I think we can put those Peyton Manning whispers to bed now.
For years critics have snickered that for all his excellence and eye-popping stats during the regular season, Manning would too often come up small in the playoffs.
No one is saying that this morning.
Manning was magnificent Sunday in leading the Broncos over longtime nemesis Tom Brady and the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.
The win evens Manning's post-season record at 11-11. It probably won't silence his critics. It should.
Yesterday Manning was masterful, directing the Broncos' offense on one time-consuming drive after another, keeping Brady off the field.
Manning will now get the chance to add a second Super Bowl ring in two weeks when he takes the Broncos into North Jersey to face the Seahawks.
In the process he will vie to become the first starting quarterback to lead two different teams to Lombardi Trophies.
All Manning did yesterday was go 32 of 43 for an even 400 yards.
And he's done all this after being cut loose by the Indianapolis Colts, and undergoing several neck surgeries that threatened to end his stellar career.
He will face another stern test in the Super Bowl, pitting what amounts to the league's best offense in his Broncos against the best defense in Seattle.
At this point, I wouldn't bet against Manning. Looks like North Jersey is going to be Peyton's Place.
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