He did it

He did it. The only antidote to flushing problems away is by winning.

Consider Peyton Manning's troubles completely flushed away.

The moment he hoisted the Lombardi trophy high atop his head, you could almost see the nine-year pro getting lighter. The weight of Indianapolis, his father for not even getting to the playoffs and football fans had been bearing down on the modest quarterback.

He had been viewed as a stat man, something of a Dan Marino hybrid that can't come through when it matters. The advertising dynamo was 3-6 coming into this season's playoffs, including bowing out to the Patriots in back-to-back seasons in 2003 and 2004.

But something changed this year. The Colts, like always, breezed through the early portion of their schedule before losing three of four, including a 44-17 pasting at Jacksonville.

And if that wasn't enough ammo, Indy lost a heartbreaker on a 60-yard field goal to the lowly Texans the second-to-last game of the season.

Peyton had to rally the troops. But this time he was in an awkward position. His defense was ranked last in rushing during the regular season. And, oddly enough, the Colts had to take on Larry Johnson and the Chiefs in the first round.

Indy stepped up and held Johnson scoreless and Peyton answered again the next week by dressing down the Baltimore Ravens defense. After the game, the expressive Peyton told reporters that it's not a Peyton win or Peyton loss. It's a Colts win and a Colts loss.

With that, Indy went out and produced the largest comeback in AFC championship history by bringing back his troops from 18 down to beat his nemesis: New England.

The Super Bowl was just another sampling of what Peyton does. He's a robot with a laser arm. He won't take unnecessary chances and he knows every possible scenario before the ball is even snapped.

If everything happens for a reason, 2006 was Peyton's time.