INDIANAPOLIS — In early 2007, despite the fact that the Indianapolis Colts were seven-point favorites over the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI — a figure still tied for the third-most lopsided title game line since 2000 — there certainly wasn’t a general consensus among fans outside of the Circle City that Peyton Manning and Co. had this title in the bag.
Sure, the Colts that year had managed a 12-win regular season and the AFC South Division title, but they had done so with an at-times shaky defense, particularly against the run, as Indy allowed 5.