Peyton Manning's Super Bowls Revisited

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Jan 27, 2014

Peyton Manning's Super Bowls Revisited

Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning is 1-1 in his Super Bowl appearances, with both games taking place in Miami. Here's a look back at both, starting with the 2007 showdown with Chicago.

Peyton Manning

Manning reached his first Super Bowl after the Colts defeated the New England Patriots 38-34 in the AFC Championship game. He was 30 at the time.

Peyton Manning

Manning and the Colts faced a difficult test against the Chicago Bears, who ranked third in the NFL in defense that season.

Peyton Manning

Super Bowl XLI turned out to be a wet game, with rain pounding the field before and during the contest. While the inclement weather may have seemed like an advantage to the vaunted Bears defense, the Colts were able to weather the storm after an early Chicago scoring flurry.

Peyton Manning

Considering Manning had thrown 31 touchdowns and been intercepted nine times in the 2007 regular season, his postseason had been pedestrian. Entering the Super Bowl, he had thrown two touchdowns and six interceptions in three playoff games.

Peyton Manning

Fueled by defense and special teams, Chicago held the early edge. After Devin Hester returned the opening kick for a touchdown, Chicago's defense showed why it was one of the league's best, intercepting Manning on his first-ever drive in the Super Bowl and getting to him often.

Peyton Manning

Though Chicago jumped out to an early 14-6 lead behind the Hester kickoff return touchdown and a Rex Grossman touchdown pass, the Colts took a 16-14 lead into the locker room with help from a 53-yard touchdown strike from Manning to Reggie Wayne.

Peyton Manning

The touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne, which came in the first quarter, turned out to be Manning's only touchdown of the day.

Peyton Manning

After a difficult start, the Colts offense maintained success against Chicago's defense, both in the air and on the ground. Indianapolis finished with 191 rushing yards.

Peyton Manning

Though Manning only threw for one touchdown, the Colts topped the Bears by double-digits, 29-17.

Peyton Manning

Prior to Indianapolis's run to Super Bowl XLI, Manning had been criticized as a quarterback who could not win the big game, as he had compiled a 3-6 playoff record to that point.

Peyton Manning

The game marked the first Super Bowl victory for the Colts since they moved to Indianapolis.

Peyton Manning

Indianapolis dominated the game statistically, finishing with more first downs, rushing yards and passing yards. The Colts also forced five turnovers while the Brian Urlacher-led Bears defense only forced three.

Peyton Manning

Manning's performance helped Tony Dungy become the first African-American coach to win a Super Bowl in NFL history.

Peyton Manning

Manning finished the game 25-of-38 with 247 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the Super Bowl.

Peyton Manning

Even though Manning finished the postseason with more interceptions than touchdown passes, he proved that he could win the big game. (SI's Dr. Z pictured at center.)

Peyton Manning

While Peyton and his mom celebrated the occasion, little brother Eli soaked it all in. The very next year, Eli would win his first Super Bowl.

Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning's Super Bowl performance was lauded in the sports world, as the quarterback overcame his supposed big-game demons to topple a talented Chicago Bears defense.

Peyton Manning

With his first championship under his belt, many called Peyton Manning the greatest quarterback of his era.

Peyton Manning

Three years later, Manning returned to Miami to play in his second Super Bowl -- this time against the New Orleans Saints.

Peyton Manning

That season, Manning led the Colts to a 14-2 record after starting the season 14-0. Manning played sparingly in the team's final two games of the regular season.

Peyton Manning

Joining Manning in Super Bowl XLIV were some of the same teammates from three years prior, including Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne.

Peyton Manning

To reach Miami, the Colts topped the Ravens and the Jets, two of the league's better defenses. Manning (pictured here with head coach Jim Caldwell) had played well in both games, compiling five passing touchdowns.

Peyton Manning

Indianapolis appeared to be on its way to Super Bowl glory early in the game as it scored on its first two possessions, including a 96-yard touchdown drive.

Peyton Manning

The 96-yard scoring drive was capped by a 19-yard touchdown pass from Manning to Pierre Garcon, giving the Colts a 10-0 lead.

Peyton Manning

Manning struggled in the second quarter, in which the Colts offense only gained 17 total yards. Making matters worse, the Saints pulled off a surprising onsides kick to start the second half, keeping the ball out of Manning's hands.

Peyton Manning

After the Saints took a 13-10 lead early in the third quarter, Manning and the Colts responded with a 76-yard touchdown drive. Colts running back Joseph Addai scored a four-yard touchdown, but Manning had put Indianapolis in position to strike, passing for 52 yards on the drive.

Peyton Manning

After Matt Stover missed a field goal for the Colts later in the third quarter, Jonathan Vilma and the Saints took advantage and grabbed the lead.

Peyton Manning

Down 24-17 in the fourth quarter, Manning marched the Colts downfield, picking apart the Saints secondary and moving Indianapolis to the New Orleans 31 with just over three minutes remaining.

Peyton Manning

In what proved to be the decisive play of the game, Saints cornerback Tracy Porter intercepted Manning and returned it for a 74-yard touchdown.

Peyton Manning

The score gave New Orleans a two-touchdown lead, essentially putting the game out of reach.

Peyton Manning

The interception was only Manning's second of the postseason and his first of the game, but it came at a critical juncture.

Peyton Manning

Manning is a combined 56-of-83 for 580 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in NFL championship contests.

Peyton Manning

Manning would only make one more postseason with the Colts, in which his team lost in the Wild Card round. After a year on the bench in Indianapolis as he rehabilitated his injured neck, Manning joined the Broncos in 2012 and reached the NFL's biggest game once again in his second season with Denver.