2008 Woodie Awards
Super Bowl XLI features NFL's Golden Boy vs. Mr. Inconsistent
Zack Gugenheim
Issue date: 2/1/07 Section: Sports
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Ever since coming into the league, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has silenced all doubters throughout the regular season. However, the doubters had reason to doubt during the post-season, in which he and the Colts had continued to wilt under the pressure. Their comeback victory over the Patriots last two weekends ago finally exorcised the demons that have haunted Manning for numerous seasons past, and he did it in style as he pulled out the victory in the final minute. The Colts, city of Indianapolis and the entire MasterCard marketing line has been cheering that he is finally going to the Super Bowl. However, the pressure isn't off him quite yet.
When someone mentions the Chicago Bears, normally people start thinking about the vaunted defense. However, the bigger question for media has been, which Rex Grossman will show up? The undersized quarterback from the University of Florida has looked brilliant at times, and has literally had some of the worst possible outings for a quarterback this season (In one game, he had a QB rating of 0). However, many seem to think Rex does not need to win the game for the Bears, just not lose it. The pressure for Manning is much more severe.
Unless Grossman completely blows it (which is entirely possible-- the regular season was a great indicator of that), the loss will be blamed on the inability to shut down the vaunted Colts offense. However, if the Colts lose, the upset will squarely fall on Peyton Manning's shoulders, whether he deserves it or not. Peyton knows it, so does the rest of the world. The Colts are now Peyton's team, which may be unfair, but when you are the NFL's golden boy, you're the face of the franchise that owns you.
Grossman doesn't have to face those pressures. The only thing he has to worry about is not looking TOO bad, which he won't. Grossman has looked decent in the past two playoff games, and he proved he doesn't have to play superman-like to destroy a good football team (They beat a very good New Orleans Saints team 39-14).
Many would think that this pressure would tilt the Bears to an advantage, and yet it is the Colts with the seven point advantage in the point spread. Many think the AFC-NFC disparity will carry through once again. Others, including myself, believe that this pressure will actually be a good thing for Peyton Manning.
Manning knows what is on the line. He has won every award and every distinction he needs, except one, and he is completely motivated by it. He knows that this is his stage, and this is the team that can do it. He has a re-vitalized defense thanks to a healthy Bob Sanders. He has playmakers all around him. And he now has the confidence to win a big playoff game. Just ask the quarterback he just beat. This game will be close, and will have more scoring than people think, but in the end, the pressure that Manning is embracing will force him to will his team to a Super Bowl Championship.
Prediction: Colts 31, Bears 27
When someone mentions the Chicago Bears, normally people start thinking about the vaunted defense. However, the bigger question for media has been, which Rex Grossman will show up? The undersized quarterback from the University of Florida has looked brilliant at times, and has literally had some of the worst possible outings for a quarterback this season (In one game, he had a QB rating of 0). However, many seem to think Rex does not need to win the game for the Bears, just not lose it. The pressure for Manning is much more severe.
Unless Grossman completely blows it (which is entirely possible-- the regular season was a great indicator of that), the loss will be blamed on the inability to shut down the vaunted Colts offense. However, if the Colts lose, the upset will squarely fall on Peyton Manning's shoulders, whether he deserves it or not. Peyton knows it, so does the rest of the world. The Colts are now Peyton's team, which may be unfair, but when you are the NFL's golden boy, you're the face of the franchise that owns you.
Grossman doesn't have to face those pressures. The only thing he has to worry about is not looking TOO bad, which he won't. Grossman has looked decent in the past two playoff games, and he proved he doesn't have to play superman-like to destroy a good football team (They beat a very good New Orleans Saints team 39-14).
Many would think that this pressure would tilt the Bears to an advantage, and yet it is the Colts with the seven point advantage in the point spread. Many think the AFC-NFC disparity will carry through once again. Others, including myself, believe that this pressure will actually be a good thing for Peyton Manning.
Manning knows what is on the line. He has won every award and every distinction he needs, except one, and he is completely motivated by it. He knows that this is his stage, and this is the team that can do it. He has a re-vitalized defense thanks to a healthy Bob Sanders. He has playmakers all around him. And he now has the confidence to win a big playoff game. Just ask the quarterback he just beat. This game will be close, and will have more scoring than people think, but in the end, the pressure that Manning is embracing will force him to will his team to a Super Bowl Championship.
Prediction: Colts 31, Bears 27