by Emily Engle

In the 2013 football season alone, quarterback Peyton Manning broke two individual records and was given the fifth MVP award of his career.  Playing with the Denver Broncos, he broke the team records for total number of points scored and number of players with at least 10 touchdowns each, as well as tied the record for number of games with more than 50 points.  Heading into his third Super Bowl on February 2, many experts and commentators expected a win for Manning.  However, his hopes for a second Super Bowl win did not pan out when the final score stood Seattle Seahawks – 43, Denver Broncos – 8.

Before the Super Bowl, the Broncos had, by any standard, an impressive season.  They scored a cumulative 606 points in their games, breaking the previous record set by the New England Patriots of 589 points; because of that, they also achieved three games with over 50 points scored in each, a feat not accomplished since 1969.  Individually, too, they played well: five players all scored at least 10 touchdowns each, breaking the previous record of only 3 players.

Manning, too, soared individually in 2013: he passed for 55 touchdowns, breaking Tom Brady’s 2007 record of 50, and in total, threw for 5477 yards, one more than Drew Brees did in 2011.  In all, he was expected to do well at Super Bowl XLVIII, though he was not without a few critics: some complained that he did not play well in cold weather (citing his 8-11 record in low temperatures), while others simply claimed he didn’t “go when it counts,” meaning he did not perform under pressure.

The Super Bowl was held in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on a very cold Sunday, but surprisingly, Manning cited a different reason for the loss.  He claimed his team wasn’t prepared for the level of crowd noise and that it caused continual problems with hearing–starting with the first play of the game, when another team member snapped the ball too early and it soared over Manning’s head.  Analysts later also said that the Broncos’ offensive line let Manning down, when several throws were tipped, and the ball was so often in the Seahawks’ possession that Manning had very little time to execute plays.

Manning has announced that he plans to come back and play for the Broncos again in the 2014 season.  Despite being 37 and having had multiple neck surgeries, he has said that there are no retirement plans yet.  In a recent press conference, he confirmed, “I certainly want to continue to keep playing…When I stop enjoying it…that’s when I’ll stop playing.”