Let’s face it, the tension for Sunday nights Clash of the Titans had been building since April 26 of 2012 when the Colts selected Andrew Luck with the first pick of the NFL’s college draft and the world finally knew that the impossible had really happened. The immortal 18, our own god of Football and the real face of Indianapolis sports was no longer going to be on the field wearing a helmet with a blue horseshoe on the side. With Peyton’s departure to the Broncos and Luck’s arrival to play in the House that Peyton Built, everybody in football was waiting with bated breath for the moment when number 18 would step back on the playing field of Lucas Oil Stadium even if he was wearing orange and blue rather then blue and white. It was a poetic moment, and a moment in which legends are born, and this legend will live in the halls of Lucas Oil Stadium for as long as it stands. Peyton Manning stood as the legendary hero, the deposed king who was returning to his stolen kingdom to vanquish the usurper and regain his lost crown.
For several weeks the NFL and the media had been throwing logs on the fire and letting the drama build. Peyton Manning has been playing the best football of his career in 2013, nearly incredible even by his standards and Denver was the top rated NFL team by many football power polls. But the Colts too have been on the rise. They are no longer in rebuilding mode but definitely challengers for a divisional title and a deep run in the playoffs. Andrew Luck has been a big part of this. He has shown the same kind of poise, and leadership both on the field and off that his celebrated predecessor did at a similar point in his career. As a matter of fact, Luck has won more games than Manning did at the same point, but many Colts — and Peyton Manning — fans have felt that they were being disloyal to the memory of number 18 by even considering that fact.
Last week as we were all counting down to Sunday night, Colts owner Jim Irsay threw gasoline on the fire with some ill-advised tweets that were critical of some of the decisions of former GM Bill Polian and by implication Peyton Manning. He also claimed that it was Manning who had advised him to draft Luck in the first place — something which Peyton vehemently denies. No matter who is telling the truth, it did what Irsay intended and brought even more attention to the coming game and brought attention to himself, which he craves.
I really do not have to say much about the game itself. It was all it was touted to be, with enough drama and exciting action to satisfy even the most skeptical of fans. Even Colts punter Pat McAfee added a bone-jarring tackle of Bronco kick returner Trindon Holliday to the field action. For his trouble, McAfee is going to be tested for steroid use. Luck played perhaps the best game of his relatively short career. He played a smart and effective football game and was the true master of the Colts offense. It was the defense, however, that won the day for the Horseshoe. They pressured Peyton all night and bottled up the Bronco receivers. Robert Mathis is headed for an All-Pro year and is on pace to break the team record for quarterback sacks. His tackle of his old friend Peyton Manning which led to a safety, which led to a touchdown, was the game-turning play and put the Broncos in a hole they couldn’t climb out of. The Colts’ defense is still a work in progress but right now it is playing outstanding football and is the real reason for the Colts success. It was their effort that ended the Broncos’ undefeated streak. The epic struggle was not without casualties for the Horseshoe, however. Reggie Wayne, who next to Luck is the team’s most valuable offense player, went down with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while trying to reach back for an under thrown pass. A leader both on the field and in the locker room, he will be missed.
Head Coach Chuck Pagano is as big a reason as any for the Colts’ return to the top. He has been a brilliant pick for the Colts as their head coach. He masterfully runs the Colts’ sideline and his calm and confident demeanor inspires the rest of the team. It is his leadership that makes the Colts a winning team.
The game is over and the battle is won. Peyton Manning took on the trappings of a hero in a Greek tragedy. The steam coming off his head, the feel of profound disappointment in his regal bearing as he realized that the kingdom is no longer his and he really could not go back home again as we who watched, all of us, felt his pain. As for Andrew Luck, he made his statement. Number 18 is now officially part of an illustrious past but number 12 now is the rightful king and the Colts are now and for the future his team to lead to glory. Making Andrew Luck the Colts’ quarterback was, indeed, the right thing to do.
Dixon Wins the Indy Car Championship
Will Power won the last race of the season for Penske racing but Scott Dixon scored just enough points to stay ahead of Helio Castroneves and cinch the 2013 IZOD Indy Car Championship. Power won both the pole and the race at MAVTV 500 held at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Dixon’s 5th place finish was one ahead of Castroneves and enabled him to keep the point lead over his rival. It was the third championship for the 33 year old New Zealander, all won while driving for Chip Ganassi Racing. For Will Power it was a nice finish for what started out to be a disappointing season. The 32 year old Australian driver experienced all kinds of difficulties and ill luck in the first half of the season with his team Penske Dalara Chevy but came on strong in the second half to win three of the last five races. Ganassi racing will switch to Chevy engines in 2014. Dario Franchitti had a second surgery on his wrist and is said to be healing nicely from injuries sustained in a crash at Reliant Park in the first race of the two part Houston Grand Prix on Oct 5. He and wife Ashley Judd are back together to give their marriage another try. His availability to drive for Ganassi in 2014 has not been determined.
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