Peyton Manning may act the rube in those never-ending commercials, but the Indianapolis Colts quarterback made the New York Jets look foolish.
For the second time in four years, the Colts delivered a double-digit comeback in the AFC Championship. This time, Manning turned a 17-6 deficit into a 30-17 victory on Sunday to advance to Super Bowl XLIV.
“We talked about being patient against these guys. We didn’t panic,” said Manning during the CBS trophy ceremony. “We got a bead on them.”
Manning looked so fluid — 26 of 39 for 377 yards and three touchdowns. The sterling 123.6 rating still undervalued his greatness. Manning regularly found receivers in full stride, the ball always targeting their chests.
Gaining every ounce from teammates against a defense that was the second coming of Attila’s Huns, Manning solved a defense that stymied him for the first quarter. He counter punched like Muhammad Ali.
Needing nine minutes to find his rhythm, Manning soon hummed like a Ferrari. It started with consecutive 27- and 36-yard completions for a field goal. Colts punter Pat McAfee would be needed only twice more as Manning then led Indianapolis to another field goal before three touchdown drives.
“[Manning’s] one of those guys that can adjust to different situations,” said Colts coach Jim Caldwell. “Once he got a bead on it, he handled it extremely well.”
Pierre Garcon caught 11 balls, Austin Collie seven and Dallas Clark four — each with a touchdown. The once-feared Jets defense instead looked more lost than Joe Biden at a Tea Party meeting. Manning had more choices than a fat man at a cruise ship buffet.
Jets coach Rex Ryan, whose bravado makes him the second coming of his father and former NFL coach Buddy Ryan — down to the double chin, conceded Manning was the difference against his defense that didn’t surrender three touchdown passes in any game this season.
“Peyton Manning’s the real deal,” Ryan said. “When you make a mistake, Peyton Manning eats you alive. He threw for a billion yards. He’s that good.”
Throwing one last jab at Ryan following a week of the latter’s brash predictions, Manning said, “We kept our mouths shut and went to work.”
Manning likes to joke of an elderly man once asking what Tom Brady and Ringling Brothers have in common — two more rings than Manning. Soon, the margin may narrow.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
