35-34

Thanks, Bill.

It was the most improbable victory for the Colts (9-0) in their 18-game regular-season winning streak, which is now tied for the second-longest in league history with, of all teams, New England.

The Colts trailed by 17 points early in the fourth quarter. This marked the first time Belichick’s Patriots had lost when leading by at least 13 in the final period.

“When you see them going for it on fourth down, you get a little nervous, but our defense blitzed them, pressured them and got the stop,” Manning said. “It certainly changed our philosophy. In practice, we’re going 60 or 70 yards. So we figure we’re going to have to go five, six, seven plays. In the huddle, I said, ‘Obviously, we need a touchdown, but let’s not be in a hurry.”

The Patriots didn’t dare second-guess their coach, though everybody else did.

“That fourth-down play, that’s one of your best plays, and you go to one of your best guys,” Brady said. “We’ve got our offense on the field. We have over 450 yards of offense at the time. We’ve got a lot of great players on our offense. They stopped us.”

the Vikings have advanced

One of the nicer things about life in a small town is that community spirit can really shine. The town of Danville, the seat of my county, is cheering for its high school football team, the Vikings. They're heading for the semifinals.

With the victory, Danville (12-0) ties the school’s all-time win mark set by the state runner-up team in 1976.

“It means that we are going to semis,’’ B.J. Luke said of the win. “It means that we are back to being one of the top programs in the state of Illinois.’’

Up next for the Vikings are the No. 1-rated New Lenox Providence Catholic Celtics, a 44-14 winner over Crete-Monee.

“I don’t know if the Chicago Catholic League champion have ever had to come to Danville to get to the state championship,’’ B.J. Luke said. “We are fired up to have them and hosting their outstanding program. We know that they are a great program. We know they are the hands-down pick to win this thing, but they still have to come to Danville. I think my guys will be ready to play.’’

Tim Tebow: virgin Heisman winner

The celebrated, Heisman-winning college football quarterback is gracing the cover of the latest Sports Illustrated. He talks about his football and his faith, and his father talked about his beginnings:

Watching Tebow zip passes into the seams of opposing defenses, lower his shoulder in short yardage and exhort his teammates like King Henry V on St. Crispin's Day, one might think that he was put on this earth just to run coach Urban Meyer's spread offense. Watching him pace the floor of a gymnasium packed with 660 wayward men hanging on his every syllable is to realize that regardless of what position Tebow eventually plays in the NFL, and for how long, the football phase of his life is merely a means to a greater end.

The man on the other end of the line is calling from the Philippines. He has taken time from his missionary work to reply to a reporter's e-mailed questions. Now Bob Tebow has a question of his own: "Have you heard the story of Timmy's birth?"

Even if you have, it's worth hearing from the mouth of his father: "When I was out in the mountains in Mindanao, back in '86, I was showing a film and preaching that night. I was weeping over the millions of babies being [aborted] in America, and I prayed, 'God, if you give me a son, if you give me Timmy, I'll raise him to be a preacher.'" Not long after, Bob and Pam Tebow conceived their fifth child. It was a very difficult pregnancy. "The placenta was never properly attached, and there was bleeding from the get-go," Bob recalls. "We thought we'd lost him several times." Early in the pregnancy Pam contracted amebic dysentery, which briefly put her in a coma. Her doctors, fearful that medications they had given her had damaged the fetus, advised her to abort it. She refused, and on Aug. 14, 1987, Pam delivered a healthy if somewhat scrawny Timothy Richard Tebow.

"All his life, from the moment he could understand, I told him, 'You're a miracle baby,'" Bob recalls. "'God's got a purpose for you, and at some point I think He's going to call you to preach.'

"I asked God for a preacher, and he gave me a quarterback."

Tebow's also answering questions about his sexuality, questions that aren't usually asked of college - or even professional - players:

"Since winning the Super Bowl after the 2006 season, Dungy has thought long and hard each offseason about how much longer he really wants to work..."

Tony Dungy is supposed to meet with Jim Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts, today to discuss his future. He will then give Irsay his decision tomorrow.

BROWNIE'S PREDICTION: Dungy will say that this was his last season as the coach for the Colts.

UPDATE: It looks like Dungy will step down. This isn't surprising, given his desire to work in some type of ministry and to spend more time with his family in Florida.

no Manning at this year's Super Bowl

Peyton Manning's team lost to the Chargers last week. Eli Manning's team lost to the Eagles this week. With the Eagles, Cardinals, and Ravens in the hunt, it looks like the Super Bowl will be for the birds.

42-7

Wow. Did Michigan know they had a game today?

Tom Brady out

Tom Brady, arguably the best modern day quarterback, is out for the season with a torn ACL in his left knee. Since I am a Colts fan, I am bound to hate the Patriots, but I take absolutely no pleasure in this news. Hopefully Brady will have a full recovery and be back for another season. This severely hurts the Pats' chances of performing well in the playoffs, if they make it there.

Equus vs Ursus horribilis

It's a rematch of Super Bowl 41 when the Indianapolis Colts take on the Chicago Bears in tonight's game at the brand new Lucas Oil Stadium. Tune in tonight at 8:15 ET/7:15 CT. I may live in Illinois now, but I remain a fan of the Colts. True Blue fans know where to go.

UPDATE: Ugh. For us Colts fans, it truly was horrible.

Peyton to have knee surgery

Oh, no! He could miss the season opener at the new Lucas Oil Stadium!

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning had a medical procedure Monday to remove an infected bursa sac from his left knee. Colts president Bill Polian announced the procedure, described as routine, on Monday night. Polian said the team’s medical staff expects Manning to have “a full and complete return to action” in four to six weeks. Colts training camp begins July 25.

Hopefully Peyton will make a full recovery. The Colts team isn't as formidable without him.

What are bursa? Read here.

Walker's mental illness

Legendary American footballer Herschel Walker has revealed his struggle with a rare type of mental illness: dissociative identity disorder (DID). He won the 1982 Heisman Trophy and claims not to have remembered it. DID is thought to form after periods of extreme childhood trauma, usually involving some type of abuse.

Here are a few sites where you can find information on dissociative identity disorder (DID):

• Mayo Clinic
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
• WebMD

the Game

Congrats to the New York Giants for winning Super Bowl 42! They're not the team I really wanted to win, but at least they beat the team I really wanted not to win. It's always great to see the underdog emerge victorious. And, I see that the Mannings will be keeping the MVP Award in the family. (Photo by Doug Mills for The New York Times)

Brett vs. Eli

A stunning end to the NFC Conference championship game. Who would have thought we'd have Peyton Manning going to the Super Bowl one year, and younger brother Eli the next? I feel sorry for Favre, but only a little. Now we'll see if they can take on Team Unstoppable Force.

Added: Terry Bradshaw is reporting on the Giants' receiving the conference trophy, and I keep thinking, I saw that man's rear end in "Failure to Launch."

Manning to the Conference Final

A Manning will once again be attending a conference final, only this time it will be younger brother Eli with his Giants and not elder brother Peyton with his 2006 champion Colts. I guess New England is the only team allowed this season to make big comebacks from behind. Becoming excited about Super Bowl 42 will be difficult, but my mantra is anbody but the Pats.

in just a few hours...

...we will all watch the Patriots finally lose.

What do you think?

Update at 5:38 PM: Pats lead, 14-13. The Steelers were down by 11, so it's getting better. I can't believe I'm actually rooting for Pittsburgh - this may be a first.

Update at the half: Pats lead, 17-13. You've got to give credit to Pittsburgh for staying close. I saw some people giving the Pats a 10.5 point spread. Of course, the last two teams the Pats played stayed close and would up losing.

Update at end of game: Ugh.

Proof the NFL is still scared of Janet Jackson

Tom Petty will be performing the half-time show at the upcoming Super Bowl. I hope the Colts make it again, but I fear that the team from Massachusettes will be there.

a strong argument for atheism

This. It's just stunning, really. I'm just... stunned.

4 1/2 points

That's what the Patriots are supposed to have over the Colts in the upcoming game. Even though the Colts are (1) undefeated this season, (2) the reigning Super Bowl Champs, (3) the victors in the last Colts-Pats matchup, and (4) playing in their home stadium, the boys in blue are the underdogs.

Some explain this to me, please.

Colts 41, Saints 10

The NFL Kick-off happened last night. The New Orleans Saints came to town with hopes of beating the reigning Super Bowl champion Colts, only to have a crushing defeat. The score was 10 all at the half, but the Colts offensive line came alive in the second half.

The season has begun!

It is kinda funny that the Colts would score 41 in their first official game following their win at Super Bowl 41.

Be sure to stop by Stampede Blue.

favorite Super Bowl commercial

This one. Too funny for words. Not controversial like that Snickers commercial.

those upsetting Steelers

Sheesh, can no one beat Pittsburgh? Apparently, no team that has home field advantage can. The Steelers upset the Broncos pretty harshly, 34-17 (story here). I wanted Pittsburgh to lose, for obvious reasons, but they have to be respected for having heart and stamina.

Careful, Seattle. You won't have this easy a game two weeks from now.