You’re Bill Belichick, head coach of the New England Patriots, and you have the football and you explosive offense on the field. You were held and it is now 4th & 2 on your own 28 yardline. “Pretty easy choice huh?” What if I told you there was a certain Mr. #18 standing on the opposite sidline cool, collected, with ice-water flowing through his veins. He is poised, in-sync, and ready. This Mr. #18 goes by the name of Peyton Manning. Heard of em’?
You now find yourself in the same shoes Bill Belichick was in last night. He has the decision to punt the ball, or he can go for the first down. The later of the two is a very risky move. But considering that Peyton Manning was standing on the opposite sideline, it is harder to tell which is the riskier of the two. Bill called his last timeout and talked it over with his All-Pro QB Tom Brady. After a talk they decided they has a better chance of getting the first down than they did of containing the juggernaut on the other sideline. They called a short pass play to Running Back Kevin Faulk. He caught the ball a little past the first down, but as he was pulling in the ball he juggled it and was tackled behind the first down line. Thus, giving the ball to Peyton Manning and his deadly efficnt offense. Peyton Manning is one of the best fourth quarter QBs ever to touch a football. Every heart in Patriot Nation sunk as they saw #18 jogging onto the field of play, with his face betraying no emotion. He was ready to do what had to be done. With under 30 seconds left in the game Manning had the Colts near the Goal-line and threw a game winning pass to Reggie Wayne to seal the victory. Peyton Manning = Clutch
During the Media press conference after the game Bill Belichick stated , “I still believed the pass should have resulted in a first down, but didn’t due to a bad spot.” Many of the Patriot’s fans were outraged with the call, believing it was a poor play call, and have even gone far enough to claim “Momentary Insanity.” But as for the Patriot’s players, they were behind their Coach 100%. When running back Kevin Faulk was asked if he was suprised with the play he said,” You can’t be suprised at that point it time, the game is on the line.” Many of the other players further backed up their coach. They all repeated the same thing,”He was coaching to win the game.”
If you would like to watch the call, and Peyton Manning’s awesomness I have provided a link here.
But for all of use don’t we wish we could be like Peyton Manning. Not in sports specifically, but in our respected areas. All of us want to be the person, that when it is all on the line, everyone knows whose getting the call. Why? Because you’re clutch. Light outs. Game over.
