Thoughts on Super Bowl XLI

Peyton Manning has done it. Tony Dungy has done it. The Colts have done it.

The Colts overcame turnovers, the weather and a bad special teams play to start the game to win Super Bowl XLI  29-17 over the Chicago Bears. Manning was named the MVP.

Here are my thoughts on the game:

• Manning showed how inexperienced Rex Grossman is at quarterback. Manning was poised throughout the game and looked ready to overcome an early setback on special team. Grossman was quite the opposite and looked shaky throughout. He certainly didn’t do himself any favors amongst doubters who question he can be a NFL quarterback.
• The Colts were able to take advantage of Chicago’s Cover 2 defense quite well in the game. Why? Tony Dungy was the innovator of that defense and Lovie Smith learned the defense from him. If anyone knew how to take advantage of proection gaps, it was Dungy.
• It was classy the way Dungy handled himself during postgame interviews. To show his love for Christ as such a monumental time in his career shows you moreabout Dungy’s character. He is a great man and leader. I’m glad that he won this championship.
• The rain proved to be a major factor in the turnovers. Most of the fumbles were a result of slips on hits. That made the game seem sloppier than normal.
• The Super Bowl commercials seemed a little weak this year. I’ll blog about that in the morning, but let’s just say there were only a few that made me chuckle.
• To whomever asked Prince to sing at halftime, please collect your pink slip: You’re fired. That was the worst Super Bowl performance in recent years. I think watching Icecapades might have been more interesting. I made a comment at the party I was at that Prince has turned into a cover artist. I think his performance showed someone who is on the downside of his career.
• Devin Hester’s kickoff return to start the game should not have been unexpected. The Colts have some of the worst special teams, on kickoffs and punts, in the league. However, after that kickoff the Colts made a smart strategy in going with the squib kick to keep Hester out of the game.

Super Bowl could experience a first

It took 41 years, but the Super Bowl has a new first, most likely when the Colts and Bears kickoff at 6:25 p.m., today.

It’s raining in Miami, meaning if the weather holds it would be the first Super Bowl to be played in the rain.  Previous Super Bowls, such as in 1975 when the Steelers beat the Vikings in a cloudy day, have been in poor weather but none rainy.

If Weather.com’s prediction of 60 percent chance of rain continues, then give the advantage to the Bears. The Colts’ offense is dependent on speed and quickness, two elements that are difficult when the field is muddy or in rainny conditions. The Bears, however, are used to playing outdoors and the defense can gain an advantage with poor weather.

Poor weather will make the game closer than my originaly projection, however I continue to keep with the Colts. But the Bears are enjoying the rain, that’s a guarantee.