Super Bowl XLIV: Peyton Manning's Legacy Forever Tarnished

Peyton Manning may have a Super Bowl Trophy, but because of a bad decision in Super Bowl XLIV, he'll also be remembered for an "almost."

The "almost" came in the form of a fourth quarter pick six to Tracy Porter. The end result was a 31-17 victory by the New Orleans Saints.

Manning, despite the incredible amount of touchdowns he has thrown, threw 16 interceptions in 2009, four more than in 2008, and only three less than the 19 he threw in 2002.

His rookie season featured 28 INTs, but that's a disposable number when you look at his career as a whole.

However, Manning has shown the same kind of tendency to throw the game-changing interception another legendary quarterback, Brett Favre, has shown in the postseason.

Manning has thrown 18 interceptions in 17 postseason games. Not a good number, but at least it isn't the 30 thrown by Favre in the postseason.

However, Manning still has time to add to that number.

Come to think of it, so does Favre. But let's not go there.

Both Manning and Favre will have a stretch limo waiting to take them to Canton, but at this point both always will be remembered for the Super Bowls they didn't win rather than the one Lombardi Trophy on their wall.

It sounds harsh, but Joe Montana and Steve Young didn't lose Super Bowls, and John Elway is remembered as much for the three Super Bowls he lost as much as he is for the two he won.

At times versus the Patriots in the postseason earlier in the decade, it was as if the Patriots knew exactly what Manning was going to throw before the ball ever left his hand. ESPN Columnist Bill Simmons even created the term "Manning Face" to describe it.

Manning is staring down the twilight of his career now, and the Colts window of opportunity to get to the Super Bowl may be closing.

Manning, like Favre, will go down in history as one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the game. Unfortunately, like Favre, Manning also will be known for throwing postseason interceptions at the worst possible times.