Masterful Manning pilots Colts past Kansas with dazzling display
Quarterbacks were in the spotlight in the day’s National Conference match-up also, but it was Eagles defender Brian Dawkins and kicker David Akers who finally settled the duel between Brett Favre and Donovan McNabb in Philadelphia.
Dawkins intercepted Favre’s desperation pass in overtime and returned it 35 yards to set up Akers’ 31-yard field goal as the Eagles rallied for a 20-17 victory over the Packers.
The win put the Eagles into the NFC championship game for the third straight year under coach Andy Reid.
McNabb made it all possible, leading the Eagles to the tying field goal late in regulation. Faced with a 4th-and-26, McNabb fired a 26-yard pass over the middle to Freddie Mitchell to the Green Bay 32 to keep alive the drive.
On 3rd-and-7, McNabb connected with Todd Pinkston for 10 yards to the 19 to set up a 37-yard field goal by Akers, forging a 17-17 deadlock with five seconds left.
In the battle of Pro Bowl quarterbacks, McNabb clearly got the better of Favre, a three-time Most Valuable Player. He threw for 248 yards and two touchdowns and set a playoff record for quarterbacks with 107 yards rushing.
But it was Manning who turned in the day’s most dazzling display, throwing for 304 yards and three touchdowns to earn his first trip to the AFC championship game.
A four-time Pro Bowler, Manning was masterful throughout, completing 9-of-13 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns in the first half and 13-of-17 for 161 yards and a score in the second half.
His passer rating of 138.8 against the Chiefs was slightly below the maximum 158.3 he racked up in the Colts’ 41-10 romp against Denver a week ago.
“Obviously, Peyton is just playing phenomenal,” Colts coach Tony Dungy said.
“He’s making the checks, putting us in the right plays and making the clutch third-down plays. He’s just been fantastic the last two weeks.”
Chiefs punter Jason Baker also had the day off as Kansas City had a touchdown, field goal and missed field goal on three first-half possessions and a turnover and three touchdowns, including a 92-yard kick return by Dante Hall, in the second half.
The Chiefs (13-4) were the NFL’s highest-scoring team with 484 points, an average of 30.3 per game.
They surpassed 30 points for the eighth time this season as Priest Holmes led the way with a franchise playoff-record 176 rushing yards and a pair of one-yard TDs. But it was not enough.
The Colts will battle New England for a Super Bowl berth in Foxboro, Massachusetts, next weekend.
The Patriots beat Tennessee 17-14 on Saturday, but even frigid New England weather may not be enough to cool off Manning and the Colts.
In next week's NFC title game, the Eagles will host the Carolina Panthers, who upset the Rams in St. Louis 25-16 on Saturday.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
