For the third straight year, football fans enjoyed a competitive Super Bowl game that has often left fans disappointed after sitting through many blowouts in recent years.

The New Orleans Saints surprised the sports world by beating an Indianapolis Colts team that was favored to win the game. Much of this occurred thanks to a powerful offensive performance on the part of Drew Brees and his teammates, but the New Orleans defense was equally efficient in limiting Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.

FOXBOROUGH, MASS.—Less than an hour after defeating Tom Brady, Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed already were focused on Peyton Manning.

“I know 18 is coming,” Reed said. “He’s got to know I am watching him, and I know he knows.”

“We know it’s probably the best quarterback of the last 20 years,” Lewis said.

The Ravens have another date with a great quarterback, thanks to Sunday’s convincing 33-14 playoff victory over the Patriots. When they visit the Colts next Saturday night, the Ravens will try to do to Manning what they did to Brady.
Disguise blitzes to perfection. Hit him at every opportunity. Force turnovers.

During the Denver Broncos-Indianapolis Colts game at Lucas Oil Stadium, the Colts – namely Peyton Manning – went through the proverbial roller coaster of ups and downs as he did well early on, played like his brother Eli a bit later before finishing strong. Manning threw two early touchdowns, would proceed to throw some untimely interceptions, then as his custom, lead the Colts on a drive in the fourth quarter. The end result? I think that if you’ve followed the Colts this season, then you probably know. But for those who casually follow the team, Indianapolis held off Denver 28-16 to gain home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.

The Indianapolis Colts remain undefeated in Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos while they break the NFL record for consecutive regular season wins.

Even Peyton Manning’s inconsistency couldn’t derail history for the Indianapolis Colts.

Or preserve the NFL records of New England and San Francisco.

Manning was sensational, throwing three TD passes in the first 23 minutes, then mediocre, getting picked off three times in the Colts’ 28-16 victory over Denver for their 22nd consecutive regular-season win. While Manning struggled late, the defense held off the Broncos as Indy broke the Patriots’ record victory streak set just last year.

The Indianapolis Colts remain undefeated and broke the NFL record for consecutive regular season wins in Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos 28-16.

Peyton Manning passed for four touchdowns, three to Dallas Clark, as Indianapolis eclipsed the New England Patriots’ string of 21 victories between 2006 and 2008.

The Colts (13-0) have not lost a regular season game since falling to the Tennessee Titans 31-21 in October 2008.

Indianapolis also wrapped up home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs and became the most successful NFL team in any decade with their 114th victory since 2000. The San Francisco 49ers held the previous record of 113 wins in the 1990s.

Somebody has to slow Dumervil, who leads the NFL in sacks (15) and could tie the team record by nailing Peyton Manning. Colts left tackle Charlie Johnson returned to practice and, presumably, health this week after sitting out the Tennessee game. Tony Ugoh played well in Johnson’s place last week. Look for Joseph Addai and Dallas Clark to have some additional pass-blocking duties to try to contain Dumervil. Stopping him completely might be impossible, as he attacks from all angles.

Edge: Dumervil

Colts LB Clint Session vs. Broncos RBs Correll Buckhalter and Knowshon Moreno

Luckily for the Denver Broncos, they had that four-game, midseason losing streak. Otherwise they would be joining the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints, both 12-0, in the distraction that is the quest for an undefeated season.

“I understand some of those questions might start to increase,” said Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, “but I think one thing we have done is address the team we have coming up.”

There is good reason to suspect Manning speaks sincerely. Experience has taught him the accomplishment of regular-season winning streaks can ultimately become hollow.

If you put the neutral-site game in a dome — which would suit both teams, I’m sure — I’d have to give the edge to the New Orleans Saints right now. Both teams have astonishingly good quarterbacks, and offenses that take good-to-great receivers and make them transcendent, but the Saints have the advantage in their Achilles’ heel. Both teams have one obvious flaw. In Indy’s case, it’s the inability of their running game to get anything consistent going. New Orleans has a vulnerable run defense as their primary liability.

The Indianapolis Colts, finding their offense shut down by a relentless Jacksonville Jaguars attack, fought back in kind. The often maligned Indy stop unit matched the ferocity of their Jaguars counterparts play for play, and one touchdown pass from Peyton Manning proved to be enough to earn victory by a 14-12 margin in the NFL season opener for both teams. With the victory Peyton Manning tied the great Johnny Unitas for the franchise victory lead.

Despite the fact that neither their starting QB Carson Palmer nor his Indy counterpart Peyton Manning saw action, the Cincinnati Bengals will take their wins however and whenever they can get them. For that reason, they had to be heartened by their NFL preseason ending 38-7 home rout of the Indianapolis Colts. The Bengals rushing game put 296 yards on the board and Cincinnati trounced Indianapolis in every significant offense statistical category.

The Bengals easily covered as a -3 home favorite, evening their NFL preseason record against the spread at 2-2. The Colts ATS mark also matched their SU record, dropping to 1-3 on the exhibition season. The combined 45 points went OVER the posted total of 36.