The NFL hasn't seen a repeat champion since the New England Patriots six years ago. Since then we've seen teams win the Super Bowl and either miss the playoffs altogether or exited early in the playoffs. Will the New Orleans Saints be any different?
We see this a lot of the NFL. When a team wins a Super Bowl, they usually lose a lot of coaches or players. I remember the 94 Niners after they won their Super Bowl. They lost both coordinators (Mike Shanahan and Ray Rhodes) and lost key players like Deion Sanders and Ricky "For Who? For What?" Watters. Loses like that were catastrophic for the Niners. The Saints don't face that problem heading into the 2010 season.
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)
Hulk Hogan almost offed himself, Brother (With Leather)
The Pittsburgh Penguins costume party looked fun (Big League Screw)
A World Series omen that Yankee fans don't want to see (Deadspin)
Jimmy Rollins and his .250 batting average are making some bold predictions (NY Post)
Actually, Reggie Bush is the one making bold predictions. "Once I do win an NFL MVP, once we do win a Super Bowl, once I am in the Pro Bowl, it's going to be that much more special because of all the criticism that I had to come through and because of the work I've put into it, it'll mean that much more to me and I'll appreciate it more," Bush said. (PFT)
I have good news and bad news to report. The good news is is that 49er16 is currently on an airplane flying to Philadelphia. The bad news is is that 49er16 is currently on an airplane flying to Philadelphia (wow, that joke is so much more funnier with voice and tone involved). Anyway, I'm therefore doing the NFL preview for today.
Today is the New Orleans Saints day to get looked at. They come in this season after falling short of the playoffs last year. Passing yard wise, Drew Brees had one of the best seasons that a QB ever had, but as mentioned above they failed to make the playoffs that year. Brees is good, hell, he's very good, but the Saints as a whole are not and that is going to drag this team down.
Breesy Like Sunday Afternoon Let's face facts: Drew Brees is a beast. Drew Brees was 15 yards away from breaking Dan Marino's all time record for passing yards in a season, a record that for the longest time no one thought would ever be close to being touched. And to be 15 yards away from it definitley says something about the talent of Drew Brees. If this team does not make the playoffs, chances are it's not Brees' fault. This guy can throw and play quarterback.
Reggie "Oh Please Dear God Don't Call Me George" Bush: I'll say it here and to some it's obvious and to some it might be utter blasphemy. Reggie Bush is not a starting running back. As a change of pace to someone like now ex-Saint Deuce McAllister, yeah, he's really good, but not as an every down starting running back. It just does not seem to work, and really for reasons that I can't explain. Maybe it's the fact that there was so much hype surrounding him out of college that he was the next huge name running back and now it turns out he only transitioned to the pros as an average back that there is disppointment and we are seeing disappointment in hype than anything else, but Reggie Bush, to me, at least, does not work as a starting back in the NFL. It also does not help him and the Saints that he is injured a lot.
Who Are The Saints' Receivers Again?: Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem, Lance More, Adrian Arrington, D'Juan Woods. Yeah. Further proof of the talent of Drew Brees.
Shock Value: Jeremy Shockey is a New Orleans Saint. Wait, what's that you say? When did that happen? Well, it happened last year. Only injuries caused him to have career lows in several statistics and his memory was greatly erased from the minds of several people. Shockey is going to have to become a bigtime threat if the Saints are going to accomphish anything this year.
Defense: One of the big off-season moves for the Saints this year was the signing of Jonathan Vilma. While I don't watch too many Jets games, from what I've seen, Vilma's got the right tools and his being in New Orleans will only improve that defense, a defense that is by no means a bad defense. They have some very credible names on that roster and Vilma should improve that as well.
Video: I still get jacked up and scream "YEAH!" after watching this hit.
Prediction: 9-7, 2nd NFC South. The Saints, I believe, could make a legit run at the playoffs this year. But just like last year, there is a chance that it could fizzle into nothing. Do they have what it takes to be a playoff team? Absolutely. Will they be able to put those pieces together? Well, we'll just have to see.
