By Jared TrexlerTony Dungy didn't need the Gatorade bath. Standing in a steady rain for 60 minutes had already left the head coach wet to the brim.
Yet, the significance behind the shower sure made it feel a lot better.
Dungy became the first African American head coach to win a Super Bowl, Peyton Manning validated his Hall of Fame-worthy career with a ring and a MVP Award and the Indianapolis Colts won their first NFL championship since moving from Baltimore, downing Chicago 29-17 in Super Bowl XLI at Pro Player Stadium.
Manning bounced back from an early interception to throw for 247 yards and a touchdown, and the Indianapolis defense played stout for the fourth straight playoff contest.
Manning connected with Reggie Wayne on a 53-yard touchdown after safety Chris Harris jumped the underneath route, allowing the Miami product to sprint untouched down the seam.
The score followed the first kickoff return for a TD to start a Super Bowl, as Devin Hester's nifty cutback jump-started a 92-yard waltz to paydirt. Hester even had time to check out his escapades on the Jumbo Tron as he neared the end zone.
Yet, Hester's electrifying start and a 52-yard run by Thomas Jones -- the longest run from scrimmage in team playoff history -- were the highlights in a game of offensive lowlights for Chicago.
Rex Grossman threw two costly interceptions in a four-pass sequence during the fourth quarter and Jones managed just 60 yards the rest of the game on 14 carries.
The small amount of carries illustrated Indianapolis' domination on both sides of the ball. Chicago couldn't stay on the field -- 3-of-10 on third down with four turnovers -- then had trouble getting off it -- losing time of possession almost 2-to-1 and allowing the Colts to convert on 8-of-18 third-down plays.
And in the end, the normally strong Bears rush defense had no answer for Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes. Addai had 143 all-purpose yards with 10 catches and Rhodes sprinted for 113 yards and a touchdown in the second quarter that gave the Colts the lead for good.
Despite the lopsided yardage totals, Chicago still entered the fourth quarter trailing just 22-17 only to see its Super Bowl dreams dashed in Grossman's right arm.
First, he threw an ill-advised pass on a failed double move toward Mushin Muhammad, ending in Kelvin Hayden's interception. The cornerback tight-roped the sideline and finished off the play in the end zone 56 yards later.
Then, in desperation mode, Grossman bought time with a play-action fake and had an open Bernard Berrian behind the corner and to the left of safety Bob Sanders. Instead of leading Berrian toward the right corner, Grossman hung the ball down the seam, Sanders caught up and the rest was history.
Indianapolis ran most of the remaining time off the clock, leading to a celebration on the sidelines and the removal of monkeys off Dungy's and Manning's backs.
Phanatic Notes
In a twist of Super Bowl fate, Hayden played for Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner in college when Turner was head coach at Illinois...Marvin Harrison still hasn't caught a touchdown in nine career games at Pro Player Stadium...Indianapolis had 24 first downs to 11 for Chicago and outgained the Bears 430 to 265...Sunday marked the first Super Bowl played in the rain...Hester has seven TD returns in only 19 career games...The game featured eight turnovers...Normally clutch Adam Vinatieri missed a 32-yard kick as the first half expired.
Stay tuned for more Super Bowl XLI coverage Monday and Tuesday at The Phanatic Magainze
**Photo courtesy of the Associated Press**
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