It’s not often a man gets a second chance in life to correct a mistake, to redeem himself and exorcize the haunting demons of his past. On Sunday, Peyton Manning got what may have been his final chance. And in the bright lights of the RCA Dome, with the world watching, he made the most of his opportunity.
He may not be willing to publicly admit the personal magnitude of Sunday’s game, but this playoff game against the Patriots was going to be the defining moment of Manning’s career, no matter the outcome.
Lose, and he’d be forced to come to terms with the real possibility of never winning a championship despite a likely guaranteed Hall of Fame career, and the painful acceptance that Bill Belichick and the Patriots were truly the mountain he could never climb. Win, and the proverbial #### could finally leave the shoulders it had been clinging to for so long.
During the Patriots last minute drive, Manning sat alone on the sidelines, his head bowed and hands clasped together, admitting later that he spent the time praying. During the few brief moments that curiosity forced him to glance towards the field, it was impossible not to see the anguish upon Manning’s face as Tom Brady took the ball for one last chance at the end zone.
It wasn’t a fear of losing; it was the feeling of helplessness. After coming this far, Peyton was forced to leave his destiny in the hands of the quarterback and the team that had destroyed his Super Bowl aspirations time and time again.
We’ve all seen this story play out before. Brady and the Patriots have made a living out of last minute comebacks, of game winning kicks and touchdown drives that ripped out the souls of the opposition and their fans.
Even the Indianapolis faithful had to sense a feeling that the hammer was going to drop eventually. After all, isn’t this what Brady lives for?
This time was different. With the seconds dwindling in the final quarter, Marlin Jackson intercepted a Brady pass to seal the Colts win. And with that, the weight was lifted. For all the talk, deservedly so, that Tom Brady receives for his three Super Bowl championships, it’s impossible to get there without a little help.
For Brady, it was the superb kicking of Adam Vinatieri over past seasons that propelled him to legendary status. And while it’s highly unlikely that Jackson will have the same impact in defining Manning’s career, it may just be the break he needed to prove he belongs in that elite group with the greatest quarterbacks of all time.
There’s still one hurdle that Peyton and the Colts must face in Miami against a gritty Chicago Bears defense. And a loss in the Super Bowl could very well revive the criticism among NFL circles that Manning folds in pressure situations.
But any allegation that he can’t win a big game can certainly be put to rest once and for all. This was indeed a big game. And for now at least, the demons are vanquished, the critics are silenced, and redemption has been found.
Enjoy it Peyton; your prayers have finally been answered.
