[1965southpaw]

Originally Posted by Gimmick

1998: There were a lot of games where the Colts jumped out to big leads against good teams only to blow it and lose by the end of the game. I've seen the SF game on NFL Network a couple times, but there was also the Atlanta game in Atlanta and they went to the Super Bowl that year. As Eric Allen said early in Peyton's career, he would score 20-something points in the first half, but the defense would figure out all his audibles by halftime and the Colts did squat the rest of the game. Lots of examples that year. But there were other moments to remember to: Peyton's first long bomb down the middle into Miami territory Week #1. The pick-6 he threw to end the game. The comeback against the Jests. And the Sunday night game at New England, where the Colts got blown out but the hype was pretty big because he was the #1 pick making his national TV debut. Even down 31-3 or whatever the announcers were still like damn this guy is going to be good.

1999: I remember watching in the preseason and thinking that was the time to buy season tickets. These guys are going to be good for a long time. I remember Peyton trucking someone to score a TD @ San Diego. He just fell to the ground like a girl all the time later in his career but damn at least in the beginning he was tough and would not be denied. Then I was at the Bengals game and saw him throw a 60-yard TD to Marvin and that was the first Peyton Manning touchdown pass I ever saw. Beautiful.

2000: His first career playoff touchdown pass. Peyton put the Colts in position to win the game, and as would often be the case in his career both here in Indianapolis and Denver, his defense/special teams/coaching let him down.

2001: Colts played in New York less than 2 days before the Sept. 11 attacks and destroyed the Jests. Games got cancelled the next week and then Peyton put up almost 50 again by third quarter in the home opener vs. the Bills. It was like a long TD pass every play that game. Super Bowl here we come. But then we lost damn near every game the rest of the year starting with the Cheaters....but what I'll remember the most about that year that most people forget is Peyton's fake spike 40-yard TD run right before halftime at New Orleans. Guys all run up to the line and Peyton fake spikes it and then takes off even fooling the TV cameras. He runs 40 yards for a TD but some asshole ref blew a whistle. The refs huddled and talked it over and called a make-believe penalty on the Saints as a makeup call to put us in field goal range but damn that was the best that never was.

2002: Idiot liquored up kicker. Fuck that Vandershank guy.

2003: The Tampa Bay comeback. The K.C. Masterpiece and first playoff wins. First championship game. Then #18 got a big head and thought he could win the game all by himself and threw a billion interceptions against the Patriots. Gotta learn, son.

2004: The record-breaking TD pass to Brandon Stokely. And like that damn troll's name from the old IndyStar Forums: 3-effin points.

2005: Peyton handing the ball off and throwing short against Cover 11 defenses week after week. Blowout after blowout after blowout. The loss at home to the Chargers ending the undefeated season bid. And of course, the fuckhead Vandershank missing another fucking kick.

2006: The Denver game and listening to "International Statement" on ESPN Primetime while the highlights played. That Gregg Williams fucker sending his hitman to break Peyton's neck in the Redskins game. The comeback against the Patriots in the Championship Game. The way he outsmarted Belichick and told him to suck his ****ing cock by handing the ball off to Addai on 3rd and goal. The TD pass to Reggie in the Super Bowl. And hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in the Miami purple rain.

2007: In my opinion the best of all the Colts teams that just got worn down by injuries and defending their title. If the Colts couldn't win it all again, then watching Peyton celebrate his little brother beating the Cheaters and sending all of their 19-0 t-shirts to poor African kids in Zimbabwe was the next best thing.

2008: The comeback at Houston, including Rosen-copter. But then in the playoffs at San Diego, after all the years bitching about the defense and special teams, all Peyton and the O have to do is convert a 3rd and short at the 2:00 warning to clinch the game. Nope. Put all your money on one side of the ball and you can't convert? Sometimes the blame was on Peyton and the O.

2009: I had followed the Colts for 15 years+ at that point and believed they were going to win every one of those games. As optimistic and non-jaded a fan as you could be, believe it or not. Then they fucking quit on the undefeated season like coward pussies. I'm sure it wasn't Peyton's call but all I can remember from that season is Peyton and the other starters, might as well have been shaking their heads on the sideline when they were pulled in the Jets game. Was like a stab in the heart for this Colts fan and never forgotten. The lazy go-through-the-motions do-what-we-do team deserved to lose to the gambling, take-life-by-the-throat New Orleans Saints in Super Bowl 44.

2010: The same shit that happened all the time at the end of Peyton's Indy career. Getting stabbed in the back by Caldwell and Polian. Seeing his last game end with him on the sidelines shaking his head out how stupid is idiot coach was who couldn't even figure out basic timeout strategy. Here, let me call a timeout for the other team so they can win the game....

Well, those are my memories. They were mostly good and some bad. Should have been more championships but I'm thankful for the one we got. Thanks Peyton.

That was epic! So many memories that I had forgotten. Thank you!