Winning a Super Bowl often comes down to the smallest details. Denver Broncos legendary quarterback Peyton Manning, who played with the Indianapolis Colts for over a decade, applied that preparation philosophy into an unusual practice routine. It made his Colts teammate, Jeff Saturday, frustrated.

During his tenure with Indianapolis, every Thursday for eight years, Manning made his teammates practice with a soaking wet football. His center, Saturday, hated it when the team was set to play in an indoor stadium, the RCA Dome.

“Jeff Saturday used to get so mad because he'd say, 'Peyton, we're playing the RCA Dome this Sunday,'” Manning reminisced about the old days on the April 27th episode of the Omaha Productions podcast with Eli Manning. “It's not going to rain. I'm like, ‘Jeff, there could be a leak in the roof. You never know.’”

Manning’s commitment to preparation was finally put to the test during Super Bowl XLI on February 4, 2007. The game was played in Miami, and instead of the usual sunny Florida weather, the stadium was hit by massive rain. The field was drenched, and the ball was slippery and hard to handle.

“All I know is eight years every Thursday,” Manning said. “We playing a Super Bowl in Miami and a monsoon. Zero fumbled snaps for the Colts. Three fumbled snaps for the Bears. That's why we worked on every single Thursday."

It was exactly the unpredictable scenario Manning had spent nearly a decade preparing for.

The Bears got off to a dream start with Devin Hester returning the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown. Chicago finished a rain-affected first quarter, which included three fumbles and a Peyton Manning interception, with a 14-6 lead. But Manning slowly settled down and found his rhythm.

While the Chicago Bears struggled to hold onto the ball in the downpour, the Colts were calm. Eventually, Manning and the Colts sealed a 29-17 victory.

Now, about the Broncos, Manning believes the team’s quarterback, Bo Nix, will lead the team to greater heights.

Hall of Famer Peyton Manning Shares His Broad Vision For The Broncos 

For Manning, the Broncos are on the verge of greatness despite their heartbreaking exit in the recent AFC Championship Game. Drawing from his own early-career struggles against the New England Patriots, Manning views the pain of falling just short of Super Bowl LX as a necessary stepping stone.

"It makes you hungrier for the next year. It means you're doing something right,” Manning said.

After the AFC Championship loss, Bo Nix underwent ankle surgery at the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center under respected specialist Dr. Norman E. Waldrop III.

Even several months later, his recovery timeline remains uncertain. But Manning has faith in the foundation built by Head Coach Sean Payton.

"I think this team has it figured out. Sean knows what they need to do. I think they've also got a bunch of unselfish guys, who all kind of look at themselves in the mirror and say, 'Hey, what can I do to get better this offseason to help the team?'” he said.

According to NFL Network, the quarterback is expected to return around the start of training camp.

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Written by

Aaindri Thakuri

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar