Super Bowl XLIV Breakdown

The two best teams from the 2009-2010 NFL season will battle it out next Sunday, Feb. 7, at Land Shark Stadium in Miami. Four-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning leads the Indianapolis Colts and their paltry rushing attack against a balanced New Orleans Saints team. Saints’ quarterback, Drew Brees, will lead his team in their first ever Super Bowl.

Manning has been through many playoff wars and a Super Bowl championship in 2007. He has struggled with his touchdown-to-interception ratio in the playoffs, but this is probably because he has had to face the New England Patriots each year.

Brees has a somewhat green thumb when it comes to big games. He set the new regular season completion percent record, breaking Cincinnati quarterback Ken Anderson’s 1983 record. If you count the regular season and playoffs, Brees has thrown an intimidating 40 touchdown passes against only 11 interceptions.
Here is how the teams match up:

The Saints have the edge on the ground with the consistent Pierre Thomas and the flashy Reggie Bush. Indy has a tough time scratching out even 80 yards per game with their two backs. If the Colts are going to repeat their Super Bowl victory of 2007, they will need to utilize their passing game along with improving their running game early in the first half. This means former LSU alumnus Joseph Addai should have 10-13 carries by halftime. If this fails to happen, the Saints will turn loose their defensive line to attack Manning.
 

Indy also has a young defensive secondary that look to remain calm and stay within the defensive game plan. Perennial pro-bowler Dwight Freeney is injured with a bad ankle sprain that he suffered in the AFC Championship game. If Freeney cannot run at full-speed, fellow defensive end Robert Mathis has the motor to pick up the slack. As long as the defensive line plays like they should, the Colts’ linebackers will be able to roam freely and stop the Saints’ running game.

If Manning has the time to sit back from the Saints defense, he will pick them apart faster than a chicken wing. Manning has Reggie Wayne, Anthony Gonzalez, Dallas Clark and Pierre Garcon to share the ball with. If any quarterback knows how to best use his weapons, it is definitely Manning.

The Saints’ game plan looks like this: After scoring a league leading 510 points in the regular season and 76 in two playoff games, the Saints have shown they can score on anyone. Their big offensive line will need to neutralize Freeney and Mathis so Brees has time in the pocket. If needed, Brees does have the mobility to leave the pocket and make accurate throws.

Brees, like Manning, has a plethora of weapons. Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, Jeremy Shockey, Robert Meachem and Bush can open the field with their precise route running, which would only help the running game and allow the Saints to control the clock. Bush will also be key on special teams because he has the athletic ability to score from anywhere on the field.

Defensively, the Saints have to get in the face of Manning, hopefully using the blitz sparingly. The Saints do have an advantage in the secondary, with veterans Darren Sharper and Mike McKenzie.

This is the first Super Bowl for both head coaches. Gather around the big screen and get ready for what should be an entertaining and competitive three hours of NFL action.