Peyton Manning is a Loser

Divisional Playoffs: January 15, 2006
PITTSBURGH 21, INDIANAPOLIS 18

When the camera zoomed in on Peyton Manning's face after Vanderjagt missed a potential game-tying field goal with only 21 seconds left against the Steelers on Sunday, you could see Peyton mutter with a half-grimace/half-grin, "He missed it." Vanderjagt’s missed field goal ensured that Peyton will continue to carry the dubious label, “can’t win a big game.”

The game wasn’t as close as the final score indicated – the referee even tried to help the Colts by inexplicably overturning an obvious interception by Pittsburgh Safety Troy Polamalu with 6 minutes left in the 4th quarter (the league later admitted that it was clearly the wrong call; I would dare say that it was the worst call ever made in the NFL “instant replay era,” and it would not shock me to learn that the referee had portions of his salary riding on Indy at his local sportsbook.)

Despite the bye week, home field advantage, and huge help from referee Pete Morelli, Manning somehow ended up losing another postseason game that he should have won; the Colts were 10-point favorites over the Steelers – the kicking game should have been a non-factor if Peyton took care of business the way he should have. Indy was a team that started 13-0 and had many folks talking “undefeated season.” They were a lock to make it to the Super Bowl and even-money to win it all. With the shocking loss to Pittsburgh, Manning’s postseason record drops to a pitiful 3-5.

Even if Vanderjagt had made the 46-yard field goal to tie the score against the Steelers, history indicates that Peyton would have eventually lost the game anyway. Despite the impressive regular season statistics Manning generates each year, the end result is always the same – he ends each season watching the big game from his living room, just like you and me.