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Sports

Colts dump playoff burden

The Hustler

Eli Jabbe 

The NFL playoffs have produced some interesting results so far, and the Super Bowl is looming Feb. 4. The biggest game of the year will feature the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears in a match-up that will pit the league's most prolific offense against one of the stingiest defenses of the past few seasons. 

The one criticism I have of the big game, however, is the scheduling. Super Bowl XLI is scheduled for February, which is further into the year than normal. But the game will be worth the wait, and there are many storylines on the horizon that should give gridiron fans something to munch on prior to the game time.

This year's match up is one that many did not predict. The Chicago Bears, led by their defense, posted an NFL-best 13-3 record, but they were practically playing without a quarterback much of the season thanks to the struggles of young Rex Grossman. The Bears inept offense was one many considered an Achilles' Heel that would prevent them from succeeding, but this year they managed to get by. 

On the other hand, the Indianapolis Colts have been one of the league's most consistent teams in recent years. Specifically, quarterback Peyton Manning added to his stellar career résumé by throwing for 4,397 yards and 31 touchdowns in 2006. But glaring playoff losses to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in recent years have led people to believe he could not win the big one. That was until this season, when Indianapolis defeated its archrival 38-34 in come-from-behind fashion in the AFC championship game.

With the win, the Colts got over the hump and may have passed the torch of playoff underachiever to another team. Many expected to see the San Diego Chargers, who boasted a 14-2 regular season record, to go deeper into the playoffs in 2006. But just like the Colts of old, the Chargers failed to defeat the Patriots in the playoffs. They had "Super Bowl contenders" written all over them, but, sports, like life, can be very unpredictable. 

I'm calling a Colts win for the Super Bowl in Miami -- their offense will be too much for Chicago to handle. 

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