Super Bowl XLIV
Colts-Saints Means Offense vs. Offense
Andy Jones
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Sports
Super Bowl XLIV is bound to be one of the heavily anticipated games in quite some time as the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints will square off in Miami, Fla. on Feb. 7.
These two teams have met only ten times since 1967, and their series is tied 5-5. However, this will be the first time they will meet with the stakes being this high. The Colts will be looking to add a third Super Bowl title in their fourth appearance while Saints will make their first appearance to the big game.
This is the fifth Super Bowl held at Sun Life Stadium and the tenth overall in Miami, where history has been made and dreams have come true with the title of Super Bowl champions, much like Peyton Manning's win in the same stadium three years earlier.
Quarterback play will not be an issue as Manning and Drew Brees proved to be the best quarterbacks in the NFL this season, and it showed when they finished first and second, respectively, in the voting for NFL MVP. Manning turned in another strong season by completing 68.8% of his passes to go along with 4500 passing yards, 33 touchdowns and a passer rating of 99.9. Brees followed up a magical 2008 season by completing a record 70.6% of his passes while posting a rating of 109.6, 34 touchdowns and 4388 yards.
The receivers that they are throwing to are a huge part to their success. Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark both caught 100 passes and ten touchdowns for the Colts, as Anthony Gonzalez missed all of the season with a knee injury and longtime receiver Marvin Harrison's contract was not renewed after the 2008 season. The Saints' go-to guy is Marques Colston, who caught 70 balls for 1074 yards and nine touchdowns. However, New Orleans does a great job in spreading the ball around as seven players had at least 35 receptions.
Although both teams have strong passing attacks, their running games are effective despite playing a smaller role. Joseph Addai ran for only 828 yards, but he ran for ten touchdowns. The Saints used a three-man rushing attack with Mike Bell, Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush, with all three combining for 16 touchdowns.
Both teams take a conservative approach on defense, by making timely plays in order to give their offenses the ball. Indianapolis allowed 307 points and only allowed teams to get five yards a play, and the Saints forced 39 turnovers, including 26 interceptions. Darren Sharper picked off nine passes and returned three for touchdowns, both NFL highs for 2009.
As of injuries, Colts are in good shape. The kicker Adam Vinatieri is the only player not expected to play. Cornerback Jerraud Powers should return after a two-week break from a foot injury. Saints are little banged up with tight end Jeremy Shockey who will play with knee injury that is going to hinder his ability running routes. Cornerback Malcolm Jenkins with a hamstring injury has been inactive and wide receiver Robert Meachem with mild ankle injury.
All in all, Super Bowl XLIV has makings of an offensive explosion, but we will see if that holds true in six days.
These two teams have met only ten times since 1967, and their series is tied 5-5. However, this will be the first time they will meet with the stakes being this high. The Colts will be looking to add a third Super Bowl title in their fourth appearance while Saints will make their first appearance to the big game.
This is the fifth Super Bowl held at Sun Life Stadium and the tenth overall in Miami, where history has been made and dreams have come true with the title of Super Bowl champions, much like Peyton Manning's win in the same stadium three years earlier.
Quarterback play will not be an issue as Manning and Drew Brees proved to be the best quarterbacks in the NFL this season, and it showed when they finished first and second, respectively, in the voting for NFL MVP. Manning turned in another strong season by completing 68.8% of his passes to go along with 4500 passing yards, 33 touchdowns and a passer rating of 99.9. Brees followed up a magical 2008 season by completing a record 70.6% of his passes while posting a rating of 109.6, 34 touchdowns and 4388 yards.
The receivers that they are throwing to are a huge part to their success. Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark both caught 100 passes and ten touchdowns for the Colts, as Anthony Gonzalez missed all of the season with a knee injury and longtime receiver Marvin Harrison's contract was not renewed after the 2008 season. The Saints' go-to guy is Marques Colston, who caught 70 balls for 1074 yards and nine touchdowns. However, New Orleans does a great job in spreading the ball around as seven players had at least 35 receptions.
Although both teams have strong passing attacks, their running games are effective despite playing a smaller role. Joseph Addai ran for only 828 yards, but he ran for ten touchdowns. The Saints used a three-man rushing attack with Mike Bell, Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush, with all three combining for 16 touchdowns.
Both teams take a conservative approach on defense, by making timely plays in order to give their offenses the ball. Indianapolis allowed 307 points and only allowed teams to get five yards a play, and the Saints forced 39 turnovers, including 26 interceptions. Darren Sharper picked off nine passes and returned three for touchdowns, both NFL highs for 2009.
As of injuries, Colts are in good shape. The kicker Adam Vinatieri is the only player not expected to play. Cornerback Jerraud Powers should return after a two-week break from a foot injury. Saints are little banged up with tight end Jeremy Shockey who will play with knee injury that is going to hinder his ability running routes. Cornerback Malcolm Jenkins with a hamstring injury has been inactive and wide receiver Robert Meachem with mild ankle injury.
All in all, Super Bowl XLIV has makings of an offensive explosion, but we will see if that holds true in six days.
Be the first to comment on this story