COLTS POUR IT ON INDIANAPOLIS TAMES THE BEARS, 29-17 SLIPPERY SUNDAY SEES A BEVY OF FIRSTS.

Byline: STEVE DILBECK

MIAMI - It was a great Super Bowl -- if you were always curious how Noah would perform as a quarterback. An absolutely marvelous game -- if you think the Amazon River should get the next Super Bowl.

It was the first Super Bowl ever played where you were concerned about whether the players had enough life jackets.

Where the biggest play of the night was the 50 freestyle.

All those hand gestures of Colts quarterback Peyton Manning when he stood behind center? He was counting lifeboats, or possibly searching for leeches.

That the Colts actually won Sunday's Super Bowl in this minor monsoon was about as predictable as man bites dog. It was the sidekick getting the girl, Republican pushing tax hike.

Maybe for Manning and the Colts to finally win a Super Bowl it needed to be like this. Almost out of character, almost in a way that challenged recognition.

The Colts overcame the Chicago Bears 29-17 in a Super Bowl that was, shall we say, overflowing with firsts. It was the first Super Bowl ever led by two black NFL coaches, the first ever won by a black coach, Indianapolis' gentlemanly Tony Dungy.

It was the first Super Bowl that had the opening kickoff returned for a touchdown, sensational Bears rookie Devin Hester scoring in the game's first 14 seconds. The first Super Bowl that had six turnovers in the opening half. The first time a team that plays in a dome won an outdoor Super Bowl.

And of course, it was the first Super Bowl ever played in the rain. The forecast had warned there was a chance of showers, but no one anticipated it would rain before the game, throughout the first half, all over Prince's aqua-colored outfit at halftime, throughout the second half, and just possibly for the next 40 days and nights.

``They told us it might rain during the game, but I don't think anybody was expecting it to rain the whole game,'' said Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney.

This should not have been the setup for the Colts and Manning to finally win a Super Bowl after so many years of looking impressive going into the playoffs, only to stumble against a team that went on to hug the Vince Lombardi Trophy. The Colts are used to playing in the comfy confines of the climate-controlled RCA Dome. Certainly they weren't expecting to have to battle the Bears and the deluge in Florida.

``Well, it wasn't what you expect coming to Miami,'' Manning said. ``It was as bad of weather as we've probably played in since that playoff game at New England two years ago.''

The conditions were hardly the only thing that took some getting used to Sunday. The Colts won by game MVP Manning being very, very good, but not dominant. Won by him throwing less to his heralded wide receivers than to his running backs and tight end. Won by -- take this one slowly now -- a highly effective running game. And with a defense that consistently shut down the Chicago offense.

It felt all wrong, or is that all wet? The rain was hardly torrential, but it was consistent, varying between a drizzle and solid showers.

And it made for some interesting football.

In the first half alone, there were six turnovers and fumbled hold on a PAT. Twice in the game, the teams pulled off back-to-back turnovers. You take it. No, you take it. ``I didn't worry about the weather,'' said Colts offensive coordinator Tom Moore. ``It's the same for everybody and you just play through it.''

Only past Indianapolis teams probably can't make the adjustment. Go all slip 'n' slide on the turf, get frustrated and flop around like they're trying to bring back the Keystone Kops.

``Every game takes on its own personality,'' Moore said. Right, sort of like a perfect storm. These Colts were tested immediately by Hester's brilliant return, but they just sort of went back to work, or paddling.

``I think we showed we can win any number of ways,'' Dungy said. With the breaststroke, the butterfly ...

In truth, it will not go down in history as one of the great Super Bowls. The first half was exciting, in banana-on-the-floor kind of way. It was follow-the-bouncing-ball time. But in the second half, the Bears could never mount a true challenge. The Colts let them stay within striking distance by settling for a couple field goals, but it was clear who the better bad-weather team was, and much to almost everyone's surprise, it was the Colts.

``It was a beautiful day for football,'' said Colts linebacker Cato June.

These Colts will never be compared to the greatest of Super Bowl champions, but they took everything the disappointing Bears could slosh at them, and Mother Nature.

When cornerback Kevin Hayden picked off an underthrown Rex Grossman pass downfield in the fourth quarter and returned it 56 yards for a touchdown, the suspense was gone and the game belonged to Indianapolis.

At long last, one of the NFL's premier teams had a Super Bowl title. ``The disappointments you have along the way make it much more special when you get there,'' Dungy said. ``You appreciate it more.''

Whether you get there by bus or amphibious assault ship. The fans took their ponchos and headed out, the players squeaked their way off the field, the Colts held the Lombardi high. And everyone strangely left in twos.

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Indianapolis Colts' Peyton Manning (18) holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Colts' 29-17 win over the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI at Dolphin Stadium in Miami on Sunday.

Amy Sancetta/Associated Press

(2) Indianapolis Colts safety Bob Sanders (21) intercepts a pass intended for Chicago Bears wide receiver Bernard Berrian (80).

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press