Time for the men to stand out from the boys
Adam Billman
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Sports
During the season there were two teams who started 13-0 and many people wondered if these two would meet in the Super Bowl. Feb. 21 we got our answer when the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts both prevailed to meet in Super Bowl XLIV.
The Saints have been the talk of the NFL since quarterback Drew Brees came from the San Diego Chargers and helped revive the city of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Three years later the Saints have made the Super Bowl for the first time in the franchises 43-year existence in the NFL and are helping resurrect the city.
The Colts, with arguably the greatest quarterback in the NFL, four-time Most Valuable Player, Peyton Manning and rookie Head Coach Jim Caldwell look to bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Indianapolis. The Colts have been scrutinized the last five weeks for resting its players after starting 14-0 and losing the final two games of the year in an effort to be healthy to make a run at a championship.
When looking at these two teams, the match-up is intriguing. Two of the highest powered offenses, led by Manning and Brees both have young, talented wide receivers.
The Saints receivers Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem and Jeremy Shockey are going to have to be explosive and make plays after the catch, similar to the way the Colts, Reggie Wayne, Austin Collie, Pierre Garcon and Dallas Clark have done all year. The Colts will continue to use its tight end and young receivers to move the ball down field. Advantage: Colts.
Another big match-up to watch is the running game. The Colts do not rely on the run game to set up the play action like the Saints, who have been moving the ball on the ground well as of late. Still the Colts' Joseph Addai has yet to run for more than 100 yards in a game this season, but the slack has been picked up by Mike Hart and Donald Brown throughout the postseason.
The Saints, on the other hand is finally seeing the Reggie Bush everyone expected when they drafted him second overall in the 2006 NFL Draft. Since the playoffs have begun, Bush has been running over people instead of using his speed to get to the outside. He has also been a huge part of the passing game, as well as returning punts. Pierre Thomas, who is the Saints every down back, has continued to move the chains throughout the postseason and looks to do so against the Colts defense. Advantage: Saints
The Saints have been the talk of the NFL since quarterback Drew Brees came from the San Diego Chargers and helped revive the city of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Three years later the Saints have made the Super Bowl for the first time in the franchises 43-year existence in the NFL and are helping resurrect the city.
The Colts, with arguably the greatest quarterback in the NFL, four-time Most Valuable Player, Peyton Manning and rookie Head Coach Jim Caldwell look to bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Indianapolis. The Colts have been scrutinized the last five weeks for resting its players after starting 14-0 and losing the final two games of the year in an effort to be healthy to make a run at a championship.
When looking at these two teams, the match-up is intriguing. Two of the highest powered offenses, led by Manning and Brees both have young, talented wide receivers.
The Saints receivers Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem and Jeremy Shockey are going to have to be explosive and make plays after the catch, similar to the way the Colts, Reggie Wayne, Austin Collie, Pierre Garcon and Dallas Clark have done all year. The Colts will continue to use its tight end and young receivers to move the ball down field. Advantage: Colts.
Another big match-up to watch is the running game. The Colts do not rely on the run game to set up the play action like the Saints, who have been moving the ball on the ground well as of late. Still the Colts' Joseph Addai has yet to run for more than 100 yards in a game this season, but the slack has been picked up by Mike Hart and Donald Brown throughout the postseason.
The Saints, on the other hand is finally seeing the Reggie Bush everyone expected when they drafted him second overall in the 2006 NFL Draft. Since the playoffs have begun, Bush has been running over people instead of using his speed to get to the outside. He has also been a huge part of the passing game, as well as returning punts. Pierre Thomas, who is the Saints every down back, has continued to move the chains throughout the postseason and looks to do so against the Colts defense. Advantage: Saints
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