The Colts' first trip to the Super Bowl in 36 years set a record for
longest time between appearances by a team. Their return was the
culmination of a nine-year-long building process. In 1998, they drafted
quarterback Peyton Manning to lead the team. Over the next four seasons, Manning, along with other stars such as receiver Marvin Harrison and running back Edgerrin James,
turned the Colts into one of the best offensive teams in the NFL, but
the team struggled to find consistency on defense and always ended up
with either a losing season or elimination from the playoffs in the
first round. In 2002, Indianapolis fired head coach Jim Mora and replaced him with Tony Dungy. Dungy had developed one of the best defenses in the NFL while coaching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and it was hoped he could solve the Colts' defensive problems as well.
Chicago finished the season with an NFC best 13–3 record and advanced to
the second Super Bowl in franchise history. They defeated the Seattle Seahawks 27-24 in the divisional round of the playoffs, and the New Orleans Saints
39-14 in the NFC Championship game to advance to Super Bowl XLI. The
team excelled on defense, ranking third in fewest points allowed (255)
and second in fewest points allowed per drive.[12] They also ranked second in scoring (427 points), although only tenth in points per offensive drive[12] thanks to a league leading 65 points scored on defensive or special teams plays.
The Colts' first trip to the Super Bowl in 36 years set a record for
longest time between appearances by a team. Their return was the
culmination of a nine-year-long building process. In 1998, they drafted
quarterback Peyton Manning to lead the team. Over the next four seasons, Manning, along with other stars such as receiver Marvin Harrison and running back Edgerrin James,
turned the Colts into one of the best offensive teams in the NFL, but
the team struggled to find consistency on defense and always ended up
with either a losing season or elimination from the playoffs in the
first round. In 2002, Indianapolis fired head coach Jim Mora and replaced him with Tony Dungy. Dungy had developed one of the best defenses in the NFL while coaching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and it was hoped he could solve the Colts' defensive problems as well.
Chicago finished the season with an NFC best 13–3 record and advanced to
the second Super Bowl in franchise history. They defeated the Seattle Seahawks 27-24 in the divisional round of the playoffs, and the New Orleans Saints
39-14 in the NFC Championship game to advance to Super Bowl XLI. The
team excelled on defense, ranking third in fewest points allowed (255)
and second in fewest points allowed per drive.[12] They also ranked second in scoring (427 points), although only tenth in points per offensive drive[12] thanks to a league leading 65 points scored on defensive or special teams plays.
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