Information » playing the game I love so much. Whe

DENVER - Andrew Luck has his signature NFL win, and it came against his predecessor, of all people.Hardly pressured all afternoon, Luck threw two touchdown passes and outplayed Peyton Manning in leading the Indianapolis Colts past the Denver Broncos 24-13 Sunday.The Colts (13-5) advanced to the AFC championship game at New England (13-4), where they lost 42-20 on Nov. 16.Id like to think I am a better quarterback and would like to think were a better team now, Luck said. We are well equipped to handle the unknown, the unforeseen.They sure were Sunday night in the Rockies, where Denver had gone 8-0 this season and averaged 35 points a game.I think were playing good team ball, said Luck, who improved to 3-2 in the playoffs with his first road win. Were feeding off each other. Offensively were making enough plays to put some points on the board. Great night. So proud to be a part of the Colts in this victory.The Broncos (12-5) are left to deal with the hangover of yet another playoff debacle — and, more importantly, questions about Mannings future.After saying on Christmas Eve that he planned on coming back for an 18th season, the five-time MVP wasnt so certain after his latest playoff fiasco.Asked point blank if he planned on playing next season, Manning said, Uh, yeah, I guess I just cant give that simple answer, Im processing it. So, I cant say that. I could not say that.It was the first time Manning had been ambiguous about his future since spinal fusion surgery on his neck cost him all of the 2011 season and led Colts owner Jim Irsay to release him in 2012 so he could use the top pick to draft Luck.I knew it was the right thing to do for the Colts, Irsay said outside his jubilant locker room. I saw Archie (Manning) last night. We had a nice conversation. Happened to be at Elways Restaurant at the Ritz Carlton. It was a decision that it was the right move to make. Peyton and I had talked about it. He said it best in the press conference, I didnt decide. He didnt decide. The football gods laid the cards out. We both knew it as best for him and us.Theres sure to be questions about John Foxs future, as well. Hes won four straight AFC West titles, but keeps coming up short in what he calls the real season.Im the head coach, the buck stops here, Fox said.The Broncos were the AFCs only unbeaten team at home and the only team in the NFL with a top-five offence and a top-five defence.We picked a bad day to have a bad game, said Terrance Knighton, who had guaranteed these Broncos, with an NFL-high nine Pro Bowlers, would hoist the Lombardi Trophy next month.Manning has gone one-and-done in the playoffs a record nine times in his otherwise stellar career. That includes twice in Denver, where hes 38-10 in the regular season but just 2-3 in the playoffs.Overall, hes 11-13 in the post-season and this was one of his worst playoff performances ever. He never found a rhythm, constantly overthrew his receivers and finished 26 of 46 for 111 yards, one TD and no interceptions.Its just disappointing. Everyone would like to win their last game of the season, Manning said after guiding Denver to a TD on its opening possession and just two field goals on his final 11 drives.Each of his three seasons in Denver has ended in humbling losses, to the Ravens and Colts at home after first-round byes, and to Seattle in last years Super Bowl.These Broncos were better balanced with a grinding ground game and star-studded defence bolstered by John Elways signings of Aqib Talib, DeMarcus Ware and T.J. Ward to a guaranteed $60 million in free agency.But none of them came up big Sunday and the Broncos were left to deal with yet another wrenching playoff loss.Luck completed 27 of 43 passes for 265 yards with two TDs and two interceptions that were the equivalent of punts and no sacks.We needed to win the game for us. It wasnt about Peyton or Andrew or anything like that, Irsay said. It was about just us trying to beat the Broncos. Again, this was the Colts vs. the Broncos, even though the quarterbacks mean so much.The Colts stretched a four-point halftime lead to 21-10 when Luck drove the Colts 72 yards in 11 plays, hitting Hakeem Nicks from 15 yards midway through the third quarter.On fourth-and-1 from the Colts 36, C.J. Anderson eluded three tacklers in the backfield and gained 7 yards. But once again, the Broncos stalled and had to settle for Connor Barths 41-yard field goal that made it 21-13 with 13:50 remaining.Luck then drove the Colts 54 yards in 13 plays, chewing up more than 8 minutes before Adam Vinatieris 30-yard field goal made it 24-13 with four minutes remaining in the half-empty Sports Authority Field.Denvers only lead was 7-0 on Mannings 1-yard fade pass to Demaryius Thomas on the Broncos first drive. Daniel Herrons 6-yard TD run tied it.After a Manning fumble, Luck hit tight end Dwayne Allen with a 3-yard strike to put the Colts ahead for good 14-7.It was an unbelievable performance by the guys on the road, Irsay said. Onward we go. We know the trails even get tougher.Notes: There were no significant injuries. ... Luck improved to 5-1 in temperatures 40 or below. ... Manning fell to 2-4 following a divisional bye. ... The Colts were 0-4 against Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Tony Romo and Tom Brady in the regular season.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Joe Mixon Bengals Jersey .com) - The fading Ottawa Senators have a chance to make up some ground in the playoff race on Tuesday night as they play host to the New York Rangers. Boomer Esiason Womens Jersey .com) - The San Francisco Giants delivered plenty of big hits to tie the World Series. http://www.bengalsrookiestore.com/Bengals-Jonah-Williams-Jersey/ . It was well worth the wait. Manning and the Denver Broncos waited eight long months, then another 33 minutes to get the season started because of a lightning storm. Drew Sample Womens Jersey . Granada defender Diego Mainz barged into the back of Villa to send the Spain striker to the ground inside the area and Costa stepped up to the spot to score his 12th league goal in the 38th minute. Costa showed no effects of the news that his Brazilian citizenship may be revoked after he elected to play for Spains national team, as the forward was a constant threat for Atletico and forced several saves from goalkeeper Roberto. Boomer Esiason Bengals Jersey .A. Happ. The Toronto Blue Jays will be looking to improve the starting rotation ahead of next season and pitchers like Happ have a chance to show they belong as the disastrous 2013 campaign draws to a close.Vinny Prospal officially announced his retirement from the NHL on Tuesday after 1,108 NHL games, 255 goals and 765 points. A veteran of 16 NHL seasons, Prospals career was highlighted by him ranking fourth in points scored, third in assists and sixth in games played among all Czech Republic born players in NHL history. "I want to thank my teammates and coaches who helped me enjoy a 20-year professional hockey career when very few thought I would play even one NHL game," said Prospal. "I sincerely want to thank the fans who have been so good to me, treating me with such kindness and respect, for the 20 years I have played here in North America in both the NHL and the AHL. Playing in the NHL was a dream. To play at the highest level for 16 years, with the best players in the world is something I will cherish for the rest of my life." Prospal played for seven NHL teams - the Anaheim (Mighty) Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Florida Panthers, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning - with three stints in Tampa Bay and two in Philadelphia. The Vancouver Canucks were looking to sign the 38-year-old winger to an American Hockey League tryout with the Canucks affiliate, the Utica Comets last week. However, Prospal informed the team Friday he has decided to retire instead. "I loved playing hockey, I loved scoring goals and I loved being a part of the NHL for so many years. That said, within minutes of me stepping oon the ice for practice last week in Abbotsford, I knew that I wanted to focus on something that was more important than hockey, my family.ddddddddddddI love my wife and I love my children. Having spent much of the last 10 months with them waiting for a call to return to the ice, I know now that I would rather be with them at home helping and supporting my wife and being with my kids than playing the game I love so much. When I got on the ice with the Abbotsford Heat last Thursday, it was clear to me that I did not have the desire to play at the level I have come to expect of myself anymore. And to not be able to give everything needed would be to disrespect the game that has been so good to me. I am going to focus all my time and attention now on being a good father and a husband. Because, in the end, my family is and will always be my greatest accomplishment. "I want to thank all of the teams I have played with for having the faith in me they did. I especially want to thank the Vancouver Canucks, with whom I have never played a game for, and my coach and friend, John Tortorella, for helping me have closure that would not have occurred had they not extended to me the opportunity they did last week. I appreciate Torts and the Canucks for their faith in me and am sorry I will not be reunited with one of the most influential people in my life in Torts as we had planned." Prospal was drafted 71st overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. ' ' '