0. Then 21-0 after the Bucs' next series.
And you could hear it, from Gainesville to Miami: Peyton cannot win the big game.
But a funny thing happened on the way to Indy's first loss. Someone forgot to tell the Colts. "You've got to seal the envelope and put it in the mail," Tampa Bay's Keenan McCardell said. "And we didn't seal the envelope."
Instead, Indy delivered the Bucs' second loss in five games. The Colts scored five second-half touchdowns -- two apiece from Marvin Harrison and Ricky Williams -- to force overtime.
"I remember telling the guys on the sideline, 'Hey, guess what? We only have to get a field goal,'" Manning said. "For the first time all game, that's all we needed. It was kind of like a relief. Before, we had to get touchdowns every time we were out there."
Eleven minutes and 13 seconds later, with 3:47 remaining in OT, the Colts got their field goal. Vanderjagt's 29-yarder was the difference.
"What a win. ... What a game," Manning said, clearly past his team's previous shortcomings. "It was awesome."
For five days, at least, all Manning will hear about is how the Colts won this game -- this big game.
