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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.
