In the AFC Final this Sunday, Colts quarterback Peyton Manning completed three touchdown passes to give the Indianapolis Colts victory against the Jets. The Colts won in New York 30-17 and advanced to the NFL Super Bowl XLIV, held on February 7th in Miami. This is the franchise’s fourth trip to a Super Bowl and the second in the last four years. The team won the title in 2007 after beating the Chicago Bears 29-17. In the first quarter, the Jets’ defense managed to hold back Manning’s progress; the quarterback had to spend three offensive series for the Colts to get a first down, adding two catches. For the Jets, Jay Feely missed a 44-yard field goal, which prevented any opening in the score. At the same time, quarterback Mark Sanchez was unable to make significant progress, either by land or air. The quarter ended 0-0. The second quarter saw a change of pace. Matt Stover gave the Colts a 3-0 lead with a 25-yard field goal. But the Jets reacted immediately with a long 80-yard pass from Sanchez to wide receiver Braylor Edwards to put the score 7-3 in favor of New York. But Manning would not sit idly by, trying to close the gap in the third down, an attempt stopped by the Jets’ defense. However, Strover came to the rescue again, adding a 19-yard field goal that set the score at 7-6. Sanchez responded by sending a delivery to Dustin Keller in a 9-yard touchdown, increasing the lead over the Colts 14-6. In the next offense, though, the Colts lost the ball and the Jets began to move their offense. Feely had a chance to redeem himself, hitting a 48-yard field goal and adding another 3 points for New York, setting the scoreboard at 17-6. However, Manning soon answered with a pass to Austin Collie, who advanced 48 yards. Later, Collie caught another 16-yard pass from Manning to close the gap in the score, 17-13. In the second half, the Jets’ running game fell below satisfactory, Feely missed his second field goal of the day, and the Colts took advantage of the gaps left by New York’s defense to increase their points on the scoreboard. Haitian receiver Gar'on Pierre then scored a 4-yard touchdown to turn the score around in favor of Indianapolis, 20-17. The fourth quarter was a complete break from the first half. Indianapolis entirely neutralized the Jets, who simply couldn’t stop Manning’s; nor could they surpass the Colts’ defense. Colts tight end Dallas Clark, who scored 35 yards, caught a pass from Manning and set the score 27-17. The game seemed over, but Matt Strover added a 21-yard field goal that brought in an addition 3 points and ended the game 30-17, in favor of the Colts. Manning, four-time MVP of the League, completed 26 of 39 attempts for 377 yards, adding 3 touchdowns and making history by becoming the first quarterback to claim more than 300 yards in seven games during the playoffs. Sanchez, on the other hand, completed 17 of 30 attempts for 257 yards and two touchdown passes. The Colts will now face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, February 7th, in the Super Bowl XLIV.
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