So who's it going to be in Super Bowl XLIV? The Peyton Manning-led Indianapolis Colts or the Drew Brees-led New Orleans Saints? The favorite Colts, or the underdog Saints? Will Manning cement his legacy by winning his second Super Bowl, or will the Saints rise to the occasion and give the citizens of the state of Louisiana and the city of New Orleans something to remember for a lifetime? What team is facing more pressure?
Reasons why the Colts will win:
Peyton Manning.
In my opinion, Manning is the best and most valuable football player in the league. Every season. Take Manning away from the Colts, and they would most likely be mired in mediocrity. Manning is without a doubt the team's leader, especially on offense. All week, analysts and reporters have tried to figure out how (and if) Manning can be rattled. It's basically impossible, as even opposing players have testified. True, Manning does not have the best track record in the postseason, but I can't see how Manning doesn't show up tomorrow in Miami. He won his 4th MVP this season, seemed to be slightly perturbed at missing out on a chance to go undefeated through the regular season, and you can bet he'll want to finish what he started. And in the AFC Championship Game against what many felt was the league's best defense in the New York Jets, he finished the game with this line: 26-39, 377 YDS, 3 TD, 0 INT, and a 30-17 win.
Dallas Clark.
Dallas Clark had 100 catches for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. From the tight end position. And yet, we heard more about Antonio Gates, Vernon Davis, and Jason Witten all season. It helped that Marvin Harrison was gone, Anthony Gonzalez was hurt, and the Colts offense had to incorporate inexperienced receivers like Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie into the mix (coupled with a horrible running game), but Clark is more than capable of putting up the same numbers even as part of an offense that has all of its pieces. Dallas Clark is one of the most underappreciated players in the league, and at 6'3", 250 lbs, is a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. He's too fast for most linebackers, and he uses his size to get between the football and defensive backs. Clark has been relatively quiet this postseason, but that is due to the emergence of Garcon and Collie. I predict that he'll make noise tomorrow.
Colts defense.
It's hard for a defense to make a name for itself when seemingly everyone feels that the Colts are a team predicated on offense. But the Colts had an above average defense this year, finishing 18th in total defense while allowing 19 points a game, good for 8th in the NFL. Their defense has been even better in the postseason, allowing 20 points through 2 games, and shut out the Jets offense in the 2nd half of the AFC Championship Game. Granted, the Colts drew two not-so-hot offenses in the Baltimore Ravens and the Jets, but those two teams are very good at running the ball. Against the Colts, they averaged 87 yards on the ground, and as good as the Saints passing game is, I believe their running game is equally important. Despite the possibility that right end Dwight Freeney might not play, the Colts numbers without him are virtually the same, and Raheem Brock is no slouch.
Reasons why the Saints will win:
The city of New Orleans.
Unless you've been under a rock for the last 5 years, there is no way that you're not aware of the natural disaster that was Hurricane Katrina in 2005. A city that struggled a great deal before the hurricane was basically demolished afterwards. The Superdome became a refuge of sorts, and all most of the citizens had left besides their sanity were their beloved Saints. This is a city that is still recovering, even almost 5 years later, and if you've ever watched a game on TV, the crowd puts the Seattle Seahawks "12th Man" to shame. These fans are not only cheering for a football team, they're rooting for a restoration of order in their city. Mardi Gras is one of the grandest celebrations on Earth, and I read that it paled in comparison to how the people of New Orleans celebrated after the Saints clinched a spot in Super Bowl XLIV. I guarantee that anyone watching the Super Bowl will know there are Saints fans at the game.
Saints wide receivers and running backs.
Most point to Drew Brees as the guy that makes the Saints offense go, but I disagree. I'm not saying that Brees hasn't been instrumental in their turnaround, but this is a Saints team that has the most offensive weapons in all of football. Reggie Bush, touted by some as the next Gale Sayers after coming out of USC, isn't even the player that stands out the most. He was barely a blip on the radar at times, despite all of the attention that is paid to him. Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell make a fairly formidable two-headed monster at running back, and Bush is nothing more than a change of pace back, albeit a good one. Although Marques Holston is probably the Saints best receiver, he's not THE guy. Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem, and tight end Jeremy Shockey are all players that must be accounted for on every play, as each player has the capability to stretch the field and make big plays. It's pick your poison with this Saints offense. SIXTEEN different Saints scored an offensive touchdown this season, and that's not including how dangerous Reggie Bush is in the return game.
Saints defense.
Again, most pretty much ignore what the Saints defense has done this year, because most have focused on the Saints offensive prowess. The Saints defense has been far from stellar (actually one of the worst defenses in the league), but is opportunistic, and is led by ballhawk free safety Darren Sharper. Sharper picked off 9 passes this year, returning 3 for scores, and Vilma, while undersized, is a very good inside linebacker. Roman Harper is the Saints strong safety, and has been good in run support, notching 102 tackles, 84 solos, and 10 for loss. After a down 2008, defensive end Will Smith had a career-high 13 sacks this season, and Charles Grant is more than a serviceable defensive end on the opposite side. The Saints scored 5 defensive touchdowns this season and look to advance the ball downfield after creating turnovers, making it even easier for the powerful Saints offense to put points on the board.
My prediction:
The Saints have a more powerful offense and more weapons on that side of the ball than the Colts. However, the Saints have given up almost 420 yards and 21 points a game this postseason. Yes, they've played the Arizona Cardinals and the Minnesota Vikings, two teams with great offenses of their own, but there's no way they can afford to allow the Colts to rack up those numbers. NO WAY. I assume Manning can put 21 points on the board against any defense in the league, so spotting him that many can only spell doom for the opposition. Against a Saints defense that might be a little too eager to make a play (knowing they can't shut down Manning and the Colts O), I feel the Colts will be able to move the ball up and down the field without a problem. In addition, the Colts have the trump card: Peyton Manning. Colts win, 31-17.
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