Ranking the Super Bowls, #30: Super Bowl XLI

(photo credit: nfl.com)

Peyton Manning has played in four Super Bowls, losing two of them and winning the other two.
Super Bowl XLI was his first Super Bowl appearance and his first Super Bowl win.  This would be the first Super Bowl appearance for the Colts since they won Super Bowl V in 1970.  This would be the Chicago Bears first Super Bowl appearance since the 1985 season.

The Indianapolis Colts came in to the game with their high powered offense of the Colts in the 2000's. Peyton Manning had Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison as his #1 and #2 receivers.  Joseph Addai was having a great year as well.  However, on Feb. 4, 2007 in Miami, the Chicago Bears were the first to score.  Devin Hester returned the opening kickoff 92 yards to be the quickest score at the time in a Super Bowl. The Colts soon found themselves down 14-6 at the end of the first quarter but would storm back to win the game 29-17.

Peyton Manning would be named the Super Bowl MVP even though it was a pretty mediocre performance by Manning in Super Bowl XLI.  He completed 25 of 38 passes for 247 and just one touchdown to one interception.  The Bears came into the Super Bowl with one of the toughest defenses in the league and Devin Hester having a helluva year returning kicks.  The Colts, played very well on defense this fateful Thursday night as the Colts forced the Bears to turn the ball over 5 times and would be their downfall in Super Bowl XLI.

This game was an important Super Bowl to finally get the monkey off of Peyton Manning's back.  Until Super Bowl XLI Peyton was known for losing in the playoffs and never actually making the Super Bowl.  This game showed the Peyton could win the big game, unfortunately for Peyton it would be another 10 years before he would win another one.