Manning’s masterful mind is a key to Colts’ victory

Being the AFC Champion this season, the Indianapolis Colts proved again what a correct choice they made when they made Peyton Manning the No. 1 draft pick in 1998, after a 3-14 1997 season. Manning’s gifts are more than in football.

He has relentless thirst for knowledge, passion to know opponents better than they know themselves and uncanny ability to recall crucial details in split seconds. All of these have made him such a different quarterback than many others who just throw a ball. More than remembering his opponents’ numbers on their NFL jerseys, Manning also remembers everything from their first or last names to high school information.

And he knows well how to utilize the ability to remember almost everything he sees and hears. Regurgitating and analyzing, he plays football like a good chess player who can see 10 moves ahead. The New York Jets witnessed how he uses his talent in Sunday’s AFC championship game. For much of the first half, the Jets kept the Colts’ offense in check. But Manning altered a few things after a brief discussion with receiver Pierre Garcon, and then the Colts had touch downs on three of their next four possessions and finished the game with a 30-17 victory.

Many NFL observers have been wondering how, exactly, does Manning’s mind work? Even his teammates are confused with that. Just as receiver Reggie Wayne jokingly said, “Just tell me the end result, that’s all I need to know.” And his existence in Indy itself means hope of victory.

Keeping winning, Colts set even more records

Now the Indianapolis Colts have won 22 consecutive regular-season games and 114 games in a decade, setting new NFL records by beating the Denver Broncos 28-16 on Sunday night.


And the star quarterback wearing No.18 Colts jersey managed to throw four touchdowns but was 20 of 42 for 220 yards, losing his touch after leading the Colts to touchdowns on three of its first four drives. Peyton Manning was not in good condition but the Colts still won over the Broncos, whose receiver Brandon Marshall, however, broke the league’s single-game record with 21 receptions.

The Colts were also 13-0 in 2005 but lost the three of the last four games, including a divisional playoff against the Pittsburgh Steelers. So it is still early to say the team is a must-be winner of this season.

Impossible Task: 5-6Titans to beat 11-0 Colts

Winning five straight games since they changed quarterback to Vince Young, the Tennessee Titans are now thinking that they may have the chance to be the first team who beats the unbeaten Indianapolis Colts of the season, something no one would expected when Titans met Colts for the first time in this season with a 0-4 start.


But even with a winning streak of six games, it still sounds like an impossible task for the 5-6 Titans to beat 11-0 Colts. But wait, it just sounds possible for Young, who has led the Titans to 6-0 since taking the starting job, to bring the Titans another win, although Colts Quarterback Peyton Manning may not allow that to happen.

While the Colts are looking to match an NFL record with their 21st consecutive regular-season victory, the Titans are trying to win sixth straight game, have a crucial win to remain in playoff and be the first team beating Colts.

Each team has its own aces. The Colts have top quarterback Peyton Manning, and four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney could wear back his Colts jersey and return to play with the team this Sunday. As for the Titans, Young has thrown for a career-high 387 yards and converted three fourth downs on the final drive, and they have the NFL’s leading rusher Chris John, who has run for 1,396 yards in the games he has played.

Impossible or possible, any kind of end of the game will be as exciting.