Colts Win Super Bowl XLI
Posted February 4, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It was a Super Bowl of firsts, and the Indianapolis Colts were the last ones standing.
It was the first time a black head coach led a team to the big game, and there just happen to be one on each sideline.
It was the first time in 41 years it rained during the game and there was plenty of it.
Devin Hester’s 92-yard kickoff return for the Bears was the first opening kick returned for a touchdown in Super Bowl history.
But most importantly, for the first time in an already hall of fame worthy career, Peyton Manning is a champion.
Manning and his Colts were simply the better team in Super Bowl XLI Sunday night, and for their efforts they were the ones hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy in the seemingly endless downpour at Dolphins Stadium following the 29-17 win over Chicago.
Colts coach Tony Dungy became the first black coach to win a Super Bowl, beating good friend and protégé Lovie Smith. Dungy also became just the third person in NFL history to win a Super Bowl as a player and a coach.
And his team did it with grit and groundwork, going against its reputation as a one built for speed and turf. The game was ugly on both sides, with six turnovers between the two teams in the first half, but the Colts proved they could play dirty when it counted.
Even football’s most clutch kicker, Adam Vinatieri, missed a chip-shot field goal, and an extra point attempt was also botched. Vinatieri was still a factor though, nailing three field goals along the way and setting a record for playoff points with 49 while collecting his fourth Super Bowl ring in the last six years.
Manning was given MVP honours for leading his Colts to their first title since the team was located in Baltimore back in 1970, and his play far surpassed that of counterpart Rex Grossman, who was heavily criticized heading into the game and threw for two interceptions, including one that was returned 56 yards by Chicago native Kelvin Hayden.
Manning also proved to many critics that he can “win the big game,” something he did to the tune of 25-for-38 passing for 247 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. He’s the 21 st quarterback to be named Super Bowl MVP.
The Colts backfield also sparkled, particularly Dominic Rhodes, who ran for 113 yards on 21 carries. The Bears two-pronged running attack of Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson took a hit when the latter was injured in the first half, and Jones finished with 100 yards rushing but failed to dominate the suspect Indy run defence like many suggested he would.
Chicago led the league in takeaways this season, but in the sloppy South Florida rain committed five turnovers.
And now the NFL turns over for another year, with the lasting image of Manning, Dungy and the rest of the Colts as champions to hold fans over until August.
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