NFL: Top 10 plays of Peyton Manning

#4 Peyton Manning throws a game-winning 1-yard TD pass to Reggie Wayne in a classic Colts vs Patriots clash in November 2009

Down by six points late in the fourth quarter, and up against Tom Brady and the rest of a superb New England Patriots side in 2009, Colts fans could have been forgiven for throwing in the towel.

The Patriots had the ball on their own 28 at fourth and one. It's a testament to just how good a player Peyton Manning was that the Patriots coach Belichick opted not to punt. Instead, he chose to try and scramble that extra yard just to keep the ball out of Manning's hands.

Belichick's ploy failed, though. The gamble did not pay off, and the Patriots ceded possession back to the Colts.

Peyton Manning retook the field a few yards short of the end zone, drove the Colts up to the Pats' 1-yard line and then found Reggie Wayne with a bullet pass in the end zone with just 16 seconds remaining on the clock. Touchdown Colts!

Matt Prater made the kick, and the Colts won out 35-34 in a game that will live long in the memory... especially Belichick's.

"We tried to win the game on that play," Belichick explained. "I thought we could make the yard. We had a good play; we completed it. I don't know how we couldn't get a yard."

Sounds to me like Manning got inside your head, Bill...

#3 Peyton Manning finds Thomas in the end zone (twice) to equal and then break Brett Favre's record for most career TD passes against the 49ers

Peyton Manning broke the record for the most TD passes thrown in the history of football during this 2013 encounter against the 49ers when he twice found Thomas in the end zone to register the 509th and 510th TD throws of his career.

Manning retired after notching up 539 TD passes, a record that has since been broken by Tom Brady (581 and counting) and the recently-retired Saints legend, Drew Brees (571).

Peyton Manning might not hold the record any longer. But he's in some pretty elite company at the top of the charts, to be fair!

#2 Peyton Manning ties the record for most TD passes in a single season with an absolute beauty of a pass to Decker in 2013

Peyton Manning equaled Tom Brady's record of 50 TD passes thrown in a single season with this peach of a pass to WR Eric Decker in 2013.

Manning went on to tally 55 TD passes that season, a record that still stands.

#1 Peyton Manning links up with Reggie Wayne at Super Bowl XLl with a 53-yard TD pass

If one moment were capable of encapsulating Peyton Manning's entire career, it would be this 53-yard TD pass to Reggie Wayne at the Super Bowl in the first quarter against the Chicago Bears in 2007.

Hanging in the pocket as long as he could and up against a rough Bears' D, Peyton Manning launched one to his favored receiver, who took it to the house. The Colts went on to hoist the Lombardi trophy that day, beating the Bears 29-17.

Manning had a lot of success post-Indianapolis and even won another Super Bowl while operating in Denver. But if you ask most men my age (35-years old) what they remember of a prime Peyton Manning, a significant number would respond going long to Reggie Wayne with the Colts.

Reggie Wayne and Peyton Manning were one of the deadliest duos in NFL history, and that's why this play makes the list at number 1.