Super Bowl XLIV Preview
By Scott Burks
Here is a preview
for what should be an exciting Super Bowl XLIV. This is for all the
marbles folks, so let's have some fun ...shall we?
New Orleans
Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts. This may be the first time in
recent years that the Super Bowl will feature the top seeds from both
conferences, which makes this match-up more intriguing. This Super
Bowl will be all about offense. Both teams' offenses are juggernauts
that can hang 30 points on you in a hurry. Having said that, while
everyone and their mamas are picking the Colts, I have to get the edge to
the Saints.
In a game like
this, the winner will have to have a playmaking defense. The Saints
have more playmakers on defense, especially in the secondary that's led by
safety (and my wife's boyfriend) Darren Sharper. The Saints' defense
are also known to force turnovers, and that gives the Saints an edge on that
side of the ball. I also think the Saints will hit Peyton Manning
early and often. Any defensive coordinator who's worth his salary
knows that one cannot sit back and give ANY NFL quarterback time to complete
passes, let alone Manning.
What will hurt
the Colts more is a gimpy Dwight Freeney, their leading sacker and best
pass-rusher. In this league, a team needs more than one pass-rusher,
otherwise an opposing team will double-team that one pass rusher all game
long. Look for the Saints to shift its double-team protection towards
the other pass-rushing defensive end Robert Mathis. When that happens,
Saints QB Drew Brees will have all the time in the world to throw the ball
to his all his weapons.
The Saints have
other advantages that will help them pull of the upset. Saints RB
Reggie Bush will give the Saints an edge on special teams. The Saints
have a better running game than the Colts (the Colts rank dead last in
rushing yards per game).
Finally, the
Saints are able to do what most teams haven't done to the Colts -- outscore
them. I think the more points the Saints hang on the Colts, the more
pressure it puts on Manning and his offense. It will make the Colts
more one-dimensional, and that will play into the hands of the aggressive
Saints defense. Saints 30, Colts 27.
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