The 2009 Indianapolis Colts

The 2009 NFL season has now come to a full close for the Indianapolis Colts. Another record year with another stinging playoff loss. Peyton Manning was awarded his fourth, AP NFL MVP trophy making him the all-time leader after holding a tie with Brett Favre last season. Offensive coordinator Tom Moore and offensive line coach Howard Mudd made their return to the team after initially retiring due to contract difficulties (c'mon guys... do you really need that giant check? Coaching for the Colts isn't a big enough reward?) The Colts once again found themselves in new territory with fourteen consecutive wins to open the season (add this on to the nine regular season wins they had to close out the 2008 season and you'll see an impeccable feat in 23 consecutive regular season wins which is an all-time NFL record) before losing to the New York Jets while resting their starters in the second half. Team president Bill Polian and rookie head coach Jim Caldwell had been saying since earlier in the season that their focus was to enter the playoffs healthy and ready (resting after clinching the AFC's #1 seed). After two back-to-back losses to close out the regular season, the Colts convincingly won their first playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens 20-3. The following week, they hosted the New York Jets in the AFC Championship game. After a slow start finding themselves down 11 points, The Colts were able to make a halftime rally and move ahead of the Jets while holding a commanding lead for the rest of the game. Indy was now faced with its second Super Bowl appearance in four years against the NFC-champion New Orleans Saints. With plenty of preparation and the correct mindset going into the game, the Colts gave a strong performance in the first half but were not able to overcome a seven point deficit as Manning threw the game losing interception with a few minutes left in the fourth quarter. After steady and confident playing all season long, the Colts couldn't hold on to the ultimate game that counted the most. The Saints won 31-17 after capitalizing with Tracy Porter's pick six to take the game with a two touchdown lead.

You can say all the wonderful things you'd like to say about the Colts' organization and their regular season skills that have been essentially unparalleled through the decade but the fact is that the Colts are not the strongest playoff team that they should be. Manning's all-time playoff record now reads 9-9 (don't forget to rub in the Super Bowl loss) which does not help his case after garnering so much attention as one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game.

As a Colts fan, this was a huge loss. To watch your team go through an entire season and only lose the two games they didn't play to win is obviously heartbreaking (I can't imagine how all the Patriots fans felt after their undefeated season was closed out by the Giants in Super Bowl 42). For years now, it's been so hard to watch this great team charge their way through the season to only see them blow it when the playoffs start up. The playoffs are the biggest stages for the best athletes to show off just how good they are with fierce rivalries and incredibly physical games. I've been containing myself for the past couple years not getting my hopes up when the playoffs come around again. It always feels inevitable that another postseason loss is on its way. However, this season meant something so much more for me.

When the Colts decided to rest their starters against the Jets in week 15, I was furious. The chance for a perfect season was right there in their face and they decided to back away from it. After finishing the season 14-2 with the AFC's #1 seed, I was still confident that they could win through the playoffs. And they did; sort of. While under the leadership of Manning, the Colts have now clinched that #1 seed four times all of them losing out in the divisional round before this year.

The Colts made a great effort on moving their way through the playoffs. For the first time, they had homefield advantage throughout the playoffs and were able to win in the divisional and championship rounds. Their wins were convincing and well-fought. It is incredibly hard to 'shut down' your team in preparations of playing through the playoffs and then actually be able to turn it right back on and successfully move your way around. And after watching those conference games, I was ready and fully expecting to see Indy take another Lombardi trophy back home the Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Super Bowl loss was at first devastating. But after further review of the game, you have to give it up for the Saints. That team powered back via excellent coaching and play-calling by Sean Payton that kept Manning sidelined for most of the second half. With players that were able to execute when it mattered most, the Saints now have their first championship in the franchise's history. They deserved it too; they ultimately played much better than the Colts and their win is a tremendous one for not just the franchise but an entire city that had been devastated over four years ago by Hurricane Katrina. I've heard quite a few people talk garbage on how a Super Bowl win could mean anything that special for New Orleans. Unless you think that hurricane was pretty modest or you're just an inconsiderate human being, no one should question this win for the Saints. Their city and fans were ravished by the costliest natural disaster that this country has seen since Hurricane Andrew. I saw the photos and videos of the Saints bringing the trophy back to their home and no amount of words could describe the emotions that beamed brilliantly from every face sharing their moment together; in their city.

So while the Colts did lose a well-fought game, I'm not too upset about it anymore. If anything, this just fuels Peyton's fire to be the perfectionist that he's always been. They'll be back next year as automatic contenders. This team has a perennial chance of a Super Bowl championship as long as Manning is with the team. And now, you can't really question whether or not they'll be able to get another championship. They already have a Super Bowl win and know the recipe for success and winning. This season was for the Saints but when you look back at all the records and wins from the Colts' past decade, every season is the chance to be theirs. No one can really contest that or match it just yet. I think it's going to be a while before we see another team as complete and competitive as the Manning-era Colts. This wasn't their season but in a league that is heavily run by tremendously skilled QB's one could easily say that this league belongs to the Colts.

And while Peyton will never be able to play another Super Bowl without the dreaded thought of how this last one just ended, isn't it fair enough to recognize him as a champion with all of his regular season accomplishments? He has led the Colts through seven consecutive 12+ win seasons and eight consecutive seasons with playoff appearances. With a career average QB rating of 95.2, 50,000+ throwing yards (he is the quickest player to reach that mark in history), four NFL MVP awards, 366 TD's, and 192 consecutive game starts, Manning is on pace to break essentially every quarterback record before his hopefully not-too-soon retirement (or if Brett Favre ever decides to retire). Manning's legacy might have some tarnish on it from a Super Bowl loss but I guarantee that he will still be regarded as one of the best QB's ever long after he's retired. Had he won this Super Bowl, I think it could have cemented his legacy as the greatest quarterback of all time. But he didn't win; he has some vulnerability and is not entirely perfect although his records might indicate that perfect is a pretty close summarization of his career.

I'm excited for next season. I can't wait to see the improvements they will have made including a healthy Bob Sanders returning to an already eye-popping defense. The Colts always have so much that they can be working on despite the amazing records and accomplishments. And with Peyton Manning at the helm, those goals are all that much closer to becoming reality.