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For Coach and Quarterback, Colts' Win Is a Breakthrough
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There were six fumbles in all, three interceptions, one muffed hold on an extra point attempt and a missed 36-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter by the Colts' Adam Vinatieri, one of the most accurate place kickers in league history. Manning, who finally won a Super Bowl in his ninth season, threw one interception and fumbled once.
"A lot of it was the rain," Colts linebacker Gary Brackett said. "The ball was very messy, hard to control. . . . I'm just glad we were able to come up with the turnovers and put our offense in scoring position."
But if the game had its gaffes, unlike at past Super Bowls in Miami, players stayed out of trouble off the field. Nobody was arrested. Nobody kept the airwaves humming with brazen acts reminiscent of the pants-dropping by Bears quarterback Jim McMahon during media day in 1986, when he mooned a helicopter, or even the cocksure guarantee of victory by Joe Namath in 1969. Even Prince, known for his raunchy songs and performances, kept it clean and classy.
Perhaps the biggest news break came Friday when ESPN dug up grainy footage of an adolescent Manning wiggling his hips wildly in a red ruffled shirt while dancing the tango for a school performance.
Manning completed 25 of 38 passes and guided his team down the field when it mattered. But running backs Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai produced the most important yards, grinding out a combined 190 on the ground. Addai also led Indianapolis receivers with 10 receptions for 66 yards.
Meanwhile, Grossman struggled. His first interception, the seventh turnover of the night, was returned 56 yards for a touchdown by Colts cornerback Kelvin Hayden, providing the final margin.
The second interception, by Colts safety Bob Sanders, did not result in points but helped the Colts take time off of the clock. The Bears' last chance to get in the game slipped away when tight end Desmond Clark failed to hold on to a fourth-down pass from Grossman.
"Everybody was pretty disappointed and frustrated," Grossman said. "You never want to the weather to play a factor. It's not an excuse. They did a good job handling it, and we didn't."
