Bears lead Colts 14-9 in 2nd quarter

Speedy rookie Devin Hester made sure the Chicago Bears started fast in the Super Bowl. Hester became the first Super Bowl player to return the opening kickoff for a score, and his 92-yard scamper helped Chicago lead the Indianapolis Colts 14-9 in the second quarter Sunday night.

Hester, who set an NFL record with six TD returns during the regular season, took the kick on the left side and ran right, then made two cuts to elude Marlin Jackson and broke into the clear.

A wild opening period also included four turnovers, a botched extra point, a 53-yard touchdown pass by Peyton Manning and a 52-yard run by Chicago's Thomas Jones.

Showers fell at the start, making the game the first Super Bowl to be played in rain. The conditions may have contributed to the sloppy play, and the four turnovers were a record for a first period in the Super Bowl.

Manning, playing in his first Super Bowl, sought at age 30 to fill out his remarkable resume with a ring. But he threw an interception on the Colts' first series, and they lost a fumble when Joseph Addai bobbled a handoff from Manning in Bears' territory.

On the first play after the fumble, Jones broke loose and ran to the Colts' 5. Chicago scored on third down on a 4-yard pass from Rex Grossman to Muhsin Muhammad.

Indy scored on its second possession when Reggie Wayne slipped 5 yards behind the secondary. Manning released the pass off balance under heavy pressure, and Wayne caught it at the 20 and cruised to the end zone.

The Colts' extra-point try was aborted when holder Hunter Smith had to reach to his right for the snap and bobbled it, leaving them behind 7-6.

Manning's first pass was deflected by middle linebacker Brian Urlacher and fell incomplete. The Colts picked up a first down but then had two false starts, and on third down Manning's deep pass was intercepted by Chris Harris.

It was Manning's seventh interception of the postseason. He had only nine during the regular season.

Chicago also had trouble holding onto the ball, but Indianapolis failed to take advantage of two takeaways in Bears' territory.

After scoring, the Colts tried a squib kick to keep the ball away from Hester. Gabe Reid fumbled the return and Indy recovered at the 34, but the Colts fumbled the ball back.

Indy's Dwight Freeney recovered a fumble by Cedric Benson at the Bears' 43, but Indy gained only 3 yards in three plays and had to punt.

Benson was shaken up later in the period and taken to the locker room.

Manning finished the quarter 6-for-13 for 81 yards.

The NFL's most prolific passer, Manning has been dogged for years by critics who said he couldn't win a big game. But he rallied his team from an 18-point deficit against New England to win the AFC championship game.

The game made history before it began. It featured the Super Bowl's first black head coaches, Indy's Tony Dungy and Chicago's Lovie Smith, who also happen to be close friends.

Indianapolis was playing in its first Super Bowl even though Dungy's team has been a perennial title contender in recent years. The Bears sought their 10th NFL title, and their first since the 1985 team led by Jim McMahon and Mike Singletary.