The week leading up to Super Bowl Sunday is like a blind date: lots of anxiety, preparation and anticipation for what you hope ends up being a good match.
In the case of Super Bowl XLIV, both teams are promising prospects. On one side you have the Indianapolis Colts, who have been the NFL’s staple of consistency and excellence throughout the past decade. Their opponent, the extremely talented, emotionally driven New Orleans Saints, who’ve come to symbolize the Big Easy’s resilient and resurgent spirit since Hurricane Katrina.
One team won the Super Bowl three years ago; the other’s never even been to the big show. One’s trying to complete a dynasty; the other’s trying to complete a destiny.
I think we have Super Bowl love at first sight.
Headlines aside, the Saints led the NFL in offense and were third in takeaways on defense. In contrast, the Colts wound up seventh in offense, but fared much better than the Saints defensively, being ranked eighth overall.
Defense, though, should not be a major factor in the game. Not only do both teams prefer passing the ball over running, they’re built to score quickly. Top that off with Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, two Hall-of-Fame caliber quarterbacks that’ll be guiding their offenses down the field all night, and it would be crazy not to expect a shootout.
This game comes down to one matchup that could determine who leaves Miami with the Vince Lombardi trophy: Manning vs. the Saint’s defense.
In both previous games, Manning has slowly and methodically figured out the opponents defense. Both teams went in with the game plan of their defenses wearing Manning down. By the time both games were over, the opposite had happened.
The Saints, though, have already publicly stated their approach against Manning: not to wear him down, but to take him down. Their defense plans shake, rattle and roll Manning to the point that he’s out of sync, if not out of the game. It’s a method that’s worked for them in the playoffs too—just ask Kurt Warner and Brett Favre. When they each faced the Saints, both their passer ratings were under 75. After the beatings they took, it’s no coincidence that the two ageless quarterbacks are suddenly finding the idea of retirement much more attractive.
Manning will be a whole different story for the Saints. If given the time, he’ll—guaranteed—solve the Saints defense, just as he has done throughout these playoffs and his entire career. That’s why the Saints know they need to hit Manning in the mouth as early and often as possible. If they don’t, the game could be over before it even gets started.
And nobody likes being stood up, no matter what kind of date it is.
