Nearly three years after leading the Indianapolis Colts past the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI, quarterback Peyton Manning and teammates are headed back to the NFL's championship game. Putting together a fantastic performance Sunday afternoon against the league's best defense, Manning led the Colts to a 30-17 come-from-behind victory over the New York Jets in the AFC Championship Game
After falling behind early, Manning dissected the Jets' defense, completing 26-of-39 passes for 377 yards, with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Wide receiver Pierre Garcon, an unlikely hero, played like a man possessed with an AFC Championship Game record 11 catches for a career-best 153 yards receiving. He also scored the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter.
The Jets actually held an 11-point lead in the second quarter after an 80-yard touchdown catch by Braylon Edwards gave New York a 17-6 lead. But a late strike by Manning in the first half to close the gap to four shifted the momentum, and it was all Colts in the second half.
The Colts defense deserves a lot of credit as well, shutting down and shutting out the Jets in the second half. Following New York's opening drive after halftime, which resulted in a missed 52-yard field-goal, the Jets never again got past the Colts' 49-yard line.
With the win, the Colts move on to Super Bowl XLIV to face the New Orleans Saints in two weeks.
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