When Peyton Manning saw the Detroit Lions’ playoff journey end with a one-and-done loss to the Washington Commanders, he instantly understood the heartbreak Dan Campbell’s his team were feeling.

Similar to the Lions’ 15-2 season, Manning’s 2005 Indianapolis Colts had an outstanding regular season, finishing with just two losses, but were upset 21-18 by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the divisional round.

After Detroit’s 45-31 loss to Washington, Manning texted Campbell words of support.

“I said, ‘I know how you feel, I’ve been there, and it’s not a good feeling,'” Manning shared with the Indianapolis Star at the “Night of Champions” event celebrating the 2006 Colts’ Super Bowl XLI win. “‘Understand that, but we did win the whole thing the next year.’ You just have to keep working at it.”

Manning added, “That kind of loss could make an organization think, ‘Let’s change everything… Let’s tear it down and start fresh.’ But your organization and owner could say, ‘We’re on the right path, let’s keep going.’”

Detroit lost both coordinators to head coaching roles—Ben Johnson to the Bears and Aaron Glenn to the Jets—but the team will keep striving to reach its first-ever Super Bowl.

General manager Brad Holmes is expected to focus on defensive improvements. In the latest NFL Mock Draft Consensus, Detroit is projected to select Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart.

Manning shared that “Finish” became the Colts’ mantra the following season. The Lions should embrace that same idea.

“We were getting close and knocking on the door,” Manning said. “We were doing something right, just needed to take it a bit further.”