The NFL season comes to a close Sunday in Miami as South Beach plays host to the Super Bowl. After sub-par performances against the Chiefs and Ravens, Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has regained the form that has made him one of the most prolific passers in NFL history. Rex Grossman has battled admirably despite continued question of his ability to lead the Bears to the big game.

Manning, the future hall-of-famer, battles Grossman, a run-of-the-mill quarterback who has made some big plays but, for the most part, has avoided making enough mistakes to cost his team a playoff game. Sound familiar? Perhaps Super Bowl XXX, which featured Dallas’ Troy Aikman against Pittsburgh and celebrated underachiever Neil O’Donnell.

If you don’t remember, O’Donnell threw three interceptions, two to eventual Super Bowl MVP Larry Brown. Aikman’s legacy was recently secured when he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

So, what are we to make of Sunday’s super showdown? On paper, it seems obvious; Manning’s often-dynamic offense against Brian Urlacher and the stingy Bears defense. A deeper look inside the game, however, reveals that several key matchups will determine who is hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy come Sunday night.

Devin Hester vs. Colts’ Special Teams:

Hester has been phenomenal as a rookie for the Bears. After a regular season that saw him average 26.4 yards on kickoff returns and 12.8 yards on punt returns, Hester has had trouble in the postseason holding onto the ball. Perhaps the favorable southern climate will help his cause and show us why Hester was able to score six special teams touchdowns this year alone. Ironically enough, five of Hester’s six scores have come away from Soldier Field.

The Colts’ special teams unit was fairly inconsistent during the regular season. The unit allowed three touchdowns during the regular season—–two on kickoff returns and one on a punt return-and gave up 13.1 yards per punt return. Could Hester have a night like Packers return man Desmond Howard did against the Patriots, when he totaled 244 all-purpose yards, ultimately leading Green Bay to a 35-21 victory? The pieces are certainly in place.

Colts offense vs. Bears secondary:

Other than the regular suspects (Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne), Dallas Clark remains the X-factor in opening up the passing game for Manning. After the Colts picked apart a respectable Patriots secondary, it remains to be seen what will happen against a Bears unit that has allowed 249 passing yards per game in the playoffs.

The Bears secondary has been wildly inconsistent since losing safety Mike Brown to a season-ending injury. Rookie Danieal Manning and second-year player Chris Harris will be challenged early and often by Manning and Co. The ability of Urlacher and fellow linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer to be effective in pass coverage has been invaluable to the Bears making it to Miami. Chicago managed to contain New Orleans’ top-ranked offense; a similar outing will be needed against Manning and Co.

Bears offensive line vs. Colts defensive line:

This matchup in particular will take center stage during Sunday’s game in Miami. Can Bears Pro Bowl center Olin Kreutz and his mates hold off the pass-rushing tandem of Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney? The success of the Bears offense has hinged largely upon creating open space for running back Thomas Jones. Jones exploded for three touchdowns and 123 rushing yards against the Seahawks just three weeks ago.

Rex Grossman will need as much time as possible to get his bearings in the early going. If the Bears can protect him and allow him to develop a groove, Grossman could be efficient. Will the same Colts defense that shut down Larry Johnson, Jamal Lewis and Lawrence Maroney be there Sunday?

Grossman simply is not the type of quarterback that can carry a team on his shoulders. He will need help from everyone on offense if the Bears want to put points on the board.

Adam Vinatieri vs. Stephen Gostkowski:

Both kickers have been solid during the postseason. Vinatieri has connected on all 11 of his postseason field goal attempts, including a 35-yarder in the last minute to put the game out of reach. Gould was the hero against the Seahawks, calmly drilling a dramatic 49-yard field goal to seal an overtime win for the Bears.

I guess the question is, who will flinch first? Vinatieri has been in the Super Bowl spotlight before. Gould, who, only a couple years ago, was working for a construction company, will need to keep the Bears in the game if Grossman and the offense fail to find the end zone early.

Injury bug vs. both teams:

The biggest news on the injury front has kept many critics guessing on the health of Manning’s hand and cornerback Nick Harper’s ankle. Earlier this week, trainers concluded that Manning’s hand would be fine for the Super Bowl. Could they be covering up a weakness that will be dealt with after the season? Harper’s injury raises questions about an already shoddy Colts’ secondary. Adding to the team’s problem is free safety Bob Sanders’ lingering knee injury. Sanders has been listed as questionable all week and will probably play. Clearly, the outcome of the game could hinge on the healh of the Colts’ secondary.

So, who takes home the Lombardi Trophy on Sunday? Members of The University News sports staff weigh in with their perspectives.