The biggest sports spectacle of the year is this Sunday. You all know that it is Super Bowl XLIV. The NFC Champion New Orleans Saints versus the AFC Champion Indianapolis Colts. Both team had very similar paths to the championship game.
First, with the "visiting" team, the Saints. The Saints started off the year 13-0, looking very impressive along the way, but they lost their last three games, one to the Dallas Cowboys, who made it to the divisional round, and then to the lowly Tampa Bay Bucs, who have the thrd pick in the draft, and finally to the Panthers. Going into the playoffs, they were doubted to go any further than maybe the NFC Championship game because of how they finished the season, not looking impressive in their final five games. But, they completely destroyed the Arizona Cardinals in the divisional round, 45-10, causing Kurt Warner to retire. Then, they completely jacked up Brett Favre in the Championship game, causing 5 turnovers, which led to most of their points. The Vikings dominated the game, but gave it to the Saints by those turnovers. So, to say the least, their defense is very opportunistic, wreaking havoc on the quarterback by blitzing and giving the quarterback complicated looks trying to disrupt his timing, and they try to strip the ball from whomever has it.
We all know about their offense and Drew Brees, who's thrown for over 3500 yards in each of his four seasons in New Orleans and then to compliment Brees and his receivers are the dynamic trio of Pierre Thomas, Mike Bell, and Reggie Bush. Those three combined for over 2,000 yards on the ground this season, and providing a great set up for Brees and the play action pass. Finally, the special teams, the most vital part of a team, as it sets up everything else which happens.
The Saints have some good special teams, and they probably don't have to worry about the nerves of their kicker Garrett Hartley who nailed their game winning field goal in overtime of the NFC Championship game. Hartley also has some good distance, as he can probably kick a field goal 55 yards if needed. Then, with Reggie Bush they have a dynamic return man who can return a kick back anytime. Finally, the man who sets up the positioning of each team, the punter, Thomas Mostead is the kink in the special teams armor of the Saints, who finished 34th of 36 punters in the league in total punting stats.
Now, onto the "home" team in the Indianapolis Colts, who started off the season 14-0 before resting their starters and essentially playing a JV Colt team in the final 2 games to finish 14-2.
Coming into the playoffs, everyone was wondering whether or not resting the starters would cause disruptions in timing and if they would be as sharp as they were in their 14 wins. But, they handled those questions quite easily defeating the Baltimore Ravens 20-3, and then handling the New York Jets 30-17, with most of that coming in the second half.
Indianapolis has a quite strong defense as well, with some strong pass rushers in Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis who get to the quarterback quite often, and then they've got some other hard hitters in Antoine Bethea and Gary Brackett. The defense doesn't get a lot of press other than Freeney and Mathis, but they are solid and get the job done quite nicely.
Then, the offense what can you say which hasn't already been said? Peyton Manning is quite possibly the best quarterback of all time, the receivers are world class, the offensive line only allowed 10 sacks, and the running game does what it's supposed to to keep defenses honest.
Finally, the special teams has a great kicker in Matt Stover, who was 9-11 in field goals and a perfect 33-33 in PATs, while splitting time with Adam Vinatieri. Then they've got a good returner in T.J. Rushing and Chad Simpson. The punter Pat McAfee, like Morstead isn't that good, but he gets the job done.
The game is much like Super Bowl XLI when the Colts beat the Bears, as the Bears were also a very opportunistic team who relied on turnovers for points. Peyton then procedded to light them up. This one is the same way, but New Orleans has a much better offense. Peyton will still torch them though, as he has two weeks to prepare and Peyton is really good when he has that much time to prepare. Although I'm pulling for the Saints, go with the Colts in a blowout.
Indianapolis 38, New Orleans 17
Next: who knows? Probably Olympic talk.
