Peyton Manning: Still A Choker?

For the sixth time in nine playoff appearances, Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts have been bounced from the playoffs in the first round.

Yes, they won the Super Bowl in 2007 and even did it with a comeback win over their arch-rival Patriots, but is getting over the hump just one time enough to erase all the other disappointments and false starts?

As usual, Manning was merely good against the Chargers. He kept his team in it, he didn't throw the game away with stupid decisions (and didn't even get the ball in OT), but if you're looking for Montana or Elway-esque heroics, you're just not going to find them here. I hate when announcers make excuses like "heart" and "determination" and "the will to win," but when you ask what separates Manning from those guys, I'm not sure what else to call it.

In other words, if the NFC hadn't sent Rex Grossman and Co. to try and stop him that year, Peyton Manning is Dan Marino with better acting chops.

Chargers Thought Peyton Manning Was Reading Their Defensive Signals [Fanhouse] Fraudulent MVP Pey-Pey’s Long Hair Fails Him and Other Wild Kardkkake Moments [KSK] Peyton loses in the 1st Round Again! imagine that. [A Lifetime of Defeats]