Baltimore – You wonder what Peyton Manning will say Feb. 4, after the Indianapolis Colts take a Super Bowl they clearly are destined to win.
Will he sob uncontrollably? Tell all the critics who have belittled his postseason record to take a flying leap? Perhaps he will knock someone over en route to the podium and implore the fallen body to “rub some dirt on it.”
But no one has ever accused Manning of not having any sense. So chances are, his first move will be to fall to his knees and thank his lucky stars at the series of fortunate events that saved him from himself and, in the process, knocked that 800-pound gorilla off his back.
For the second consecutive week, the quarterback played well below the standards set throughout his record-setting NFL career. But, for the second consecutive week, it didn’t matter a whit – backed once again by a stellar defense.
The Colts outslugged the big, bad Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, coming away with a 15-6 victory at M&T Bank Stadium.
In the past two weeks, Manning, the owner of a bushel full of NFL records over his nine-year career, has thrown five interceptions versus one touchdown pass.
The only reason he hasn’t been pummeled senselessly over yet another premature playoff exit is because, perhaps for the first time in his career, the Colts seem to have a defense determined to live up to their end of the deal.
Neither the Kansas City Chiefs, Indy’s opponent in last week’s wild- card game, nor the Ravens have the kind of offenses equipped to score 30 points a game, but the Colts made both squads appear totally inept.
Coaches constantly preach the importance of getting off the field on third downs. In their last two losses of the season, for example, the Broncos allowed San Diego and San Francisco to convert more than 50 percent.
In the postseason, the Colts’ opposition has moved the chains just three times in 22 third-down tries.
The temptation after Saturday’s game was to ask Manning whether he felt blessed to get away with two subpar performances. But while there’s no telling what he may say in South Florida three weeks hence, on Saturday, chances are Manning would have slapped the query back in his inquisitor’s face.
Perhaps it was the adrenaline still coursing through his veins, but the Manning who spoke after the Baltimore game was far more feisty and opinionated than apologetic.
“There were a lot of middle fingers being flashed when we came in on the bus,” Manning said of the antagonism toward the Colts from the local populace, a hatred borne of the Colts departure from Baltimore some 22 years ago.
“I understand what these fans went through; it’s like all the talk of the Saints moving,” said Manning, a native of Louisiana. “If they were to ever leave New Orleans, I’d feel the same way, but I wouldn’t hold it against the players. It’s the owner; the owner who moved this team (Robert Irsay) is no longer living, his son owns the team.
“I didn’t know the previous owner; from what I’ve heard and from what I’ve read about him, I probably wouldn’t like him either. But this thing kind of needs to die out and move on.”
Should the Colts beat the Chargers or New England Patriots in next Sunday’s AFC championship game, putting the Colts in the Super Bowl for the first time since 1971, when they still resided in Maryland, Manning certainly will hope the stigma that clouds his career will similarly dissipate.
However, he’s not going to go there just yet.
“I’ve had highs and I’ve had lows. We’re in the middle of a good opportunity right now, but I’m not going to overanalyze my career,” he said. “For so long, it seems like it’s been, ‘The Colts win,’ but then, ‘Peyton Manning loses.’ Either give me all the credit when we win, or give the team the blame when we lose. It’s gotta be one way or the other.”
Staff writer Anthony Cotton can be reached at 303-954-1292 or acotton@denverpost.com.
AFC divisional playoff: Patriots at Chargers
2:30 p.m. today, KCNC-4
LAST WEEK
Patriots beat Jets 37-16 in wild-card game; Chargers had a bye as the AFC’s top seed.
LAST MEETING
Chargers won 41-17 on Oct. 2, 2005, at Gillette Stadium.
POINT SPREAD
Chargers by 4 1/2.
HASH MARKS
Patriots QB Tom Brady has lost only once in 12 postseason games – at Denver in last year’s divisional round … Making his first playoff start, Chargers QB Philip Rivers has had a 90-plus passer rating in six of eight home games … Chargers TE Antonio Gates has at least nine touchdown catches in each of the past three seasons.
CHARGERS WIN IF …
They aren’t awestruck just to be in the playoffs. The players say they were too emotional against the Jets two years ago in their last postseason appearance. It doesn’t help to go against the Patriots, the NFL’s standard-bearer of late, but if the Chargers play like the league’s best team in the regular season, they should be fine.
PATRIOTS WIN IF …
They live up to their pedigree. New England had a 7-1 road record this year and it’s hard to imagine the Patriots missing a chance to at least get to the AFC championship game after getting this far. Brady and coach Bill Belichick have been tough to beat through the years.
KEY MATCHUP
Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson vs. Patriots LB Tedy Bruschi. Tomlinson was merely the NFL’s most dominant player in 2006, scoring a league-record 31 touchdowns. Bruschi epitomizes the savvy that has characterized the Patriots’ defense during their run of three titles in the past five seasons. If the wily vet and his mates can corral L.T., the Pats have a shot.
CHARGERS PLAYER ON THE SPOT
Rivers. The first-time starter faltered noticeably down the stretch in the regular season. Perhaps he’ll be re-energized by being in the playoffs – or he might freeze or try to do too much in an effort to show he’s as good as Brady, whom he beat out for a spot in the Pro Bowl.
PATRIOTS PLAYER ON THE SPOT
WR Reche Caldwell. The emotions figure to be high, as the former Charger returns to face his old team. Caldwell led the Patriots in receptions (61) during the regular season but was ordinary against the Jets; a big game Sunday could be the key to an upset win.
BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW
Brady has a touchdown pass in 10 consecutive playoff games, tying him with Joe Montana and Ken Stabler for the third-longest streak in league history. The leaders are Brett Favre (16) and Dan Marino (13).
CHARGERS INJURY REPORT
Questionable: DE Jacques Cesaire (knee). Probable: DE Derreck Robinson (foot). DE Luis Castillo (ankle); S Bhawoh Jue (knee).
PATRIOTS INJURY REPORT
Out: S Rodney Harrison (knee). Questionable: WR Brandon Childress (ankle); RB Heath Evans (shin); TE Benjamin Watson (knee). Probable: CB Ellis Hobbs (wrist); LB Mike Vrabel (back); QB Tom Brady (right shoulder); DE Richard Seymour (elbow).
PREDICTION
Chargers 24-21.
– Anthony Cotton
