Super Bowl Preview

Peyton Manning’s career has been marked with records and disappointments. In college, he won the Davey O’Brien and Johnny Unitas awards as the nation’s top quarterback. However, Tennessee never won a national championship (during Manning’s career) or beat arch-rival Florida.

As a professional, Manning has set records for passing touchdowns in a season and consecutive 4,000-yard passing season. His track record in the playoffs, however, has been less than stellar.

Manning has a chance to erase the negatives on Sunday against Florida-graduate Rex Grossman and the Bears. The Colts enter the game with one of the best offenses in the league. Conversely, Chicago is known for their powerful defense.

Indianapolis’ road to Super Bowl XLI comes after a tough playoff run. The Colts defeated Kansas City and past Super Bowl champions Baltimore and New England to make it to Miami. The Bears defeated Super Bowl XL runner-up Seattle in the divisional championship and New Orleans in the conference championship to get to the big game.

The Colts finished the season 12-4, while the Bears finished 13-3. Because Chicago was a higher seed in the playoffs, they are considered the home team.

POINT by Jonathan Howard

Colts versus Bears is a classic match of offense against defense. Baltimore proved in Super Bowl XXXV that defense could not only win a championship, but create the offense to make it possible.

But don’t get excited, Bears fans. Chicago isn’t Baltimore. Indianapolis will not only win Super Bowl XLI, but will win it with ease.

Peyton Manning is due for a big win. He has set record after record before falling short in the playoffs.

Finally, the Colts have the perfect opportunity not to mess up. Manning’s ability to fail in the playoffs is greatly passed by Rex Grossman’s ability to be apathetic. When it comes down to it, Peyton Manning and the Colts will have a field day toying with the Bears defense. Left to its own devices, the Bears’ defense could easily handle themselves against the Colts. Rex Grossman and the offense, however, won’t be on the field very long, leaving the defense to fend for itself.

I don’t dislike the Bears, but given Grossman’s inconsistency (five games with a quarterback rating of 37 or less), the chances of a complete game for Chicago are unlikely. When Indianapolis’ defense doesn’t show up, the offense is there to cover them (see win over New England). Chicago has found ways to win without the help of Grossman, but it won’t be able to accomplish that feat in a shootout.

Bottom line: Indianapolis’ offense is better than Chicago’s defense. Indianapolis’ lack of defense is completely washed out by Rex Grossman’s bad play. Indianapolis wins, and Peyton Manning gets the proverbial monkey off his back.

COUNTERPOINT by William Huszar

No, they won’t.

That’s because the Prophecy mandates that Peyton Manning is not supposed to win a Super Bowl. I felt its energy the first time I saw him play.

Why is the Prophecy true? I don’t know – Manning’s a great quarterback, but I just can’t see him hoisting that trophy over his head. Peyton Manning has all of the markings of a Dan Marino – awesome – player, but no ring to validate him. I’ve always had that feeling about him. Anyway, there already are enough freakin’ Manning commercials without a title. He’s going to be in every single ad next year if he wins, and that will be annoying as anything. I think the football gods recognize that and will release us from that evil.

So really, if anything, the Bears will win because Peyton Manning is supposed to lose. I’m ignoring the rest of the Colts, because without Manning, the Colts would be ponies.

In all seriousness, Manning has a lot to prove – he barely squeaked by in the victory against New England, and he’s historically bad in big games. The Bears either will be a knockover or a major threat, and I’m leaning toward the latter this weekend.

Plus, to simplify the argument, we cannot ignore the fact that in real life a bear would eat a colt. Applying that to football, we can easily see why the Bears will (barely) win on Super Bowl Sunday.

Game Facts

Records:
Indianapolis: 15-4 (12-4 regular season),
Chicago 15-3 (13-3 regular season)

Location: Miami
Game time: 6:30 p.m.
TV: CBS
The line: Colts by seven

Which team has the advantage?

Indianapolis’ pass versus Chicago’s secondary:

Indianapolis
Chicago’s defense is good, but Peyton Manning has his choice of targets. With two 1,300-yard receivers and six with at least 30 catches, it’s pretty obvious that Indianapolis can air out anyone.
Indianapolis’ run versus Chicago’s front seven:
Chicago
While Peyton Manning can tear up the secondary, Joseph Addai is not capable of doing the same thing. Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs and company will make it tough for the Colts to be multi-dimensional on offense.
Chicago’s pass versus Indianapolis’ secondary:
Indianapolis
Indianapolis isn’t known for its defense, but if Rex Grossman doesn’t bring his “A” game, the Colts will have an easy time on defense.
Chicago’s run versus Indianapolis’ front seven:
Chicago
Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson are a good combination against a shaky Colts defense.
Special teams: Indianapolis
Two words: Adam Vinatieri.
Bottom Line: Indianapolis 34-17