Peyton Manning
has had an unfair rap of being bad in the
clutch. Because of that, we bring you:
The 18
Best 4th Quarter Wins by Peyton
Manning
(in Chronological order)
*Many details of
these games came from wire services, AP
reports, and my own occasionally hazy
memory.
1. 1998 vs Jets 24-23
During the rough
1998 rookie season, things started to turn
the corner as the line improved. In
mid-November, the Jets game to town. Up
23-10 at half time, the Jets seemed to have
everything under control. Manning led the
team back in the 3rd quarter
throwing his 2nd of three
touchdowns. The recap from the ticker:
“With the Colts trailing by six points,
Manning engineered a 15-play, 80-yard drive
in only 2:40. His biggest test came at his
own 38 on 4th-and-15, when he found running
back Faulk for 18 yards. Managing the clock
like a veteran, Manning hit Marvin Harrison
for a first down at the Jet 14 with 52
seconds left.
After an incompletion to tight end Ken
Dilger, Pollard caught the ball in the
middle of the field at the 3 and stretched
over the goal line.
"Peyton made a
great throw and I was thankful to get into
the end zone to win it, it was a team
effort," Pollard said.”
Though just a
rookie, this gave us all an inkling of what
was to come. Pollard battling over the goal
line will be an image mentioned during his
future induction into the Classic Colts.
2. 1999 @ Miami 37-34
After the debacle that was the first
Dolphins/Colts game of the season, the Colts
were hungry for revenge and their first
division title since 1987. The Colts jumped
out to an early 17-3 lead thanks in part to
an insane run by Edgerrin James. The
Dolphins battled back and the game was
largely back and forth all day with the
Colts staying just a step ahead. With just
seconds to go, Marino put the Fins in
position for a Mare field goal to tie the
game. Manning got the ball with 29 seconds
to play and two time outs. After a couple
of quick strikes and timeouts, Vanderjagt
banged home a massive 53 yarder at the gun
to win the game. This game featured a young
Manning out dueling an aging Marino and was
an instant classic.
3. 1999 @ Cleveland 29-28
With a first
ever first round bye in Indianapolis on the
line, the Colts started slow on a snowy,
windy day in Cleveland. Trailing 28-19
heading into the 4th quarter,
Manning led the Colts on a bruising 11 play
drive, converting a key 3rd and 4
with a completion to Marvin Harrison. The
ensuing touchdown only brought the Colts to
within 2 however. The defense held
Cleveland scoreless in the 4th
and Manning got the ball back with 4:12 to
play. Another 11 play drive that featured a
huge 3rd down catch by Edge to
put the Colts into field goal range.
Manning kept right on pushing, and moved the
team down near the goal where Vanderjagt
knocked home a chippy in the snow. This was
the team’s 13th win and ensured
at least a 2 seed in the AFC.
4. 2000 @ Buffalo 18-16
Against the best defense in the AFC, Manning
was facing a 16-15 deficit after the defense
allowed a horrible 40 yard touchdown pass
with just 1:06 on the clock. Having already
led one scoring drive that quarter, #18 took
the team from 31 and drove it into field
goal range. He hit Edge for a key pass and
efficiently moved the team to the 28. Vandy
knocked home the 45 yarder for the win.
After the game he said, “I'm just happy to
be along for Peyton Manning's ride because
he's one of the best. As soon as they
scored, I knew we'd be able to get into
field-goal range." No word on whether he
was liquored up at the time.
5. 2000 Vs Patriots 30-23
Bill Belichick always beats Peyton Manning
right? That’s true unless you look at the
facts. In this 2000 contest, Manning posted
the first perfect passer rating of his
career and the boys in blue racked up 16 4th
quarter points to overcome a 23-14 deficit.
Helped by a big day from Edge, Manning
posted 268 yards passing on 16-20 with 3 TDs.
The Colts went on the game winning drive
with just over 4 minutes to play, going 66
yards in 6 plays with Edge scoring the game
winner with just over 2 minutes left.
Manning has posted more perfect passing
games than any man in history, and the Colts
needed everything he had to give in his very
first one.
6. 2002 vs Baltimore 22-20
Baltimore games are always emotionally
charged, and this one in Dungy’s first year
was no exception. The typically tough
Ravens defense had forced the Colts into 4
field goals and held a 20-19 lead with 2 ½
minutes left. Manning had only 2 time outs
to take the ball from his own 20 and move it
into field goal range. The Ravens defense
made it difficult, sacking Peyton for a 13
yard loss. A huge completion to Marvin made
it 4th and 5 before a penalty
pushed things back. Then, on a pass to
Quadray Ishmael (remember him?) the Ravens
interfered. The 22 yard penalty on 4th
down extended the drive. Peyton then hit
#88 for 15 more yards before a pair of Edge
runs set up the winning figgie as time
expired.
7. 2002 @ Denver 23-20 (OT)
This game was always ignored by those who
questioned the Colts ability to win on the
road in bad weather. On a snowy Sunday
night in November, the Colts and Broncos
played a classic back and forth game that
marked one of the last times that Mike
Vanderjagt was clutch. Denver jumped to
13-3 lead in the 3rd quarter, but
the Colts responded with a pair of lightning
quick touchdown drives. After another
Denver score midway through the fourth put
the Colts down three, they failed on a
couple of attempts to even up the game.
When Manning and the offense took over at
the 20 with 1:40 to play, they still needed
a field goal. Manning worked the ball down
field, to put the team in range for a 54
yard try with just seconds on the clock.
Vandy came out onto the snow covered field
and buried the tying kick. The Colts won
the toss in OT and marched down field
stalling out around the 34. Vanderjagt came
on again and 51 yards later, he delivered
the Colts an incredible OT win.
8. 2002 @ Cleveland 28-23
These days we are all used to Manning
running the no-huddle and calling all the
plays. On this day late in 2002, it was a
half-time adjustment by Tom Moore that gave
Peyton the power. The Colts trailed 16-0 at
the half of a game they had to win in order
to make the playoffs. Then, they lit up the
score board in the 3rd and 4th
quarters. Manning and Harrison hooked up
for two 2nd half scores as Marvin
broke the single season receptions mark. On
the final drive, 18 to 88 worked for a 46
yard completion down to the Cleveland 10.
James Mungro eventually banged home the game
winning touchdown with just minutes
remaining.
9. 2003 @ Cleveland 9-6
Despite the off-season tension between
Vanderjagt and Manning, Peyton used him well
in the first game of 2003. Despite a sloppy
opener, the Colts found themselves tied 6-6
with 2:39 to go, pinned down at their own
8. Instead of running out the clock or
playing it safe, Manning drove the team
downfield for the win. Manning went 8 for
10, hitting 5 different receivers on the
final drive. The key passes were a quick
strike to Harrison to pull the team out of
the shadow of the end zone and a huge hook
up with a young Reggie Wayne on 3rd
and 10 from their own 34. The 15 yard pass
moved the Colts to midfield. Four
completions later and the Colts were in FG
range. Vandy nailed a 45 yarder and the
2003 season was off and running.
10. 2003 @ Tampa 38-35 (OT)
I suppose almost everyone at least
threatened to turn this one off at some
point during the night. The Colts trailed
21-0 at the half and by 21 at 35-14 with
just 5:09 left to go in the game. Then
something weird started to happen. Brad
Pyatt ripped off a long kickoff return. The
Colts pounded it in for a quick score. An
onside kick actually worked. Manning hit
Harrison on 4th down for another
score. Tampa ran an offensive possession as
if they were on crack, garnering a bizarre
personal foul call to stop the clock before
the two minute warning. Then, with the game
on the line, Manning and Harrison hooked up
yet again for 52 yards to set up a short TD
run. The Horse survived an OT possession by
the Bucs, and then Manning went to work
carving them up on 3rd down,
moving the ball into Vanderjagt field goal
range. Like most big kicks he had with the
Colts, Vandy shanked it. However, the
officials stepped in with a ‘leaping’
penalty on the Bucs to give Vandy a second
try. This time he slammed it off the
upright and home for one of the most
improbable comebacks of all time.
11. 2003@ Buffalo 17-14
The Colts trailed 14-3 on the road in
Buffalo in November. For #18, that was no
problem. He led the team on two fourth
quarter touchdown drives to steal a win from
the Bills. Edge scored both touchdowns, but
it was Manning who executed the offense to
perfection. Trailing 14-9 the Colts went on
a bruising 16 play 83 yard drive that ended
with Edge banging home a TD on 4th
and inches with just 2:38 left in the game.
Manning added a 2 point conversion pass to
Mungro to force the lead to the final margin
of 3 points. Despite not throwing a TD
pass, Manning showed tremendous patience and
poise and keep the Colts tied for the
division lead.
12. 2003 @ Houston 20-17
Trailing 17-3 in
the final week of the season, entering the 4th
quarter with the division title and MVP
award at stake, Manning relentlessly drove
the Colts back into the game. The Colts
rammed the ball down the field on an 11 play
drive to cut the deficit to 7. Manning
later converted a David Carr int deep in his
own territory into a short TD throw to
Stokley to tie the game. After a defensive
stop, the Colts took the ball and drove into
field goal range thanks in large part to a
16 yard third down conversion pass from
Manning to Harrison, and a key 9 yard
scramble by Manning to take the ball down to
the Texans 36 and into eventual field goal
range. Manning would go on to share the MVP
award with Steve McNair and the Colts would
go to the AFC Championship game after two
amazing playoff performances by #18.
13. 2004 vs Minnesota 31-28
With the season
hanging precariously in the balance and a
4-3 record, Manning picked up the pace of
his play and accelerated down the road to 49
touchdown passes. In a back and forth game
that feature Manning and Harrison against
Culpepper and Moss, Manning drove the Colts
down to the goal line with time expiring.
On the final 55 yard drive, Manning
scrambled for 15 yards and key first down.
He also made an amazing left handed flip to
Edge while under duress that helped to seal
the game. The Colts made it to the goal
line and ran the clock out, allowing
Vanderjagt to nail the gimme game winner
with 2 seconds to play. Manning and
Culpepper locked up for a great Monday night
showdown featuring perhaps the two greatest
statistical seasons by a QB in NFL history.
14. 2004 vs Chargers 34-31 (OT)
Played the day after Christmas in 2004, this
game had plenty of significance and drama.
The Colts and Chargers were playing to
settle the 3 seed in the AFC playoffs, and
Peyton Manning was stuck on 47 touchdown
passes, one short of the single season mark
held by Dan Marino. The Chargers started
strong and Manning threw a pick near the
goal line. When LT scored to put the
Chargers up 15 early in the fourth, things
looked bleak. Dom Rhodes answered the bell
and ran back the ensuing kickoff for an 88
yard touchdown. The teams traded empty
possessions (including a missed FG by Vandy),
and Indy took over with 3:42 to play and
three timeouts. Faced with a 4 and 4 almost
immediately, Manning then took off his blue
and white jersey to reveal that he is in
fact Superman. He waved the punt unit off
the field and promptly converted the 4th
down with a pass to Reggie Wayne. He
marched the team down field finally hitting
Brandon Stokely for the record breaking pass
on a post route the two made up at the line
of scrimmage. Still down two, the Colts
tied the game on a conversion by Edge, and
when they won the toss in OT, everyone in
the building knew the Chargers would never
see the ball. A scant four plays later,
Vanderjagt converted the game winner.
15. 2006 @ NY Jets 31-28
This was a game
that Peyton refused to let the Colts lose.
In one of the most entertaining 4th
quarters in recent history, the Colts and
Jets traded body blows, until the Jets
finally collapsed after lateraling the ball
all over the field. Manning originally put
the Colts in position to take the lead early
in the 4th as Gramatica hit a
short FG to take a 17-14 lead. The Jets
responded with a touchdown, which forced a
classic Manning drive. A Peyton TD pass to
Brian Fletcher with just 2:34 seemed to put
the Colts in the driver’s seat with a 24-21
lead. The Colts special teams collapsed,
however, as the Jets ran back the kickoff
for a 28-24 lead with just 2 minutes and
change remaining, but no timeouts. Manning
refused to panic, and drove the Colts right
back down field going 6-8 on the final drive
that ended with him quick count QB sneaking
into the end zone with just 50 seconds
left. He then victoriously spiked the
football and the Jets hopes. This drive
featured a huge 19 yard completion to #88 on
3rd and 6 from the Jets 35. In
what may be one of the single most
incredible athletic plays in his life,
Manning started to scramble under pressure,
pulled up short of the line of scrimmage,
gathered his feet in a split second with a
Jet hanging off his jersey, and hit Marvin
streaking toward the sideline. First down,
clock stopped. The Jets were crestfallen,
and they knew a touchdown was imminent. 3
plays later, Manning took it in for the win.
16. 2006 vs. Titans 14-13
Despite trailing
most of the day to a young Titans team, the
Colts and Manning came through when it
counted. Trailing 10-0 at the half and 13-7
after 3, Manning drove the Colts for the
winning score. With just 5:10 to play,
Manning hit Reggie Wayne for a score on 3rd
down capping a 10 play 43 yard drive.
Manning was 4-6 on the winning drive and
converted two key third downs. The game
sucked, but Manning averted disaster.
17. 2006 @ Denver 34-31
Last team with the ball wins sounds like a
cliché, but it summed up so many games the
2006 Colts played. This late afternoon
classic was no exception. The Broncos had
the lead at the half, 14-6. The Colts went
on a long drive to start the second half,
and then converted a short field after
recovering a Jake Plummer fumble for a 20-14
lead. The infamous run defense then almost
took over for the Colts. They gave up a
rushing score at the end of the 3rd
quarter and trailed again 21-20. Vinatieri
nailed a long FG, but the Broncos rammed the
ball down the field for a 28-23 lead with
less than 7 to play. Manning and Wayne
responded by completely abusing a young
Denver corner and with 3:56 to play, the
Colts took a 31-28 lead after a 2 point
conversion. Gilbert Gardner struck back by
abandoning his hole and letting Denver rip
off a 48 yard run. Fortunately, the defense
stiffened, and Denver settled for a long
field goal and a tie with just 1:49 to play.
1:49 is waaaay to long to give #18 however,
and unfortunately for the Denver, Darrent
Williams was still on the field. Manning
calmly moved the Colts down field to set up
a game winning field goal try from Adam
Vinatieri with just two seconds on the
clock. By the time the dust had settled,
the Colts were 7-0 for the second straight
season.
18. 2006 vs Patriots (AFC Championship)
38-34
In the single
biggest and greatest game in Indianapolis
history, Manning was huge. Having already
overcome a 21-3 deficit to tie the game in
the 3rd quarter, the Colts had to
overcome shaky special teams play which left
them facing a 28-21 hole in the fourth.
Manning led the Colts on 3 scoring drives
for a total of 17 points. On the final
drive, Manning took the Colts 80 yards in
just 1:17 and didn’t even need to use a time
out. Manning racked up 349 yards and a
score to propel the Colts on to Super Bowl
LXI. It was one of the most clutch
performances in a career that has been
filled with them.
Isn't it great that time doesn't just stand still? Manning had some more magic in 2007...
He
set up Adam Vinatieri for a last second field goal against the Chiefs
for a 13-10 win, that was ugly, but huge given the physical state of
the team at the time.
He also hit AG for a key fourth quarter score to beat the Raiders in a come from behind 21-14 win.
Stats on these comebacks:
Just in case you
think Manning only plays well in the dome or
in warm weather or in ‘non big games’…
11 of the 18 came on the road
2 came on MNF
7 came at Cleveland, Denver, and Buffalo (2
of those in the snow)
16 came against conference foes
6 came in division games
2 came against a Bill Belichick defense
One comeback sent his team to the Super Bowl
Though 11 of the games eventually ended on a
made field goal, in 5 of those games,
Manning was required to score a touchdown to
tie or win the game.
12 of the 18 games required at least one 4th
quarter touchdown to tie or win the game.
7 games required
multiple 4th quarter touchdowns.
