How Saints and Colts match up in Super Bowl
Photo Credit: (Mark Cornelison/Lexington Herald-Leader/MCT)
Samuel and Ethel McClinton, New Orleans, arrive at their upper deck seats before the New Orleans Saints face the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, February 7, 2010 in Super Bowl XLIV at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Lakes, Florida.
February 7, 2010 • Chase Snider
Filed under Sports Zone, breaking news
By Sam Farmer
Los Angeles Times
(MCT)
THE MATCH GAME
One of the Fort Worth Zoo's Western lowland gorillas, 37-year-old Amani, picked the winner, Thursday, February 4, 2010, of Super Bowl XLIV by selecting one of a pair of papier mache footballs decorated to match each team and filled with gorilla game day treats such as peanuts, popcorn, grapes, raisins and Great Ape biscuits. Amani chose the New Orleans Saints football. (David Kent/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)
Saints’ run offense vs. Colts’ run defense
The Saints had the sixth-ranked ground game this season, and the Colts finished 24th against the run. Still, this isn’t the mismatch those numbers suggest. The Colts improved dramatically in that department as the season went on, and their numbers only got worse again when they mailed in games at the end of the season.
Edge: Colts.
Saints’ pass offense vs. Colts’ pass defense
It all starts with Drew Brees, and he has so many weapons and ways to get them the ball. What’s more, it’s unlikely he’ll have to worry about a healthy Dwight Freeney spinning his way past left tackle Jermon Bushrod. The Colts aren’t entirely healthy in the secondary, either, so Brees could put up some big numbers.
Edge: Saints.
Colts’ run offense vs. Saints’ run defense
The Colts have the league’s worst rushing attack for a reason: They really only run to set up their play-action passing. They can be decent on the ground at times, but they’re not going to try to run much in this game. The Saints haven’t been spectacular against the run this postseason, surrendering 5.2 yards per carry. Regardless, the Colts will be throwing all game.
Edge: Saints.
Colts’ pass offense vs. Saints’ pass defense
Peyton Manning is going to dictate the tempo of this game. Nobody works the play clock better than he does, and he’ll squeeze every second out of it to figure out what the Saints want to do defensively. New Orleans has a better pass defense than in years past, but Manning is the master at finding and exploiting matchups.
Edge: Colts.
Special teams
Reggie Bush could be the X-factor for the Saints, who really use him in the return game. Remember, the Bears opened their Super Bowl against Indianapolis with Devin Hester returning a kickoff for a touchdown (The Colts wound up winning anyway). This season, the Colts finished in the bottom half of the league in both kickoff returns and punt returns.
Edge: Saints.
Coaching
Jim Caldwell has done a beautiful job replacing Tony Dungy, and the Colts have gotten much more creative and disruptive on defense with the switch from Ron Meeks to Larry Coyer. But the Saints get the nod with Sean Payton and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. One problem could be Payton getting too tricky in trying to out-think the competition.
Edge: Saints.
Sam Farmer’s pick
Although the Saints have a 4-2 edge in the above categories, the Colts are going to win. New Orleans had a 5-1 turnover edge against Minnesota, yet still needed overtime to win. Manning and the Colts aren’t going to give them that much leeway. The game will be close for a while, then the Colts will build a comfortable lead before the Saints make the final score respectable.
Colts 33, Saints 27
———
(c) 2010, Los Angeles Times.
Loading ...
Comments
Feel free to leave a comment...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!