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MIAMI - Peyton Manning added the missing ingredient to his Hall of Fame credentials by leading the Indianapolis Colts to a 29-17 victory over the Chicago Bears in the American Football Super Bowl today.
Manning, a seven-times All-Pro quarterback slammed by his critics for failing to win when it matters, exorcised his big-game demons by completing 25 of 38 passes for 247 yards and one touchdown in a steady rain at Dolphin Stadium.
With Indianapolis nursing a five-point lead early in the final period, cornerback Kelvin Hayden picked off a pass by Rex Grossman and returned it 56 yards for a score that increased the Colts' advantage to 29-17.
Grossman's pass toward the right sideline was intended for Muhsin Muhammad and Hayden leaped in front of him before racing down the sideline accompanied by a cordon of blockers.
Chicago's offense, which had sputtered most of the night, never recovered, allowing the Colts' Tony Dungy to become the first African-American head coach to win the Super Bowl.
Grossman completed 20 of 28 passes for just 165 yards, a touchdown and two crucial interceptions in the fourth quarter. The Bears (15-4), seeking their first title since the 1985 season, also lost three fumbles.
Dominic Rhodes had 113 yards on the ground for the Colts, and his backfield teammate Joseph Addai added 77.
The Super Bowl victory was the Colts' first since the 1970 season when the club, playing in Baltimore, defeated the Dallas Cowboys 16-13.
Indianapolis recovered from a dazzling -- and demoralising -- 92-yard touchdown on the game's opening kickoff by Bears rookie sensation Devin Hester.
Hester raced up the middle and cut to the outside, needing just 14 seconds to give the Bears a 7-0 lead. It was the first time in the Super Bowl's 41-year history the opening kickoff was returned for a score.
Indianapolis (16-4) responded with a 53-yard scoring pass from Manning to wide receiver Reggie Wayne but the conversion attempt was botched and the Bears held a 7-6 lead.
A four-yard touchdown from Grossman to Muhammad following a fumble by Indianapolis gave the Bears a 14-6 lead with four minutes 34 seconds left in the opening quarter.
Vinatieri kicked a 29-yard field goal to slice the Bears' lead to 14-9.
Indianapolis took a 16-14 lead, an advantage it never lost, with six minutes left in the half on a one-yard touchdown by Rhodes, capping a seven-play, 58-yard drive.
Two Vinatieri field goals in the third quarter gave the Colts a 22-14 lead before the Bears' Robbie Gould countered with a 44-yarder to trim the Chicago deficit to five.
- REUTERS
