Unbelievable.

Wow, I can't believe it. I can't believe the Colts won.

I witnessed it with my own eyes in section 338 in the RCA Dome, but yet, it hasn't registered with me.

I went for a walk around the lower concourse of the RCA Dome when the Patriots had the ball and a 21-3 lead at the end of the first half, because I couldn't face the reality that the Patriots were going to do what they always do, and the Colts were going to oblige them and follow suit. The movie played like the others, with the Colts coming into the game with a lot of promise and poised to take on the Patriots only to find out that they're merely a speed bump on the road to Patriots destiny and greatness. I called my wife to tell her of the pending doom and that I'd be home as soon as the game was over. I found that a lot of people like to go for a smoke when the Colts trail on the scoreboard. I also found that the RCA Dome has a Leinie Lodge (yes, a stand made to look like a North Woods lodge whose sole purpose is to distribute Leinenkugels to thirsty Colts fans ... how cool!). I pondered life, football, the importance of sports in society and realized that my wife and dogs don't really give a shit if the Colts lose because I still have to be me at the end of the day; a Colts loss is no excuse to be an asshole to them or anyone. After my walk, I was ready to take my medicine.

Something else happened while I was on my walk. The Colts decided they weren't going to quit. They had every reason to, and frankly, everyone expected it. I expected it, other Colts fans expected it and the few Patriots fans in attendance expected it. But the Colts didn't. They got the ball back from the Patriots just prior to halftime and got points. Three of them. It didn't make the deficit a one possession deficit, but it was a baby step: get three points and you get the ball back to start the second half. A small reward, but a reward that could set up future rewards nevertheless. And so it was on.

I returned to my seat during halftime, and everything that transpired after that was an emotional blur.

From this point on, my accounts and descriptions are a mix of first and third person narrative because that's about how jumbled it is in my head right now.

The Colts drove down the field and scored on their first possession of the half ... we were starting to come out of our funk. The Colts held the Patriots, got the ball back and POOF! ... the game was tied. I sent a text message to my wife ... "holy shit its tied", the text read ... our emotions were peaked; score read 21-21. They weren't peaked for long ... the Patriots scored on their next possession ... our emotions were crushed quicker than they escalated. Doom is pending, and Brady will work his magic. One full cycle of gut wrenching emotion complete; score read 28-21 Patriots.

Manning gave us hope. Another drive and seven more points ... the Colts tied it up. This point became my first official "I Knew They Would Win" milestone. The Patriots struck back and regained the lead as if they wanted nothing more than to shatter the Colts' dreams in front of their own faithful. Maybe I was wrong, and they can't overcome them. Two full cycles of gut wrenching emotion complete; score read 31-28 Patriots.

Manning, with a brilliant 50-yard pass play to Dallas Clark brings hope back to the Colts faithful. We have a chance. This became my second official "I Knew They Would Win" milestone. The drive stalled ... so did our hopes. Another tie. 31-31. Come on defense.

Brady showed us why people love him. Under his leadership, the Patriots reclaim the lead with another field goal. 34-31. One last chance ... Peyton, this moment will define your career. Three full cycles of gut wrenching complete.

First down from scrimmage ... incomplete pass. It's okay ... that was only first down. Second down from scrimmage ... Manning falls, sack to Patriots. Oh my God, Manning will be known as the guy who tripped over his own feet trying to win. Third down from scrimmage ... Manning hits hand on helmet, ball horrendously overthrown. That's it. No magic. No mystique. Nothing to tell my kids. Another loss. I need a walk. Four full cycles of gut wrenching complete.

I went for another walk. This walk differed from the first; however, because this was all about my nerves and not witnessing the execution. I was determined to not see the Patriots put the dagger in our Super Bowl Dream. I wouldn't let them do it ... not on my watch. So I stopped watching. Sort of. The Dome provides television sets so people who stand in the long lines don't miss any action. That's how I watched what happened next.

First play from scrimmage ... the crowd is cheering and I hear a voice ... must be a penalty. Where's a television? First play from scrimmage ... I'm between televisions ... crowd cheers ... it must be second down. There's a TV ... players going back to the line of scrimmage ... I'm between plays. Second play from scrimmage ... the crowd is cheering, but it's not as loud ... they must've gained yards. Did they get a first? Oh, there's the PA announcer ... it's third down ... okay ... where's a TV? Third play from scrimmage ... the crowd is really into it ... there's the quiet after the snap ... quiet ... ... ... quiet ... ... ... crowd noise! What happened? Bob Sanders ... did he pick it off?? No ... we get the ball back! Okay, Peyton ... this will define your career.

First play from scrimmage ... crowd cheers ... PA said Reggie got a first down ... good, the ball is on the 31 ... we're okay. First play from scrimmage ... what happened? Incomplete pass? Interception? No, incomplete pass ... we're okay. Second play from scrimmage ... shit, there's no TV ... I'm almost back to my section ... crowd just went nuts! Shit ... must have the ball at midfield. When is the two minute warning? Okay ... crowd is quiet ... I'm almost to my section ... crowd noise again! ... damn, they must have the ball in field goal range ... they're really excited ... maybe WE HAVE A CHANCE?!?!

I re-entered my section at the two minute warning. The Colts had the ball at the 11 yard line. I tell the teenager next to me that we're done throwing the ball, and that the correct strategy was to run the ball and burn clock, because we can't give Brady a sniff. First play from scrimmage ... Addai gains 5 yards. The security guard and I both nod in agreement on the play call. I ran back up the stairs to my seat. Second play from scrimmage ... three more yards for Addai, third down and the Patriots burned a timeout. We're in the driver seat. Third play from scrimmage ... the snap, the handoff .... TOUCHDOWN!! I told Jason it wasn't over. One minute left to play. Four full gut wrenching cycles complete.

What transpired from here on out was even more of a blur. The Colts kicked off and covered well. I yelled with everything I had, but this yell differed from others because I just wasn't yelling to disrupt the offense ... I was purging my own Patriots demons. My own demons of losing football. I wasn't about to let Tom Brady have his moment in the sun without me exorcising my own football demons. I let twelve years of frustration and disappointment out during those fateful four plays. It was almost like I was begging the Football Gods to grant me one moment ... just one, because it's all I ever wanted from the years of attending Colts football games ... then it happened ... a blue streak came across the field out of nowhere and caught Tom Brady's pass ... WE'RE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL!!!.

The next thing I remember seeing on the field was the workers setting up the podiums. Literally. I embraced friends, I looked out on the field but saw nothing. This is what it feels like to have that moment.

The replay of the interception moves me the same as it did when it happened, no matter if it's the radio replay or television replay. That singular play is now my moment.

What transpired is unbelievable. It has yet to sink in ... the Colts are going to the Super Bowl.

I never imagined this.