Saints Win Super Bowl XLIV

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Congradulations to the New Orleans Saints on winning their first Super Bowl in franchise history, defeating the Indianapolis Colts 31-17.

Tracy Porter sealed the win after intercepting Peyton Manning and returning it 74 yards for a touchdown with 3:14 left in the game.

The Saints, led by who else but Drew Brees, overcome an early ten point deficit.  After a slow start, Brees was flawless in the last three-quarters shredding the Colts secondary en route to winning Super Bowl MVP honors.

With the loss Peyton Manning now has a 9-9 career playoff record.

The party is on New Orleans and its’ not stopping any time soon.

The streets will ring all night long with the chant of “Who dat? Who dat? Who dat say dey gunna beat them Saints?”

Well, after tonight’s game we can say that no one is gunna beat the Saints, at least this year.

Plenty of Super Bowl images after the jump.

Peyton Manning Gives Edge to Colts

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We should all be rooting for the Saints.

Their roster is truly fantastic, riddled with talented players, an explosive offense, elite coaching and one of the games dominant and most likable quarterbacks.

They have a passionate, dedicated fan base, capable and willing to consistently fill the Superdome to its 72,000+ person capacity on a weekly basis. They’ve brought this support without fail for over 40 years, despite not winning a single playoff game till the year 2000. They have been one of the NFL’s most embarrassing franchises for the majority of their existence.

Ever see a fan of an atrocious team wearing a brown paper bag over their head? That started in New Orleans, the year the Saints lost their first 14 games.

And then, of course, there was Hurricane Katrina, that terrible, horrific storm that affected, changed, and took the lives of so many. Katrina was able to simultaneously remind us all how silly yet necessary sports truly are.

In a time when rebuilding homes and lives was a necessity, these Saints were able to provide that superficial yet wonderful feeling that turns young men and women to sports in the first place. They provided hope.

And for that alone, the entire world should be rooting for the New Orleans Saints to be Super Bowl Champions.

But it’s not going to happen.

For the Colts have Peyton Manning.

Sick of Super Bowl Story Lines

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It’s finally almost Sunday and frankly I can’t wait.

No, I’m not that excited about the big game or the Tim Tebow commercial.

I’m excited to stop hearing the same thing over and over again on every media outlet.

Once 6:25 comes and the opening kickoff takes place we can finally stop hearing the same story lines shoved down out throats over and over again.

Part of the blame is due to the two-week layoff between the Conference Championship and Super Bowl, but it’s mostly the fault of lazy producers who don’t want to work.

In case you’ve somehow managed to avoid them, here are all of them one last time for you:

1. Peyton Manning is a Football God

We get it, Peyton Manning is the best.  He figured out Rex Ryan’s defense and put on a clinic in the second half.  He’s the smartest quarterback to ever play the game.  A win on Sunday puts him among the elite.

2. It would mean so much for the city of New Orleans if the Saints win

I’m all for the city of New Orleans rallying around the Saints after Katrina, but there’s a certain point where I just can’t take it anymore.  I know the players have become a part of the community and the city has embraced the team.  Can we just play football?

3. Dwight Freeney’s Ankle

The most talked about body part in the entire world.  Even more so than Brett Favre’s shoulder last off season.  Here’s what’s going to happen.  He’s not going to start on Sunday.  If he plays, he’ll play on passing downs and try to make impact there.

4. Archie Manning used to play for the Saints

The best quarterback in Saints history now has to choose against his former team and his son.  I think that’s an easy one for him.  Please CBS don’t bombarded us with ten shots of the Manning family box.  No one cares.

5. The Colts’ Young Receivers

The Colts passing game is more than just Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne.  Enter Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie, who had their coming out part against the scraps the Jets threw out there at cornerback in the AFC Championship Game.  No one had heard of these guys before the season – except real fans – and now they’re Super Bowl darlings.

6. Drew Brees vs. Peyton Manning

What a matchup!  Two of the best quarterbacks in the game squaring off in the biggest game on the biggest stage.  Too bad they each have nothing to do with how the other will fare.

Super Bowl Key Matchups

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The Super Bowl is almost here and it’s time to start breaking down the game.  To do that I’m looking at some key matchups that I’ll be watching closely on Sunday that will help determine who will raise the Lombardi Trophy.

Robert Mathis vs. Jon Stinchcomb

With Dwight Freeney looking unlikely to play, or at least not a full compliment on snaps, the attention shifts to other side of the line where Jon Stinchcomb will battle with Robert Mathis.  Mathis may play second fiddle to Freeney, but he is a man to be reckon with.  He was a Pro Bowler this year and has recorded 20 sacks over the past two years.  Stinchcomb was a Pro Bowler this year as well and this should be a great battle to watch.  The Saints may even decide to double Mathis because of the absence of Freneey.  Or if Stinchcomb can handle Mathis himself, they can send an extra receiver out on a pass and have four or five guys running routes instead of three or four.

Marques Colston vs Jacob Lacey

Expect the Saints to try and exploit this matchup as much as they can on Sunday.  Colston will look to rebound after coming off a poor NFC Championship Game, which saw him catch only one pass for 22 yards.  Lucky for him, he will be lining up against the undrafted Lacey.  Lacey has played admirably for an undrafted free agent, but this task is a tall order.  Colston will have a huge height advantage, 6-4 over Lacey’s 5-10 stature.  Playing against Braylon Edwards in the AFC Championship game Lacey was beaten for a 80 yard touchdown.