Peyton Manning's bid to reach the Super Bowl in his comeback season ended miserably with a game-costing interception as the Denver Broncos quarterback handed victory to the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday.

The 36-year-old four-time National Football League Most Valuable Player was left to wonder what could have been after Baltimore secured a 38-35 double overtime win that ended Manning's season on his home field.

"We had plans for playing next week, guys were excited, and to get beat in overtime by a field goal is really disappointing," Manning said.

"We made a lot of strides and accomplished a lot this season but it definitely stings ending in a loss like this."

Manning was cut by the Indianapolis Colts after missing the 2011 season due to various neck surgeries and began the season with many wondering whether he was still capable of being a top caliber quarterback.

By the end of a regular season where he threw for 4,659 yards, 37 touchdowns and led the Broncos to the top playoff seed in the American Football Conference, pundits were wondering if he could add to his 2007 Super Bowl win with the Colts.

Reuters

(China Daily 01/14/2013 page23)