As part of FanSided’s 15-year celebration, we’ll be jumping into a time machine to look at the state of the Indianapolis Colts in 2007.
The Indianapolis Colts have finally done it. Indy was able to defeat the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl 41 by a score of 29-17, capturing the elusive championship that many of Indy’s stars have been missing.
Of course, the Colts were led by their biggest star Peyton Manning, throwing for 247 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Manning received plenty of help from the running game and the elite defense.
It took an all-around team effort to achieve this goal but Indianapolis is finally here. Additionally, the road was especially sweet since the Colts got to defeat Tom Brady and the New England Patriots en route to the Super Bowl.
But the best part of it all is that this is only the beginning. Indy has reached the mountain top and is in great shape to stay there.
February 4, 2007. The greatest day in #Colts franchise history:
— Locked On Colts Podcast (@LockedOnColts) April 10, 2020
- Peyton ➡️ Reggie answers Hester's TD
- Bob Sanders puts his fingerprints all over this one with forced fumble + INT
- Dominic Rhodes runs wild on Chicago
- Kelvin Hayden ices it with pick 6 pic.twitter.com/dkTWG70zQI
Colts are in position to go on a championship run
Peyton Manning is only 30 years old and is at the top of his game. Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, and Ben Utecht are all under contract with Indy for more seasons.
Even though Harrison is 34, he is coming off an All-Pro season and doesn’t appear to be slowing down.
Additionally, the defense is stacked and it should remain that way. Robert Mathis signed an extension last offseason and Dwight Freeney just recently re-signed with a six-year deal worth $72 million, making him one of the highest-paid defensive players in the NFL.
Bob Sanders, however, is entering the final year of his rookie contract. The Colts need to do whatever is possible to extend him as well because he has Defensive Player of the Year written all over him.
With the majority of the offensive and defensive core returning, and the great Adam Vinatieri, Indianapolis is set up for success in the years to come.
Super Bowl 41 was the Colts’ first championship since the franchise moved to Indianapolis and 36 years removed from the last Super Bowl victory in Baltimore.
With the talent on this roster, there shouldn’t be another drought like that. The Colts can win many more Super Bowls over the next few seasons and may even repeat next year.
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