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SAINTS WIN SUPER BOWL XLIV

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The New Orleans Saints won their 1st Super Bowl in their 43 year history Sunday in Miami over the Indianapolis Colts 31-17. The 1st quarter was all Colts with Indianapolis jumping out to a 10-0 lead after a Matt Stover field goal and a brilliant 96 yard drive engineered by Peyton Manning that ended with a 19 yard touchdown pass to Pierre Garcon.

The 2nd quarter was all Saints with the Saints moving the ball at will on the Colts scoring on a Garret Hartley 46 yard field goal and then driving 70 yards to the Colts 1 yard line where Pierre Thomas was stopped on 4th down by the Colts defense. The Colts ran 3 times and were forced to punt the ball back to the Saints. The Saints used those 35 remaining seconds to kick a 44 yard Garret Hartley field goal going into half time trailing the Colts 10-6.

The second half started with one of the best trick plays in Super Bowl history a onside kick touched by the Colts and recovered by the Saints. Drew Brees than led the Saints down the field ending the drive with a 19 yard screen pass and great run after the catch by Pierre Thomas for a touchdown giving the Saints their 1st lead in the game.

The Colts answered on the next possession with Peyton Manning driving the Colts 76 yards ending with a 4 yard TD run by Joseph Addai giving the Colts the lead back at 17-13. The bad news for the Colt fans was that would be the last thing they would have to cheer about. Late in the third quarter the Saints added a 47 yard field goal by Garret Hartley to cut the lead to 1 point.

In the 4th quarter the Saints took charge with Drew Brees padding his stats on a 59 yard drive ending with Drew Brees completing his record tying 32nd pass, a 2 yard TD pass to Jeremy Shockey giving the Saints the lead for good the 2 point conversion gave the Saints a 24 -17 lead forcing the Colts to play for a tie.

On the next drive Peyton Manning tried to forced a pass that was intercepted and returned 74 yards for a touchdown by Tracy Porter putting the final nail in the Colts coffin. League MVP Peyton Manning finished the day 31 of 45 for 333 yards 1 TD and 1 Huge INT.

SUPER BOWL MVP Drew Brees finished the day 32-39 for 288 yards with 2 TD’s and no INT’s. Brees played flawlessly making it look easy to win a Super Bowl. I really thought the Colts would play better defense than they did as well as move the ball better on the Saints defense but the Saints came to play and deserve to be Super Bowl Champs.

I give the Saints and their fans a lot of credit they had a great season but I can’t help but think what might have been if the Vikings had played the Colts. I think the Vikings offense and defense was better and I think the Vikings would have blown the Colts off the field finely winning a Super Bowl but as a life long Vikings fan all I can do is think about what could have been and wait for next year.

SUPER BOWL XLIV SAINTS vs COLTS

On Sunday the New Orleans Saints play the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV in Miami. The Saints 15-3 are the NFC’s #1 seed and the Colts 16-2 are the AFC’s #1 seed making this game is dream match up on many levels. Both team were the best all season, both teams looked like they might go undefeated and it was not that long ago the Saints thought about leaving New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

On the Colts side Peyton Manning is trying to secure his place in NFL history as one of a handful of quarterbacks to win more than 1 Super Bowl joining the likes of Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw, Tom Brady, John Elway and Roger Staubach. In another twist Peyton Manning’s Father Archie Manning was the star quarterback for the Saints in the early 70’s. Archie was the only bright spot on a horrible Saints team. I ‘am sure any other year Archie would pull for the Saints but not this time.

The Saints are led by quarterback Drew Brees who I still say should have won league MVP. Brees led the league with a 109.8 passer rating, 70.6% completion rate, 4,388 yards and a league best 34 touchdowns. Brees had 5 receivers with 45 or more catches including Marques Colston who had 70 rec. for 1074 yards and 9 TD’s.

The Colts are led of course by 4 time MVP Peyton Manning who threw for 4500 yards, 33 touchdowns 68.8% completion rate and a 99.9 passer rating. Manning had 5 receivers with 47 or more catches including 2 with 100 receptions. Dallas Clark had 100 catches for 1106 yards and 10 TD’s, while Reggie Wayne had 100 catches for 1264 yards and 10 TD’s.

Neither the Colts or Saints had a 1000 yard rusher. The Saints were led by Pierre Thomas with 793 yards and 6 TD’s, while the Colts were led by Joseph Addai who ran for 828 yards and 10 TD’s. Both teams will try to run the ball but this game will clearly be decided by the passing game. Both defenses are above average but neither one is dominating so it will come down to who can contain the other quarterback the best.

Drew Brees has been sacked 20 times this year and has thrown 11 Int’s. the Colts have a great pass rush but will be missing their best pass rusher Dwight Freeney, who is only expected to play 3rd downs and know one knows how effective he will be with his ankle injury.

Peyton Manning on the other hand is the hardest QB to get to only being sacked 10 times all year, he did however throw 16 Int’s so he can be pressured. The Saints defensive coordinator Greg Williams has already implied the Saints will be trying to unload on Peyton Manning the way they did on Brett Favre. It will be interesting to see if the NFL protects Manning any better against the Saints constant cheap shots. It is a pretty telling statement when you think your only chance to win is by knocking out the other teams quarterback.

I think this will be a high scoring game thanks to the lack of great defense on both sides but in the end Peyton Manning ” Lays Down the Law ” and earns another Super Bowl MVP as well as leaving no doubt who is ” The Greatest Quarterback of All Time ” . I’m taking the Colts over the Saints in a shootout 37-31.

AFC BEATS NFC in PRO BOWL

The AFC beat the NFC in this years Pro Bowl 41-34. The game this year was held in Miami rather than Honolulu where the game has been held since 1980. The game was also played the week before the Super Bowl in an attempt by the NFL to boost attendance and viewership which seems to have been an overwhelming success with 70,697 fans in the stadium, the most for a Pro Bowl since 1959.

This game obviously is for the players to have fun and get a nice vacation for their families while putting on a good show for the fans. This is the first time I have watched the Pro Bowl since Junior High and I really like the new time slot and think the NFL should keep it as part of Super Bowl week playing it where ever the Super Bowl is played. The players I ‘m sure would rather it be played in Hawaii which it will be the next 2 years.

Both sides threw for over 400 yards, AFC Player of the Game Matt Schaub was 13-17 for 189 yards and 2 TD’s while NFC Player of the Game Aaron Rogers went 15-19 for 197 yards and 2 TD’s. All in all I think the NFL hit a Home Run with this one it was a very entertaining game.

COLTS BEAT JETS MANNING RETURNS TO SUPER BOWL

The Indianapolis Colts beat the NY Jets in the AFC Championship game 30-17. The Jets played great for the first 28 and a half minutes building a surprising 11 point lead against the Colts. Mark Sanchez looked amazing completing a couple of long passes including a 80 yard touchdown to Braylon Edwards. Sanchez also had a 9 yard TD pass to cap off a 77 yard Drive.

Sanchez did a incredible job of carrying the Jets when their high powered running game was derailed by a good Colts defense and a rib injury to star running back Shonn Green who was held to 41 yards and his back up Thomas Jones was held to 42 yards. Sanchez did eventually throw a interception but the game was already over by then. For a rookie it was an outstanding performance throwing for 257 yards on 17 of 30 attempts with 2 TD’s.

On the Colts side they proved to everyone they more than likely would have gone undefeated if they had chosen to. Peyton Manning showed why he will be the Greatest Quarterback of All Time when he done setting records. The Jets defense confused him for a while but with a little over 1 minute left before half time Manning threw 3 passes to Austin Collie totaling 80 yards ending with a 16 yard TD pass that cut the Jets lead to 17-13 and giving the Jets a preview of their demise.

The Jets took away Reggie Wayne and held Dallas Clark to just 4 catches for 3 yards with 1 TD, but Manning made up for that by throwing 7 passes for 123 yards and 1 TD to Austin Collie and 11 passes to Pierre Garcon for 151 yards and 1 TD. Peyton Manning finished the game with 377 yards on 26 of 39 passing and 3 TD’s making him the NFL’s all time leader with 7 career 300 yard post season games passing Joe Montana and Kurt Warner.

Peyton Manning looks like he is ready to silence his critics once and for all by winning his second Super Bowl. We will see it should be another great game.

VIKINGS BEAT VIKINGS... SAINTS GO TO SUPER BOWL

The Minnesota Vikings lost the NFC Championship game to the New Orleans Saints 31-28 in overtime but the Vikings were beat by themselves not by the Saints. The Vikings dominated the Saints from start to finish surprisingly on both sides of the ball. I was worried about the Vikings secondary but they played great holding Drew Brees to only 197 yards passing on 17 of 31 with 3 TD’s.

The Vikings defense shut down Reggie Bush and held Pierre Thomas to 61 yards rushing on 14 carries as well as stopping the Saints supposed high powered offense on several 3rd and short plays ending drives and forcing punts.

Adrian Peterson played his best game in a long time rushing for 122 yards and 3 TD’s ,but cost the Vikings big time when he fumbled inside the 10 after a stupid mistake by Reggie Bush fumbling a punt he should of fair caught giving the Vikings a golden chance to take the lead going into half time. If the Vikings had Scored that TD I think it would have been game over and the Saints would not have recovered momentum going into the second half.

Brett Favre also played great throwing for 310 yards and 1 TD against the Saints crappy defense. The only bright spot for the Saints defense were all of the late hits and cheap shots they took at Brett Favre, including a high- low shot that went uncalled and almost knocked Brett Favre out of the game.

Farvre did make a bad throw that ended up costing the Vikings the game but he really didn’t have a choice after a retarded 12 men in the huddle penalty took them out of game winning field goal range. The Saints then got lucky in over time when a trap was ruled a catch that made a 52 yard field goal attempt a 40 yard game winner.

Even with 5 turnovers the Saints only won by 3 in overtime with help from the refs. I don’t Hate the Saints this was the ultimate dream NFC Championship match up for me I just wish the Saints had done something more to deserve this win. On the other hand I have a whole new respect Brett Favre not only for his toughness in this game but the MVP season he had all year.

I was Favre’s biggest critic when he announced his comeback and I’ll be the 1st to admit I couldn’t have been more wrong. I hope the beating his 40 year old body took against the Saints doesn’t influence his decision to play out his contract next year.Returning to the title game next year is a tall order but I think that team could do it if he chooses to do so.

As for the Saints they had better fire up that offense because Peyton Manning will chew up that defense for yards, points and time of possession so they better bring their A GAME.

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME VIKINGS vs SAINTS

Today the Minnesota Vikings play the New Orleans Saints for the NFC Championship and a trip to the Super Bowl. This will be the Vikings 5th Super Bowl appearance if they win or the Saints 1st if they should win. The Vikings are 0-4 in Super Bowl games with their last appearance in Super Bowl Xl vs the Raiders.

This is a Dream match up for the title game, the #1 Saints vs the #2 Vikings. Both teams have explosive offenses and very good defenses as well as great special teams featuring Reggie Bush for the Saints and Percy Harvin for the Vikings both of which can change the out come of the game in a heart beat.

The Vikings dream season is the direct result of Brett Favre’s comeback part 2. Favre has had a career season at age 40 and if the Vikings win today he will become the oldest quarterback to play in a Super Bowl. Now Brett didn’t get the Vikings to this point by himself, The early season play of Adrian Peterson and the unbelievable play of Rookie of the Year Percy Harvin as well as wide receivers Sidney Rice and Bernard Berrian not to mention tight end Visanthe Shiancoe.

The Saints Heart and soul is of course Drew Brees, who I still say should have been league MVP. Brees also has a great receiving core featuring Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem and tight end Jeremy Shockey. The Saints Big question mark will be Reggie Bush, last week he had one of his best games ever. If he is a big part of the Saints offense again it will be a long day for the Vikings.

The Vikings need to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball again like they did last week vs Dallas. On offense they have to protect Brett Favre and on defense they to keep pressure on Drew Brees or he will pick the Minnesota secondary apart. This game will be very high scoring because both offenses are so much better than the defenses. This game should be close to the end with the line play deciding the out come.

I like my Vikings to do just enough on defense to pull out the win. Vikings 31- Saints 27.

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME JETS vs COLTS

Today the NY Jets play the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship game for a trip to the Super Bowl in Miami. This is a classic David vs Goliath match up with the nearly perfect Colts hosting the Cinderella Jets. The Jets 9-7 backed into the playoffs when the 14-0 Colts decided to sit all of their starters late in the 1st half vs the Jets in week 16.

In that game the Colts had a 15-10 lead and Peyton Manning was moving the ball with ease against the Jets defense. The Colts should left Manning and the rest of the starters till half time put up another score and won the game with their bench sending the Jets home where they belong, but tha’ts not what happened.

The Jets won that game then went on to beat the Cincinnati Bengals both in the season finally and a week later in the playoffs. Last week the Jets traveled to San Diego where they upset the Chargers a team everyone thought would be beating the Colts today and representing the AFC in the Super Bowl.

The Jets had other plans, they ran the ball down San Diego throat and played great defense beating the high scoring Chargers 17-14 setting up this David vs Goliath AFC Championship game in Indy. If the Jets can run the ball effectively and most importantly protect Mark Sanchez they have a great chance of winning the game.

The Jets will also have to shut down Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Joseph Addai and you get the picture… it’s a tall order for the Jets defense but one they just might pull off. Jets Coach Rex Ryan has they the Jets playing inspired football right now and there is nothing more dangerous than a team that doesn’t know their not suppose to win.

If the Jets win today Mark Sanchez will become the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to play in the Super Bowl. If that happens break out your through back jersey because it will be 1969 all over again and New York will go Crazy. On the flip side if the Colts lose Peyton Manning will never hear the end of it, and this game will tarnish his career forever.

I have to jump on the Jets band wagon for this one, Cinderella is going to the ball. The Colts have all the pressure and I think they crack. I’m taking the Jets in a close one 20-17 over the Colts.

VIKINGS Crush COWBOYS

The Minnesota Vikings crushed the Dallas Cowboys Sunday in the NFC Divisional Playoffs 34-3. The Vikings did exactly what they needed to do vs Dallas dominating the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball all day long. On offense the Vikings protected Brett Favre the entire game allowing Favre to pick Dallas apart going 15 of 24 for 234 yards and a personal playoff record 4 touchdowns.

Wide receiver Sidney Rice had 6 catches for 141 yards and 3 TD’s and running back Adrian Peterson added 63 yards rushing but most importantly no fumbles. The win makes Brett Favre at age 40 the oldest quarterback ever to win a playoff game and it was his first ever playoff win against the Cowboys.

On defense the Vikings harassed Dallas quarterback Tony Romo from start to finish holding him to 198 yards passing on 22 of 35 attempts. Romo was sacked 6 times including 3 by defensive end Ray Edwards. Romo also fumbled 3 times losing 2 of them and threw the ugliest interception in playoff history. The Cowboys obviously bought into all the media hype about how they were the dominate team in the NFC and how Tony Romo had become a premier NFL quarterback.

The Viking beat down the Cowboys from the open kickoff to the final whistle and are now 1 win away from the SUPER BOWL for the first time since 1998 when they wasted a nearly perfect 15-1 season on a missed field goal. I hope they can finish the job this year.

SAINTS DESTROY CARDINALS

The New Orleans Saints destroyed the Arizona Cardinals Saturday in the Super Dome 45-14. The Cardinals took the opening kick off and seconds later took a 7-0 lead stunning the Saints fans on the first play of the game when Arizona running back Tim Hightower broke free for a 70 yard TD run. Arizona looked like they came to play but that didn’t last for long as they would only score 7 more points the rest of the game.

Curt Warner was 17-26 for 205 0 TD’s and costly INT that knock Warner from the for a few plays at the end of the first half after he was blind sided on during the interception return. The INT resulted in a Drew Brees to Marcus Colston TD pass that put the Saints up 35-7 at the half. The Arizona defense was terrible for the second week in a row and this time it cost them big time.

The Saints on the other hand could do no wrong. Drew Brees was 23 of 32 for 247 3 TD’s and no INT’s. The Saints defense was outstanding holding Tim Hightower to only 17 yards rushing after his opening 70 yard run and they secondary kept Warner in check all day. The Big Star for the Saints was Reggie Bush who had his best game ever providing the spark for the Saints scoring.

Bush had 84 yards rushing including a beautiful 46 yard TD run that made the Arizona defense look like a high school team. Bush also had 4 catches for 24 yards, as well as a 83 yard punt return for a touchdown. If the Saints can play this way in the NFC Championship game they will finally make it to the Super Bowl, we will see what happens but that would have to be classified as a true miracle.

COLTS KNOCK OUT RAVENS

The Indianapolis Colts knocked out the Baltimore Ravens Saturday night in Indy 20-3. The Ravens held the ball for 8 minutes on their opening drive but could not get the ball into the end zone having to settle for a Matt Stover field goal. That drive would end up being the bright spot for the Ravens who were held scoreless the rest of the game.

Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco was not effective throwing for only 189 yards on 20-35 passing with no TD’s and 2 INT’s. The great Ravens rushing attack was shut down with Ray Rice being held to only 67 yards rushing.

The Colts played nearly perfect, Peyton Manning went 30-44 for 246 with 2 TD’s and no INT’s. Colts running back Joseph Addai did just enough rushing for only 23 yards with no TD’s. The real stars of the game for the Colts were the defense who stuffed the run and pressured Flacco all day picking him off twice. This was some of the best defense the Colts played all year.

In the end the better team won but this was one of the most boring playoff games I have ever seen, I hope Peyton spices it up a little more in the AFC Championship game.

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