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..............
Ok, here's the deal. JFein, myself and others will be live blogging the Super Bowl. Sound simple enough? You are more than welcome to comment on the game. Just don't be a troll and show a little class. This is the last football game we're live blogging until September and there will be zero tolerance for anybody who wants to be a troll. Other than that, have fun and leave comments.
The CBS pregame starts at 11:00 AM Pacific. I'm not sure when I or JFein will specifically start the live blog but expect it start at least an hour before kickoff.
I'm still excited from last night's games so instead of breaking down the championship games in paragraph form, I've decided to give you my thoughts on those games in bullet style.
Colts 30 NY Jets 17 - You have to admit, approaching halftime you thought the Jets had a chance to beat the Colts. Then Peyton Manning reminded everyone he still is Peyton Manning and hit Austin Collie on three straight plays, including a touchdown, to make the score 17-13 going into halftime. I bet you also thought then the Colts were going to blowout the Jets the rest of the game?
- The Jets defense might have been one of the best this season, but there are still some huge gaping holes. For one, the Vernon Gholston pick is looking worse and worse by the minute. Gholston was drafted the provide pass rush and he's added none of that so far. The Jets need a defensive end who can rush the quarterback for the Jets can lay off the blitz.
- The Jets also need another cornerback. The Lito Sheppard/Donald Strickland duo was a weakness that Carson Palmer and Phillip Rivers couldn't expose. Peyton Manning on the other hand, tied up Sheppard/Strickland put a red rubber ball in their mouths and introduced them to "The Gimp." The Jets definitely need another cornerback.
- Peyton Manning is pretty good eh?
Saints 31 Minnesota 28 in OT - During the live blog yesterday, their was one thing we did all agree on you can't blame Brett Favre for the Vikings loss. Yes Favre threw two interceptions and one of those interceptions cost the Vikings a chance at a game-winning field goal, but you can't put this loss on Favre's shoulders. He was rushed, sacked, and hit all game long. The Vikings fumbled six times, three of those times recovered by New Orleans. Also the playcalling and time management by Brad Childress in the game was downright atrocious. I can't totally blame the Vikings loss on Favre, when there are other people who deserve more of the blame.
- Drew Brees didn't have the greatest game for the Saints. Brees was sacked once and only threw for 197 yards and 3 touchdowns. Brees though did do enough to give the Saints the victory and didn't cost the team with any turnovers. He will though have to do little more in the Super Bowl than he did against the Vikings.
A quick look at the Super Bowl headlines that I'm sure will be ran into the ground the next couple of weeks. - We're already hearing about the Archie Manning played for the Saints and now their facing his son's team. This will be ran into the ground "Jerome Bettis is from Detroit" style.
- The Saints are definitely the underdog for this game. So expect a lot of, "nobody believes in the Saints" talk. Also expect remember the Cardinals in 09 or the Giants 08 talk. This will definitely be ran into the ground.
- Expect a ton of "New Orleans is still recovering from Katrina, we must feel sorry for the people who live there." I'm cynical and I will change the channel on the first Katrina story I see.
- Expect a lot of "Peyton Manning's legacy" columns and features over the next couple of weeks. He wins this Super Bowl and he's better than Joe Montana, but if he loses..............
- Expect a lot of people making a huge deal out of Drew Brees' height. Sure the guy is only 6 foot, but the guy is no Doug Flutie.
I'm sure I've missed some headlines, but I'm tired.
First off congrats to the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts for winning their conferences for a chance at the Super Bowl in Miami. I'll get into more thoughts about the upcoming Super Bowl tomorrow mourning but for now it's time to congratulations.
I want to congratulate JFein, Mookie, James Craven, and Kris Thompson for making our live blogs possible. You guys have been great since week 1 and I look forward to running more live blogs during the NCAA tournament. I would also like to thank the non-trolls who stopped by the live blog to make comments. Everybody should tap themselves on the back for their work.
Time to decide who gets the opportunity to play for the Super Bowl in Miami. The live blog will go on air an hour before kickoff for the AFC Championship game. Have fun, leave comments, and don't be a troll.
2010 AFC Championship Game: #5 New York Jets @ #1 Indianapolis Colts 3:00 (CBS - Jim Nantz and Phil Simms, SR: Steve Tasker)
2010 NFC Championship Game: #2 Minnesota Vikings @ #1 New Orleans Saints 6:40 (Fox - Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, SR: Pam Oliver and Chris Myers)
The Indianapolis Colts are coming off a season where even though they made the playoffs, they started out real slow and ended on a real low note as Darren Sproles ran on them. And ran on them. And ran on them. And ran all over them. Couple that with the retirement of the great Tony Dungy and the aging Peyton Manning, and you have to wonder has the window closed on this team. They did not win the division last year, Tennessee made sure it was not even close, and their division is very competitive. So can the Colts pull it together for one last final one, or has the window indeed closed? Here are some of the keys for the Colts this year.
The Poorer Manning: It's official: Eli has a richer contract than big brother, and better QB, Peyton does. But Peyton is also the older quarterback and at this point, is Peyton the same QB he was a few years ago? I think he is, but he certainly has his doubters. There are other reasons why the window might have closed on the Colts, though.
New Coach: We knew it would happen sometime, but the great Tony Dungy has finally decided to retire. Always a class act, it's good to see that Dungy walked out of Indianapolis with a Super Bowl ring, especially after being screwed out of one in Tampa Bay. Enough of the past though, there is a new coach, and his name is Jim Caldwell. He was an assistant and QB coach under Dungy. I frequently wondered if Manning knows more about his position than his coach. Regardless, Manning is used to working with him, which is a good thing, but how will the rest of the team adapt? This is his first head coaching job in the NFL and he'll be put to the test this season in the AFC South.
Backs and Receivers: For the running backs, the Colts got a key draft pick in Donald Brown. For all the talk about Matthew Stafford, the potential of Michael Crabtree, Darius Heyward-Bay, and Mark Sanchez, Donald Brown very well could be a darkhorse to win Rookie of the Year this year, especially if Joseph Addai does not produce as the Colts would like him too. As far as WR goes, the Colts have gone down hill greatly. The once 3-headed monster of Harrison-Wayne-Stokley has lost 2 of its heads. Only Reggie Wayne remains. But there is good news, Austin Collie has been looking good in the pre-season and Anthony Gonzalez has been emerging in the past few years. It's a different look to the Colts, and while they won't be as effective as Harrison and Stokely were for the Colts, this could be a force to reckon with.
Defense: The Colts defense boasts one of the stars of the league, Dwight Freeney. I won't waste time talking about how great and unique he is. Just ask King Dunlap. The Colts boast one of the best front 4s in the nation, but once you get past the front 4, then some leaks become present. It's great if Manning can put up 35 points in a game, but what good is it if the secondary gives up 38? The Colts have some holes in defense this year and if they don't patch them up, this could be a long year.
Video: Peyton Manning is so great with kids!
Prediction: 9-7, 3rd place AFC South. This won't be the Colts year. They may be good, but the Titans should win the division and I suspect the Texans to come in 2nd. The Colts, to me, seem to have too many pieces out of place and not enough solid depth at the WR position to give Manning the support he has used to. Only a major trade deadling upgrade can save this team from missing the playoffs for the first time in quite a while.
More fallout from Alabama's loss to Utah... Why someone will want to be the new general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs... How to avoid getting ripped off by the next Bernard Madoff... Tahoe ski resorts have perfect conditions... John Travolta's tragedy keeps getting weirder
Emmy Rossum to start the mourning...... Nice win by Vanderbilt over Tennessee...... All charges dropped against Rams running back Steven Jackson...... The Astros jinxed themselves by signing so many former Phillies...... Colin Cowherd is now pissing off Denver Bronco fans...... Ellen made her debut last night on 'American Idol'...... Are you ready for 'Mission Impossible: 4'?....... Suck it Grant Napear...... A TV show got freaky in Australia..... This will certainly help Illinois' chances of making the tournament
