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Saints will take advantage of rare chance in spotlight
The Advocate
On Aug. 28, 2005, New Orleans, the beloved city of the Saints, was blind-sided by the deadliest U.S. hurricane since 1925. More than 1,836 people lost their lives that day as Katrina surged through the Gulf coast. For that reason alone, I have the Saints winning off pure gut instinct.
For people who say Super Bowl XLIV between the New Orleans Saints (13-3) and Indianapolis Colts (14-2) is just a game, you have something else coming. Not to mention it’s not every year that arguably the two best teams in the league face one another for the championship.
I am a guy of firsts and if the Saints pull this one out, they would be crowned for their first time in their 33-year franchise history. They’ve already made history in New Orleans by coming this far. Why stop now? One win away from their biggest win in franchise history - how can a team not get pumped for that opportunity?
Experts typically say that defense and running the ball win big games. And I am not here to argue that fact. But in this matchup of high profile quarterbacks — MVP Payton Manning (Colts) and the rugged slinger Drew Brees (Saints) — it’s going to be a passing frenzy. Combined, the two all-pro QBs threw for 9,188 yards and 67 touchdowns in 16 regular season games. At some point, defense will have to play a factor in the outcome but don’t hold your breath on defense winning this time around.
The Saints are led on offense by receivers Marques Colston (1,074 yards), Devery Henderson (804 yards), Robert Meachem (722 yards) and Jeremy Shockey (569 yards). In order for this team to be successful, all four players will have to get involved and get their touches as much as possible. That’s what this team does: wears and tears you down with their throwing game.
Somewhere in the back of Shockey’s crazy brain, he wants a second chance to prove himself on the big stage. Shockey was a member of the New York Giants Super Bowl XLII championship team when they pulled off the world’s biggest miracle, an upset over the then-undefeated New England Patriots. But Shockey was sidelined with a broken left fibula and suffered damage to his ankle and wasn’t able to play. Time to shine, big boy.
Running backs Pierre Thomas, Mike Bell and Reggie Bush averaged 131.6 yards per game during the regular season, compared to a Colts 80.9 yards per contest. With that said, Bush has been anything but the USC Bush that we once saw. He has become one of the most talented pass-catchng running backs in the game and has playmaking abilities that can’t be stopped. It just depends on which Bush will show up to play.
I know, I know, I mentioned earlier that it was going to be more than just defense and the running game that wins. But when your team has a better running game and gives up fewer points then the other team (hint, hint), the Saints have them beat in both categories. That sounds like a great recipe in capturing their first Super Bowl victory.
Somehow the Saints defense needs to distract Manning and find a way to blitz him effectively and take his mind out of the game. That won’t be an easy task, considering Manning’s IQ and his tendency to pick defenses apart on a weekly basis.
Here’s something new for me: I am going to have a John Madden moment. The team that shows up ready to play and puts more points on the board is going to be the winning team. That’s why I have to go with the Saints.
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