Sometimes it appears Peyton Manning is a one-man show. He throws it here, throws it there, calls a prescient audible, throws it everywhere.
No, it only seems that way. As Manning has emerged as the top quarterback in the playoffs, he has had help from an experienced and productive supporting cast.
Manning long has been known as one of the Triplets–along with fellow first-round picks Marvin Harrison and Edgerrin James. But as the Colts have rolled up 79 points and 913 yards in two playoff victories, they have had some help.
“In our offense you have to be able to produce when your number is called,” coach Tony Dungy said.
The Triplets have had to make room on the main stage for the likes of receivers Reggie Wayne and Brandon Stokley, tight end Marcus Pollard, center Jeff Saturday and even rookie free-agent running back Tom Lopienski from Notre Dame.
“We’re hot right now,” Manning said. “It’s not trickery. We’re not running flea-flickers, we’re not running reverses. We’re running the same plays we’ve run all season.
“It’s not just me and Edgerrin. The guys up front really are getting after them and providing holes.”
After shredding a bad defense on the road Sunday at Kansas City and a good one at home two weeks ago against Denver, the Colts face a defense that has been virtually impregnable at home this season in Sunday’s AFC title game at New England. The Patriots beat Tennessee 17-14 in their playoff opener Saturday. In their last four regular-season home games, they had three shutouts.
Which offensive line combination will the Colts use? Saturday moved to guard for the Denver game and back to his usual center position for Kansas City.
There are some things the Patriots can count on seeing, including lots of Harrison, who has 13 receptions for 231 yards in the playoffs, including two touchdowns against Denver.
“Marvin sets the tempo for us in the passing game,” Dungy said. “We really have to look and see how people play us and look how they are going to take him away. But when they do it, then we have a lot of alternatives.”
One is to give the ball to James, who has rushed for 203 yards and 4.7 yards per carry in the playoffs.
Now in his fifth season, James has matured and regained his health after injuring his knee in the sixth week of the 2001 season at Kansas City. He had reconstructive knee surgery, and an assortment of comparatively minor injuries slowed his comeback last season.
“He changed his game,” Manning said. “Last year he wasn’t the same guy, but he’s back to where he was.
“He’s a little smarter. He takes himself out. He used to think he had to be out there to hit ’em, hit ’em, hit ’em.”
“I was always looking for a big play,” James said. “Now I don’t try to do the reverse thing (running to the other side when the hole doesn’t open). Maybe you get 2 or 3 yards, and get the big play the next time. Before I wouldn’t come out at all.
“Now I want to be fresh at the end of the season and in the playoffs. I don’t have injuries; that’s the one thing I wanted.”
James has taken enough of a rest for Dominic Rhodes to carry nine times the last two games.
Manning also has developed a rapport with Wayne, who has 11 catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns in the playoffs. In his third season, he became a major factor in the offense with 68 catches, seven for touchdowns in the regular season.
“In his first couple of years he was frustrated,” Manning said. “I told him, `Stay with it, stay with it, I promise you . . . ‘”
Manning has kept his promise to Wayne as he has made Stokley part of the offense. Stokley signed with the Colts as a free agent last winter, leaving the stodgy Baltimore Ravens’ offense behind.
“That’s why I came here–to be part of this team and these weapons on offense,” Stokley said. “It just opens up so much for myself, with this type of running game with Edgerrin, and playing with Reggie.”
Stokley is the Colts’ third receiver, but he has made a major impact in the playoffs. He has eight receptions for 201 yards and three touchdowns, two against the Broncos and one against the Chiefs.
“All I care about is winning, not putting up big numbers,” Stokley said.
Not forgotten among the receivers is Pollard. The former Bradley University basketball player has four catches for 66 yards in the playoffs.
Then there’s Lopienski, who was cut in training camp, re-signed and promoted from the practice squad Dec. 2. He caught a 2-yard TD from Manning against the Chiefs.
“We installed the play in practice,” Dungy said. “That’s where Peyton is now. We just call the plays, he runs them, and he really has confidence the guys are going to produce.”
