What XLIV Means

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What XLIV Means

Written by Luke Dunlevy

Saturday, 06 February 2010 19:48

I've been thinking lately about what winning this Super Bowl would mean to me as a Colts fan. Tonight a flood of ideas hit me out of nowhere.

1.) Winning XLIV will make breaking every last passing record a lot less important. Manning will spend the final years of his career hunting records that almost universally belong to Brett Favre. After tomorrow it won't matter nearly as much. We love stats and that will never change. But we won't be forced to pull them out in anger nearly as often.

2.) Winning would mean a lot of baseless digs at Colts not currently featured on this team. We've already seen this begin during the past month. People will rip Edgerrin James, Marvin Harrison, Tony Dungy, and Bob Sanders. This will piss us off and likely start a few internet shouting matches. (It is only fair to mention the downside of winning.)

3.) Winning means the end of the Atlanta Braves comparison forever. I can't tell you how much that possibility excites me. I hated the Atlanta Braves dynasty. There was just something trashy about those teams. Whenever I think about them I think about their failures rather than their immense and sustained success. It is grossly unfair, but people think of the Colts run of success in the same light. A second Super Bowl championship would put an exclamation mark on more than a decade of dominance.

4.) Winning would mean Tom Brady can feel Peyton's hot breath on the back of his neck. Okay... that came out horribly wrong, but you get the idea. We can start talking about how the Colts have won two of the last four titles. But hey, the Pats have won three of the last nine!

5.) Winning means I can add to my collection of ~~bootleg~~ highly questionable fully-stitched Colts Super Bowl jerseys from ~~China~~ parts unknown. I got a #88 and #29 from XLI. DZ got a #21 and #18. We paid a total of $125 for four jerseys. Totally real looking. Ebay rules.

6.) Winning would make DZ's forthcoming book an absolute must read.

7.) Winning would punch Bill Polian's ticket to Canton. It would also greatly boost the Hall chances of Jeff Saturday, Dwight Freeney, Reggie Wayne, and Dallas Clark.

8.) Winning would complete one of the most impressive seasons in NFL history. Winning convincingly would start a debate that might last for years to come. Where would you rank the 17-2* Indianapolis Colts?

9.) Winning means another Peyton Manning appearance on SNL. Huzzah!

10.) Winning XLIV means fan nirvana. The Colts never lost a game they tried to win? Peyton won his fourth MVP? There is life after Dungy? Yup -- we are one win from fan nirvana. I can't believe we are this close.

Comments (22) Add Comment

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written by Nickaveli, February 06, 2010

What possible reason is there for calling the Atlanta Braves trashy besides how they dominated your Reds while in the same division? Call them underachievers in the post season, don't call them trashy. They hold 3rd place in my personal sports world, behind the Colts and IU basketball.

GO COLTS!

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written by DemondSanders, February 06, 2010

Bobby Cox: Hall of Famer, wife beater.

C'mon, don't celebrate with illegal goods
written by JohnD, February 06, 2010

Bootleg jerseys, c'mon. That's like saying "I dearly love Tom Clancy, so much that I'll gladly pay pennies on the dollar for a photocopy of his books."

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written by Stiglitz, February 06, 2010

If the Colts win it would also mean the first MVP of the season won the Superbowl, something Brady was also unable to do, woohoo!

It would also mean...
written by Dr. Ben, February 06, 2010

...that if there is a lockout next year (God forbid), the Colts would hold the title for a total of 3 yrs. in the last decade. Fuzzy math would count this as 3 championships!!

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written by DemondSanders, February 06, 2010

Bootleg jerseys, c'mon. That's like saying "I dearly love Tom Clancy, so much that I'll gladly pay pennies on the dollar for a photocopy of his books."

lol. that's a stretch.

get on ebay and search Colts super bowl jerseys. they're already on there. are they bootleg? I don't know, but $49.95 seems crazy cheap for a Manning Super Bowl jersey with stitched on numerals, patches, etc... wait a couple weeks and they'll be even less.

super bowl pick
written by johnnyg523, February 07, 2010

Super Bowl Analysis against the point spread!

http://talksportsphilly.com/?p=1605

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written by ColtsHeadBen, February 07, 2010

TWELVE GODDAMN HOURS

AARRRRRGHHHH!!!!

Killing Time
written by Paul McComas, February 07, 2010

I sent this to your email, but in case it didn't make it through. I was killing time playing Guess the Headline and thought I'd share a few. Feel free to add.

Manning has a huge game-
"Manning Stars in Miami Twice"

Manning pulls out a win after being pressured all night- (church history buff)
"Manning Converts After Being Tortured by Saints"

Saints lose after leading-
"Miami Brees Blows"

Onion Style-
"Saints Win Restores New Orleans Hope. In Celebration City Looted"

"Manning Happy WIth Rest-Augmentation in Miami"

"Fans Unhappy With The Who, Goodell Announces Next Year's Half-Time Show Will Be The Pro Bowl"

Too Obvious-
"Blah Blah Saints, Blah Blah Marching, Blah Blah"

Odd but possible-
"Manning Wins Second, Off To New Orleans To Celebrate"

Colts win sloppy game-
"Caldwell That Ends Well"

OK, I will check Google News tomorrow and see if I nailed one. Thanks guys for all your work with the site all year! It has made watching and following the Colts much more enjoyable and insightful. Whatever happens tonight, great job for 2009. Enjoy the off-season, once the fog of depression or elation clears.

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written by DZ, February 07, 2010

Weird, never got the email...

it will mean...
written by kasey_junk, February 07, 2010

I can finally get a good nights sleep.

Headlines
written by Chip Bennett, February 07, 2010

"Manning, Colts Cap Perfect* Season"

Or, simply:

"Colts Win!"

Local Louisiana papers:

"Colts Dat"

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written by DemondSanders, February 07, 2010

Yeah I think you would have to go with some type of perfect season reference.

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written by hmrstrm45, February 07, 2010

You forgot that the Colts can't win back to back or back to back to back without getting the first one.

back to back
written by DemondSanders, February 07, 2010

I totally almost put that.

Carl likes the Colts.
written by Zackasaurus Rex, February 07, 2010

Aqua Teen Hunger Force certainly isn't the show that it once was... but this is the best freaking SB analysis I have seen all week.

I highly recommend it.

http://video.adultswim.com/car...-xliv.html

I thought I had gotten over it...
written by Doug England, February 07, 2010

During the Jets game, there was never a time I did not think the Colts were going to win. Never.

And now, facing a Saints defense that to put it kindly, is not in the same league as the Jets or Ravens... I should be calm. I should be confident. Man, it's just a game.

And yet I'm back to being a nervous wreck. 6:26 can't get her fast enough.

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written by Anonymous Lee, February 07, 2010

'Winning would mean Tom Brady can feel Peyton's hot breath on the back of his neck'

We saw the Peyton we all have come to know in love in a big spot - throwing a pick six to Tracy Porter. There's a reason Brady was named QB of the decade, cause he doesn't make boneheaded mistakes in big games like Manning did. Still 3-1 Brady to Manning. Deal with it. smilies/grin.gif

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written by Pats Fan, February 07, 2010

Thanks for the laughs. Looks like a long winter in Indianoplace... 9-9 same winning percentage as .... Drew Bledsoe. Congrats....

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written by DZ, February 07, 2010

Brady wasn't named QB of the decade. Nice try though.

Besides, he won one less game this year than Matt Cassel did last year.

no one takes him seriously anymore. Give it up.

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written by Anonymous Lee, February 07, 2010

'Brady wasn't named QB of the decade. Nice try though.

Besides, he won one less game this year than Matt Cassel did last year.

no one takes him seriously anymore. Give it up.'

Wrong again, dumb ass!
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2010-01-28-all-decade-qbs-tom-brady_N.htm

And nobody with half a brain outside of the state of Indiana will consider Manning the 'Greatest Quarterback Ever' either. Maybe the greatest big game fraud, perhaps. 9-9 lifetime in the playoffs, it is what it is - mediocre.