QB-PEYTON MANNING (on a big game before the bye week) * *
"Yes, a big game. This team is playing really well. It's an unfamiliar opponent. They've really beaten these last three teams pretty soundly and sort of winning it the old Tampa Bay way. They're running the ball well on offense it sounds like, and (Jeff) Garcia's making some plays, but their defense is playing really well. They're tackling well, causing a lot of turnovers, and just tough to move the ball against them. It will be a real challenge for us. Having them here at home, hopefully we can play well."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on identities, Indianapolis on offense and Tampa Bay's being their defense since the mid-90s and if they are getting back to that)
"We played them a number of years ago, and the players have changed, but the philosophy and system has remained the same, with the same defensive coordinator, and Derrick Brooks has always kind of been there, that leader, and Ronde Barber, two veteran guys. So, somewhat like us, it's been the same system and same philosophies. Defensively, they're very sound in what they do. You never see anybody running wide open. Anytime you get a first down, you have to kind of earn it, because they're always in the right spot. That's the real challenge, just trying to be disciplined and try to do the right thing and to be patient."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on the 2003 game in Tampa and if they learned that night that it's never over and if they built on that)
"I guess we did. We certainly don't hope to get down in that situation again. It's your classic example of a game as Yogi Berra said it, 'It ain't over til it's over.' That truly was the case. It was a great comeback, and I think all of the players that played in that game, a lot of the Colts aren't here anymore, but they'll always remember that. But yes, you always have a chance."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on the team rallying following the 2003 Tampa Bay game)
"In the second half, really in the fourth quarter, we sort of got hot and made some plays and had some breaks go our way. There's no question that a game like that can kind of bond you and pull you together. It's still Xs and Os and execution, but we got on a pretty good roll from that point on, especially during the regular season. You can say that, that was somewhat of a moment for this team during Coach Dungy's time here."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on the crowd in the RCA Dome) Wednesday, October 3, 2007
"There are absolutely more jerseys in the RCA Dome on Sunday than an
