It’s possible we’ve seen the last of Peyton Manning.

The brilliant quarterback, who was the first pick of the 1998 NFL draft, suffered another postseason meltdown on Sunday as the Denver Broncos, a heavy favorite, fell 24-13 to the Indianapolis Colts. Manning, 38, played poorly and has acknowledged reconsidering earlier comments that he intended to play next season. He had a series of neck surgeries before the 2011 season and wear and tear seemed to be catching up with him as this season wound down.

The Colts (Manning’s former team) move on to the AFC championship game on Sunday against the New England Patriots, who defeated the Baltimore Ravens. The Patriots twice trailed by 14 points but rallied for a 35-31 victory.

In the NFC bracket, the Green Bay Packers outlasted the Dallas Cowboys 26-21 and will play the Seattle Seahawks for the right to go to the Super Bowl. The Packers were helped by the reversal of a call that originally gave the Cowboys a completed pass to their 1-yard line on a fourth down. A replay review determined that Dez Bryant did not control the ball as he went to the ground and the pass was, therefore, incomplete. The irony was that the Cowboys had been helped by a controversial reversal of a penalty call in their playoff opener last week against the Detroit Lions. Seattle topped the Carolina Panthers 31-17 to advance.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

 
Oregon suspended two players for failing NCAA drug tests. Wide receiver Darren Carrington is the important one, and he won’t play in Monday night’s national championship game against Ohio State at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Carrington had more than 100 receiving yards in each of Oregon’s last two games. Oregon is favored by six points.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

 
Second-ranked Duke suffered its first loss, falling 87-75 on Sunday to North Carolina State. No. 4 Wisconsin absorbed its second defeat, losing 67-62 to Rutgers. No. 1 Kentucky had another close call but defeated Texas A&M 70-64 in double overtime on Saturday. The Wildcats are 15-0.

NBA

 
The New York Knicks continue to sink, with a 15-game game losing streak and a league-worst 5-35 record. The Minnesota Timberwolves have also lost 15 straight. And the Cleveland Cavaliers, with an injured LeBron James sitting out, have dropped five in a row.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .