Super Bowl XLIV After Thoughts

I hope everyone is not hungover, err sick after Super Bowl Sunday. Here are my thoughts a day after on the Super Bowl presented in bullet point style.

- The New Orleans Saints defense needs to be given huge amount of credit for their victory last night. While they gave up 432 total yards of offense to the Colts, they managed to hold them to 17 points in the game and only 7 points in the 2nd half. They never sacked Peyton Manning, but were at least able to get pressure to him and force him to throw balls early which lead to incompletions.

- I personally thought the Pierre Garcon dropped pass in the 2nd quarter was the turning point in the game for both teams. The Colts were leading 10-3 at the time and were once again driving on the Saints. Pierre Garcon dropped a third pass from Peyton Manning that would have lead to a big gain. The Colts could have potentially taken a 17-3 lead or a 13-3 lead. Instead Garcon dropped that pass and the game turned in the Saints favor.

- This game was really a tale of two teams that are completely different. The Colts all season lived on the edge and were always able to get by. The Colts were also very conservative during the season and that showed during the Super Bowl. The Colts were very conservative from their last drive of the 1st half (a run three straight times, that lead to a Saints FG at the end of the half) to that long field goal attempt from Matt Stover that never had a chance.

The Saints on the other hand lived on the edge also all season, but they always stayed aggressive right down to the Saints at least attempting to go 16-0 on the season. And it showed during the Super Bowl. Head coach Sean Payton went for broke in the 2nd quarter and tried to score on a 4th and goal. It failed, but it also pinned the Colts deep in their own side of the field. And of course the Colts went conservative and ran the ball three straight times and had to punt. The Saints drove down the field and kicked a field goal to end the 1st half down 10-6.

Then the Saints pulled the biggest rabbit out of their hat by attempting an onside kick at the start of the 2nd half. After a long scrum, it was finally decided the Saints recovered the ball and the game would decidedly swing in favor of the Saints.



- The Saints would score on that drive and then the Colts would respond with a touchdown of their own to take the 17-13 lead.

- Drew Brees was deservedly so the MVP of the game. Brees went for 32-of-39 with two touchdowns, no interceptions and a completion percentage of 82. Brees was outstanding on a drive that would score the game-winning touchdown. Brees would find Jeremy Shockey for a two-yard touchdown in the 4th quarter that would eventually turn out to be the game winner.



- Brees would then find Lance Moore for a controversial two-point conversion that would give the Saints a seven-point lead with 5 minutes left in the game.



- Peyton Manning had his chance though to become the greatest quarterback of all-time. I talked about this last week that Joe Montana cemented his legacy as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time with his last minute performance in Super Bowl XXIII. Manning had his chance in Super Bowl XLIV to cement his legacy and he threw an interception. Manning driving the Colts down the field to potentially tie the game, threw an interception to the legend killer Tracy Porter who ran the pass back for a touchdown to seal the Saints win.



Hell of a two week period for Tracy Porter. First he intercepts Brett Favre in the last minute of the NFC Championship, then he intercepted Peyton Manning that would be the dagger in Super Bowl XLIV. I would say Porter is partying pretty hard last night and today.

- I agree with the USA Today that the CBS broadcast was very solid. They didn't show a million shots of the Manning family (you know Fox would have showed the Manning Family at least 20 times) and they kept their entire focus on the game itself. I was very impressed with Jim Nantz on the game call. I've always been neutral on Nantz, I've never liked or hated Nantz. I've always wished he would put a little more passion into his calls for the NFL and college basketball and last night Nantz did just that.



- In the end Super Bowl XLIV was very solid. It feels good knowing the last three Super Bowls have been exciting games that have come down to the play in the 4th quarter. I think as fans, that is all what we want. We want a competitive game that comes down to the last couple minutes of the game and the last three Super Bowls has delivered that for us. Here's to next year's Super Bowl living up to the past three.

- I'm just going to pretend The Who's halftime performance never happened..............