As you may remember, throughout the year I've been keeping track of Peyton Manning's commercials for this season.  Now that the season is over, it's time to take a look back and see how influential #18 was on commercial landscape.  To do that, we need to go all the way to the beginning...

1. Manning v. Bush:

Now this ad works on a number of levels, primarily the whole chili-in-the-bathtub level, because it kind of looked like Reggie was sloshing through a tub of chili all during opening night.

2. Manning's Mind

After last year's awesome commercial, I kind of felt let down by Sprint's effort this season.  It was cool, but not in anywhere near the same way.  Then you add in that with Harrison's injury made it like he was covered by a trio of Dolphins all season didn't bode well for this ad.

3. Manning, Manning, Manning, and Leinart?

The relationship was going well until Matt told Archie to "ride or die" with him.

4. Manning for Sony HDNA

I'm not going to lie, this has to be one of the weirder commercials I've ever seen.  Peyton just walks around talking in broken sentences and breaking into production studios and houses.  Is this supposed to convince us to get a Sony HDTV or get Peyton mental help?

5. Peyton goes a-butt-kickin'

'Nuff said.

6-9. Peyton's Priceless Peptalks: Rock Hard Abs, Minivan, Dance Moves, Bad Haircut

Clearly this was the pinnacle of Peyton's commercial making this season.  I was going to use one of his lines from the commercials in an especially good joke had the Colts made the AFC Championship, but we all know that didn't happen so I guess it will have to wait.  Speaking of not making the championship, let's talk about that final commercial...

11. The Double Stuff Racing League

This was the turning point of the season.  The Colts were up 7-0 against the Chargers and this bizarre half-minute completely changed the course of the game.  How is Peyton supposed to go out and be taken as a serious competitor on the field after losing a licking contest to his little brother?  Peyton's made a lot of great decisions in his life, but this was not one of them.  Hopefully Peyton's learned the value of how crucial successful commercials are to being successful on the field.  Think back to last year, Peyton didn't have one bad commercial and he ended up as a Super Bowl champion.  This year most of the commercials were quite good, but there were enough bad ones to keep him from having the same success this season.

I know you probably think I'm crazy, but before you dismiss my thesis on the power of commercials on the endorser, just remember last year Eli was getting beat up and dropping eggs everywhere.  This year he wins the DSRL and suddenly he's in the Super Bowl.  Coincidence?  Unlikely.  Even if you don't agree with me, can we both agree that this commercial needs to come back this season (even if it means the return of the crappy game that it was for)?