Indianapolis Colts Super Bowl Memories: Super Bowl 41

With Super Bowl 52 on the horizon, now is a great time to look back at the Colts’ experiences in the NFL’s biggest game.

The Colts moved to Indianapolis in 1984, but it took them over 30 years to make their first Super Bowl in their new city.

Indianapolis’ first trip to the Super Bowl was a memorable one as the Colts beat the Chicago Bears in rainy Miami 29-17.

Devin Hester returned the opening kickoff for a Chicago touchdown in a nightmare start for Indianapolis, and the Bears led 14-6 after the first quarter. The Colts answered by scoring 16 straight points, and they tacked on a pick-six in the fourth quarter to seal Peyton Manning’s first Super Bowl victory.

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Manning didn’t have his best game throwing for 247 yards with a touchdown and an interception, but the Colts offense was dominant on the ground rushing for 191 yards on 42 carries. Dominic Rhodes rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown, and running back Joseph Addai contributed 143 yards from scrimmage as the Indianapolis backfield came up big.

The Colts defense held Chicago’s offense to 265 total yards and forced 5 turnovers in one of their best performances all year long.

Thanks to the wet conditions in Miami, it was a fairly sloppy game with 8 total turnovers between the two teams. That was exactly how the Bears wanted the game to go, but Indianapolis proved they could win in all sorts of ways with that Super Bowl victory.

Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning both had a reputation of not being able to win the big games, but they proved the doubters wrong in their run to Super Bowl 41. It was a sweet win for those two and Colts fans everywhere as it will be a game that will go down as one of the greatest moments in Indiana sports history.

Next: VIDEO: Peyton Manning Surprises Colts Fans at his Statue

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