Peyton Manning: Looking To Perform Heimlich on Self to Stop Choking

As the AFC Divisional round approaches, Manning has had to dig into his archive of notebooks to study everything he can about Greg Mattison and the deadly Baltimore Ravens' defense.

Manning and Co. were already victorious in their regular season meeting with Baltimore, but the outcome was way too close for comfort. Manning had to engineer one of his seven fourth quarter comebacks. The Colts won the game 17-15. Yikes.

Manning is coming into this game on a two-year playoff winless drought, losing to the San Diego Chargers in each of the last two years. Prior to that, we all know the Colts won Super Bowl XLI and before that, the Colts had never made the Super Bowl since moving to Indianapolis in 1984.

Manning is coming off of one of the best regular season performances of his career, also winning his record fourth MVP. Manning has not lost a game yet this year that he both started and finished. Both things bode well for Manning, but he needs to bring that same "A" game into the playoffs with him.

Manning has also played the Ravens in the playoffs before. In 2006, the Colts and Ravens squared off in Baltimore, and both defenses were the story of the game. It ended with the Colts winning 15-9, with neither defense allowing a touchdown. The big difference now is the guy that was kicking Baltimore's field goals that year is kicking them for Indy now.

The other thing that has to be sitting in the back of Manning's head is his trouble with the Chargers' defense. Odds are pointing at whoever wins this game will face San Diego in the AFC Championship next weekend either in Indy or in San Diego. The Colts generally have not played well against San Diego in the last few years, going just 1-for-3 in the last two years.

Manning has proved, however, that once he gets a monkey off of his back, he keeps it off. The New England Patriots are prime examples of this, losing the last five meetings against the Colts, including this years famous "4th-and-2" incident.

With all of Manning's studies, as well as ability to execute this season, he shouldn't have any issues getting through this round of the playoffs and getting the first playoff win in Lucas Oil Stadium's brief history. If Manning can prove to himself that he can win in the playoffs, no one can stop him.