Horsepower

By JOANNE KORTH
Published February 5, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [AP photo] Tony Dungy is dunked after his Indianapolis Colts defeated the Chicago Bears in a rainy Super Bowl XLI on Sunday night in Miami. Related coverage Gary Shelton: Top of the World John Romano: A legacy completed, Manning gets his title View photos Complete coverage

SUPER BOWL XLI

Colts 29, Bears 17

MIAMI -- The running backs romped. The receivers astounded. The kicker made history. And the superstar quarterback was named the game's most valuable player.

But in the end, when it mattered most, Tony Dungy was a defensive coach again.

He has the Lombardi Trophy to show for it.

Virtually discounted at the start of the playoffs because of their downtrodden defense, Dungy and the Colts beat the Bears at their own game in Super Bowl XLI, playing textbook Cover 2 defense in a rain-soaked 29-17 victory Sunday at Dolphin Stadium.

Who'd have thunk it?

"It was really just confidence," Dungy said. "Everyone was going to talk about their defense and our offense. We felt like, defensively and special teams-wise, we could win the game.

"Our defense has played like that in the playoffs. They've come out and played together.

"In spite of anything that happened, they never got rattled. I thought they hit and were physical. It was a mind-set that we can win the game if we need to."

Though close friend Lovie Smith of the Bears edged him by a few hours to become the first African-American coach to reach the Super Bowl, Dungy is the first to win it.

Dungy, whose first head coaching job was with the Bucs in 1996, built his resume and growing coaching tree on two principles, the Cover 2 scheme and strength of conviction. Both were in winning form for Indianapolis during a postseason that presented all manner of adversity.

Indy's much-maligned run defense was the league's worst during the regular season but turned stingy in playoff victories against the Chiefs and Ravens.

In the AFC Championship Game, the Colts rallied from an 18-point deficit against the nemesis Patriots, sealing the win with an interception of Tom Brady.

In the Super Bowl, driving rain created sloppy conditions. But the Colts rallied from rookie Devin Hester's 92-yard touchdown return, the first in Super Bowl history on an opening kickoff, and an early eight-point deficit.

"No one was upset after the opening kickoff," Dungy said. "The guys plugged away. More than anything, it was our team fighting together all the way through."

Indy's high-powered offense tallied 430 yards, 191 rushing and 239 passing, against Chicago's fifth-ranked defense.

Peyton Manning, the finest statistical quarterback of his generation, avoided the lifelong heartache of never winning a Super Bowl. The nine-year veteran was 25-of-38 for 247 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Just think how many endorsement deals he'll have now.

"It feels great to be a part of this team and a part of this championship," Manning said. "It's truly a team win."

Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai had 113 and 77 rushing yards, respectively. Receiver Reggie Wayne got behind the secondary for a 53-yard touchdown. Receiver Marvin Harrison made a tippy-toe catch along the sideline.

Adam Vinatieri made field goals of 29, 24 and 20 yards and set an NFL record with 49 points in a single postseason.

But the unsung heroes for Indianapolis play defense.

Other than a 52-yard run by Thomas Jones that set up a 4-yard touchdown pass from Rex Grossman to Muhsin Muhammad in the first quarter, the Colts gave up precious little.

Chicago ran 48 plays for 265 yards; Indy had 81. Indy forced five turnovers. Time of possession was heavily in Indy's favor, 38:04 to 21:56.

"It's frustrating when you can't get into your game plan, you can't get deep into everything you practiced," said Grossman, 20-of-28 for 165 yards and two interceptions.

Protecting a 22-17 lead in the fourth, the Colts slammed the door by intercepting Grossman on consecutive possessions. Cornerback Kelvin Hayden kept his foot inbounds by a blade of grass at the start of a 56-yard return for a touchdown with 11:44 to play.

"We stepped up the whole postseason where we just made the plays and the defense buckled down and we couldn't be stopped," said Hayden, who replaced injured starter Nick Harper.

On the Bears' next possession, Grossman threw behind Bernard Berrian deep down the middle and was intercepted by safety Bob Sanders at the Indy 21. Minutes later, when Grossman's fourth-and-9 pass fell incomplete, all that remained for the Colts was to wait out the final five minutes and pour Gatorade on an already drenched Dungy.

"I love these guys," Dungy said. "I really know what we went through to win this one. It feels great."

he running backs romped. The receivers astounded. The kicker made history. And the superstar quarterback was named the game's most valuable player. But in the end, when it mattered most, Tony Dungy was a defensive coach again. He has the Lombardi Trophy to show for it. Virtually discounted at the start of the playoffs because of their downtrodden defense, Dungy and the Colts beat the Bears at their own game in Super Bowl XLI, playing textbook Cover 2 defense in a rain-soaked 29-17 victory Sunday at Dolphin Stadium in Miami. Who'd have thunk it? "It was really just confidence," Dungy said. "Everyone was going to talk about their defense and our offense. We felt like, defensively and special teams-wise, we could win the game. "Our defense has played like that in the playoffs. They've come out and played together.

[Last modified February 5, 2007, 07:28:35]