Yesterday National Football League fans were treated to over 7 hours of intense drama on essentially the last day of the year for pro football until next fall.
Yes, there will be that little game called the Super Bowl in two weeks. That's where the New Orleans Saints sudden death victory in overtime last night over Brett Favre and the Minnesota Viking have catapulted the Drew Brees led team to their championship game appearance ever, where they will face the favored Indianapolis Colts in Miami in 13 days.
The Saints were perhaps not the best team on the field last night, but 5 Minnesota tunovers, including a Favre interception in the waning seconds of regulation, will be what haunts Viking fans all off-season.
But what about Favre? Still considered one of America's heroes, his reputation has taken a dive in recent years with his diva-like moves in leaving the Green Bay Packers two years ago, playing a frustrating year for the New York Jets, before moving to Minnesota. But at the age of 40, Farve had a spectacular regular season, and was heroic in perhaps the most physical game he's ever played in.
But now the beloved New Orleans Saints, whose history of futility has been erased in recent years as they've brought joy and excitement to a hurricane ravaged community, now get to play in what sportswriters used to dub "The ultimate game" (which prompted to Dallas Cowboy running back Duane Thomas responded to by saying, "If it's the ultimate game, how come they're playing it next year?").
But I reserve the rest of my comments to the brilliant play of Colts QB Peyton Manning. Down 17-6 late in the second quarter, Jets fans in the Northeast and spread across the country who have taken to Rex Ryan and his underdog team had to be feeling inspired. Camera shots of Manning on the sideline showed the visage of a concerned young man.
But the 33-year-old star, named earlier this month as the NFL's MVP for a record breaking 4th time, then methodically brought his team back to make the score 17-13 before the half. With more adjustments with Offensive Coordinator Tom Moore, and the Colts offense, led by wide receivers Pierre Garcon and rookie Austin Collie, became unstoppable the rest of the way.
But through it all, the Colts were led by their field general, who believe it or not, may be underrated. On pace to break all of pro football's passing records (some held by Favre), Peyton Manning makes it look so easy, when it's so not. Of course, one couldn't help but notice that Manning opted not even to try to throw much to star receiver Reggie Wayne, since he was being blanketed by Jets corner Darrelle Revis.
A lot of NFL fans would have savored a Manning/Favre Superbowl matchup. Now, another All-American hero in the sports pantheon, may be considered the one man would would deny the Saints their crowning moment.
But perhaps overshadowed at times this decade by the New England Patriots and Tom Brady, the Colts can win this Superbowl to put their stamp on the aughts, and a 2nd Super Bowl victory will push Manning closer to being considered perhaps the greatest quarterback ever (though I still take Joe Montana at this point).
This article appears in Jan 20-26, 2010.