Who was that playing quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth quarter? This guy looked like Peyton Manning, did all of those crazy hand signals like Peyton Manning, but let me tell you, that was no Peyton Manning! I can’t recall another time where Manning actually, even if it was a miniscule amount, got flustered under all of the pressure the game of Football, especially the Super Bowl, has to offer.

            I know you heard him commending the great defense and play’s the Saints made, but we’re not talking about an ordinary quarterback. After Colts’ kicker Matt Stover missed a 51-yarder, the Saints came back to take the lead, only to set up another Peyton-led comeback, right? When Lance Moore stretched for a two-point conversion after a touchdown grab by Miami-native Jeremy Shockey, it was a near given that the Colts would tie the game up with time to spare.

            The whole nation knows about the Terry Porter interception return for a touchdown. It was a little funny to me because at that moment I was referring to the fact that there hadn’t been a single turnover up to that point. Woops! Manning proceeded to get flattened on the return and the downward spiral only continued to pick up stream thereon after.

            So figure that you’re talking about one of the greatest quarterbacks ever, down by 14 with five minutes and change to go, the things is far from over. However, despite a long pass play to Austin Collie to get down into Saints territory, the Colts’ final drive never really had that Peyton spark. He didn’t seem all there, almost going through the usual steps nonchalantly, no urgency.

            Down in the red zone, an area where Manning is practically venomous to his opponents, he made the Saints defense look like something much, much, MUCH better than what they really are. I was expecting to see a quick strike touchdown and heightened anticipation. I was expecting for Peyton to just be the normal Peyton. But as the story goes, scripts are just a piece of paper when you break it down.

    After the unnecessary roughness call on Anthony Hargrove, the fluster level for the Colts’ leader skyrocketed through the upper atmosphere. Amidst a prolonged saga of check downs and dump offs to Joseph Addai, Manning nearly threw another pick, this time in the end zone to Jabari Greer.

    When everyone thought the Colts were going to keep their three timeouts in an attempt to quickly score, stop the Saints offense, and hopefully get the ball back with enough time to get a tying touchdown, the plan got hurled out of the window. Manning halfway signaled for a timeout after having the ball for over three minutes and being down on the four-yard line already. But did you see the perplexed look on his face with his open-faced palms out to his sides? I don’t think I’ve seen this potential greatest quarterback of all time get so caught up in the emotions of the game. Then what do they do coming out of that timeout? An incomplete pass off of the crossbar, a run to Joseph Addai on 3^rd and Goal (???), and a dropped pass by Reggie Wayne. Jaws all simultaneously drop.

    I didn’t think such a bad quarter in such a big game would happen to player with as high of a reputation and caliber as Manning. Not to take away credit from the Saints win, but that game could have easily been reversed, very easily. I also never thought I would ever be, or even have any slight reason to, badmouth Peyton Manning. Oh well, like I said, a script is just a piece of paper.