Super Bowl Sunday is finally here and it is now time to analyze the game to determine who will come out on top. Both teams have a plethora of offensive weapons at the disposal of their outstanding quarterbacks. But it will come down to which defense steps up to get stops and turnovers that will determine who walks away with the victory in Super Bowl XLIV.
Peyton Manning will not be denied his second Super Bowl title.
The Colts rushing game has been less than spectacular on the ground this season. Perhaps Joseph Addai is saving his biggest game for the biggest stage. He has been inept a lot of the time this year but does have the talent to have a break through game at anytime.
The Colts have the passing weapons to compensate for the lack of a rushing game. Peyton Manning has four targets to chose from. Reggie Wayne is the stud who makes Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie much better receivers by forcing double teaming situations.
One on one coverage is just what the Colts want to see from the Saints defense.
Throw in a very versatile and talented tight end in Dallas Clark, and you have a passing game that will keep you guessing on who the ball is going to. Manning will use them all throughout the game and the Saints defense will be on their heels all night long.
The Colts defense has been steady all year long. They have depth and speed. They are small in size but are ball hawking and can disrupt an offense. They do have a major question on the injury front to their star pass rusher Dwight Freeney. He has been hobbled with an ankle injury and his effectiveness will be questionable at best on Sunday. The Saints do have a high powered offense, so the Colts defense will have to use that depth and speed to make up for it. They will need stops to get the ball back to Peyton Manning and the offense.
The Saints also have a diversified offense that has a number of weapons. They have been enjoying the resurgence of Reggie Bush in the postseason. Bush has been making big plays both on offense and special teams. That is the dual threat that the Saints were hoping for when they drafted him as the #2 overall pick. He is complemented in the backfield by Pierre Thomas who has fit in well when asked to catch or carry the ball.
Their receiving core is lead by Marques Colston who is their homerun threat. Colston takes pressure off Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson, opening up lanes for them to freely run their routes. He plays a role much like Wayne does for the Colts. If you pay too much attention to him, his fellow teammates will make you pay for it. Drew Brees does have the talent to light up the scoreboard which is why the Colts defense needs stops.
The Saints defense is opportunistic and looks for the turnover at all times. They will need to try to confuse Manning and come up with stops and turnovers to get the victory today. They did it to perfection against the Vikings in the NFC Championship game, coming up with five takeaways. Without those turnovers, they would not be playing today.
The defense will be scheming under their defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. The game plan will be to come at all angles hoping to confuse Manning and force him into mistakes. This will be the key to a Saints victory. They must bend but not break as they have all year long. We will see if they can stop Manning and company.
Bend or Break.
After analyzing all this, my prediction is the Colts. The Saints defense will not be up to the task of stopping Manning. Manning will be too determined and figure out the schemes that will be coming at him. He is a master of calling the audible and the Saints defense just doesn’t have the talent to deal with this. He will use his receivers well and keep Brees and the Saints offense off the field. He will act like a type of defense therefore taking pressure off his own defense.
Manning just won’t be denied his second Super Bowl ring and Super Bowl MVP trophy.
Prediction: Colts 41 Saints 27
