Congratz Saints

[Stan the Blue Man]

I am Happy for the Saints to win the Super Bowl

[pdga#7648]

very good game, and a great win for the Saints!

[Dan Michler]

That was a high entertainment value game.  The Saints executed flawlessly after their debacle at the goal line in the 2nd quarter.  They had to execute flawlessly to win that game, and I think the on-side kick to start the 2nd half was what up them over the top.  Without that, I think the Colts come down and score to go up 17-6 in the 3rd quarter and I doubt they lose an 11 point lead.  At that point neither offense was going to be stopped and the Saints had to pull off something to stay within a score.

I'm reading alot this morning about how Manning's legacy is now tarnished and he can never be considered the greatest QB of all-time again.  This talk seem completely overreactive and ridiculous to me.  The guy has 4 MVPs, 1 ring and 2 title game appearances with a lot of years left.  I don't think this is his last Super Bowl appearance.  1 writer brought up a list of QB's who would have never made that pass in the Super Bowl, a list including John Elway.  Apparently this guy missed Elway's 3 Super Bowl appearances in the 80's.  Football is by far the most team-oriented sport.  Manning is still the best of his era.  He has the Colts in contention every year.

Manning's line:  31/45  333yds 1 TD  1 INT
Its not like he didn't show up to play!  He was on fire.  That pick-6 was clearly his 1 big mistake of the game, but it did not LOSE the game for the Colts, it cost them a chance to tie and potentially win.  At that point he had to make something happen as they were in TD or nothing, 4-down territory.  Bad mistake, but its not like he did that in a tie game or with his team ahead (for an example of that, see the Vikes/Saints end of regulation).

Here is why the Colts lost.
1.  They refused to blitz Brees.  The guy was on fire.  They needed to try something to throw him off his game as he was completing 10 consecutive passes to bury them in the 4th quarter.
2.  The stupid decision to have a 42 year-old FG kicker with limited range attempt a 51 yard FG in the 4th quarter with a 1 point lead.  This gave the Saints great field position and led to the score that put the Saints up 7.  My opinion:  they should have gone for it on 4th down.  Manning was on fire, there was a pretty good chance they convert the 1st down, keep the ball and eventually score to go up 8 pts, giving them back the momentum and putting all the pressure on the Saints.  Other option would have been to punt the ball and pin them back inside the 20 yd line, making the Brees drive a lot tougher.
3.  The Saints offense played out of their minds.  No turnovers and only 7 incompletions.  That wins games.

[Mike Clark]

I heard a lot about Manning's career being tarnished as well. Its a crock. The Colts are contenders every year because of him. Maybe they should consider putting a little better team around him. Maybe one with a running game and a defense. He is the best QB of his era.

How many dropped passes for first downs did the Colts have? I remember at least 6. Reggie Wayne didn't even show up to the game. The Colts Defense did nothing to stop the Saints after the 1st quarter. Gotta love the Tampa2 with no pass rush. Kinda looked like the Bears with better tackling. Isn't impossible to blitz from the Tampa2. jk.

I never gave the Saints a chance to win the game this way. The Saints Defense gave up 7 points after the 1st quarter. That is damn impressive. Sean Payton making ridiculous calls and believing in his team to win it. The 4th and goal should have cost them 3 points. Instead it cost them nothing. Conservative Colts offense contributed to that. Then opening the 2nd half with that onside kick. Wow.

If you like offense then you should have liked this game. Its was entertaining to watch. The Saints played about as close to perfection as they ever will. Too bad the Colts did not. But it was fun.

2 interesting stats. 84 pass attempts. 1 int and 1 sack.