.jpg) Peyton Manning (AP Photo) The Top 10 . . .Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning turned 33 recently. To commemorate the occasion, the NFL Network put together its Top 10 Manning Moments. It was a good piece, covering the obvious, but over the coming days on Examiner, we'll discuss the Top 10 underrated Manning moments -- the ones that don't include Super Bowl XLI or the 2006 AFC Championship Game. What were the Top 10 best Manning moments maybe a lot of people don't remember? Or don't appreciate as they should? What are the 10 that don't jump out as obvious? Here's . . .
No. 2 . . . Colts 31, New York Jets 28 . . . October 1, 2006 Before we delve deep into why an early-season game against an average team makes this list, a confession: This game is the reason for this series. I'm not even sure I realized it when I started reviewing the Top 10 underrated moments/games of Colts quarterback Peyton Manning's career, but the longer this series has continued and the closer it came to time to write about this game, the more I realized I was looking forward to it. Because this game truly was one of those moments that fans may forget --Manning was more than a year removed from the 49-touchdown season of 2004 and this was months before the memorable Super Bowl run -- but it also was one that only a team with a special, veteran quarterback at the peak of his abilities wins. On paper, this was just game on the first week of October. Against a team with a first-year coach. Against a team everyone assumed Indianapolis would beat. They did beat the New York Jets and first-year coach Eric Mangini that day. But it took one of the most remarkable games of Manning's career to do it. The Colts-Jets game unfolded as many did that season before the Colts' defense improved late in the season. The Colts' offense played efficiently, but the Jets' did, too, and entering the fourth quarter, the game was tied, 14-14. Indianapolis inched ahead, 17-14, and then the game got interesting -- and downright difficult for the three-time defending AFC South champion Colts. First, the Jets took the lead, 21-17, with 7:55 remaining, then Manning -- needing a touchdown -- drove the Colts 68 yards with Indianapolis taking the lead when Manning threw a 2-yard pass to tight end Bryan Fletcher on 3rd-and-goal from the 2 with 2:34 remaining. The Colts celebrated and deservedly so. Although it wasn't a last-second comeback, it was a long drive in the waning moments needing a touchdown. One of the most underestimated differences in the NFL was the difference between a field-goal drive late in the game and a touchdown drive in the same circumstance. A field-goal drive in the waning moments should happen. A touchdown drive is much more difficult, and Manning's appeared to give the Colts the victory. Then, on the ensuing kickoff, Jets returner Justin Miller broke through the Colts' kickoff coverage and outran kicker Martin Grammatica and defensive end Ryan Lacasse for a 103-yard touchdown return. And in order for the Colts to win, Manning had to do what he already had done again. And in a lot less time. Two minutes, twenty seconds remainined. Manning needed just 1:30. After a kickoff return by Terrence Wilkins, the Colts had possession at their 39. Manning completed six of his eight passes on the drive, including a 19-yarder to wide receiver Marvin Harrison and a 15-yarder to wide receiver Reggie Wayne, the latter of which moved the ball to the Jets 1. Manning snuck into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown ddle offense, Manning then took the ball and pushed himself into the end zone. From the Associated Press' report: I was pumped. You practice those two-minute drills all the time. Everybody's played that backyard game where you envision the last play of the game. Anytime you can do it in New York, it adds a little something to it. The Jets made it interesting. A wild, multilateral play got a lot of highlight time that night, but what I remember is Manning after the game. He had been there before, certainly, but I remember him smiling widely afterward, doing on interview with CBS Sports with the crowd at the Meadowlands jeering from the stands. That's one thing neat about covering Manning the last eight years. Not every player I've covered in 14 years on the NFL has loved the game, or appreciated its history and the little moments. I've always gotten the feeling Manning appreciates and savors every moment, every game. And I really got the feeling he savored that one. Even if not a lot of people remember it. Up next . . . No. 1 Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/JohnOehser
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Comments
I remember that game, it was an amazing game in an amazing season. Some how, some way manning pulled out a win almost every weekend. I laugh at people who say Manning is overrated, because I know they just havent seen every game of his career like some of us have had the privileged to witness. I really dont think most people understand why Manning is so special; its career full of moments like this that most people simply did not see....
You failed to mention that a bs interference call put the Colts in scoring position on that last Colt TD. Manning is a great player but the refs handed him that win.
Lou is an idiot.... Manning is going to go down as probably the best qb to ever plan the game. He is so good at what he does and everyone still places all the blame on him when the colts get beat. There is no doubt in my mind that he is the best and could of done the same thing for any other team.
No I think you are the idiot Brandon, did you actually read my comment? I did say quote, “Manning is a great player". Then you continued to say Manning is the, "best qb to plan the game", good job. I didn’t know QB’s plan the games. I always thought the coaches plan the games and the players play the games.
My only point was that in that particular game everyone forgets about the questionable pass interference penalty on the last drive.
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