Super Bowl XLIV Colts vs Saints 2010 Prediction Match Up Preview

Super Bowl XLIV, Miami Gardens, Miami, Florida, Sunday February 7th, 2010 at SunLife Stadium (formerly LandShark Stadium/Dolphin Stadium) on the CBS Network will be between the AFC Champions Indianapolis Colts and the NFC Champions New Orleans Saints. The winner claims the 2010 Lombardi Trophy and Super Bowl rings for the players and the title of NFL Champions 2009-2010.

This year’s Super Bowl will be the “Battle of the Quarterbacks.” Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are 2 of the best, if not the best quarterbacks in the league. The Saints have the #1 ranked offense in the 2009-1020 season. Peyton Manning is the only 4-time league MVP winner and playing for his second Super Bowl Championship.

It has been 16 years since the top seeded teams from the AFC and NFC have played against each other in the Super Bowl. The last time it happened was the Dallas Cowboys beat the Buffalo Bills by 17 points. Fans are hoping for a close high scoring offensive display in this Super Bowl.

The Indianapolis Colts are the designated Home Team in this year’s Super Bowl. The team has chosen to wear their blue uniforms. They wore their white uniforms in their last Super Bowl victory over the Chicago Bears 29-17.

The New Orleans will wear the white uniforms in the Super Bowl game.The Saints are playing in their first ever Super Bowl in franchise history. The "Who Dat Nation" is hoping for a party in Miami after the Super Bowl.

Indianapolis Colts---(16-2) AFC North Division Champions. AFC #1 seed in 2009-2010 playoffs and received a first round bye and home field advantage in the AFC Conference Playoffs. Defeated the Baltimore Colts 20-3 in the Divisional playoffs and defeated the NY Jets 31-10 in the AFC Championship Game. This is the Colts second trip to the Super Bowl in four years.

The Indianapolis Colts are led by 10-time Pro Bowl quarterback Peyton Manning. Manning won his fourth NFL MVP Award after passing for over 4,500 yards, 33 TD’s and only 16 interceptions. Manning earned a 99.9 passer rating this season.

Peyton Manning has solid receivers in Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark, each having 100 receptions and 10 Td’s. New additions this season to the receiving crew are Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon who have developed into trusted receivers for Manning and have made big plays for the team. Collie and Garcon were a huge part of the passing game in winning the AFC Championship while defenses covered Wayne and Clark.

Running backs Joseph Addai and newcomer Donald Brown headed up the running game. Statistically, the Colts bolster an anemic running attack ranked 32nd in the league. The Colts are a passing first team and use the running game when necessary to control the game clock.

The Colts defense may not be as big as most defensive lines, but what they lack in size they make up in team speed. The defense is led by defensive ends Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney. Freeney led the team in sacks 13.5 and Mathis had 9.5. The Colts linebackers are solid with Clint Session and Gary Brackett. Antoine Bethea leads the secondary with four interceptions and 70 tackles.

New Orleans Saints---(15-3) NFC South Division Champions. NFC #1 seed in 2009-2010 playoffs and received a first round bye and home field advantage in the NFC Conference Playoffs. Defeated the Arizona Cardinal 45-14 in the Divisional playoffs and defeated the Minnesota Vikings 31-28 in overtime in the NFC Championship Game. This is the first trip to the Super Bowl in the 43 year history of the franchise.

The New Orleans Saints have the NFL’s #1 offense led by Quarterback Drew Brees. Brees was the top rated quarterback of the league with a 109.6 rating. He completed over 70 % of his passes for 4,338 yards, 34 TD’s and only 11 interceptions. His top receivers were Marqeus Colston, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem and TE Jeremy Shockey.

The New Orleans Saints incorporated a balanced attack this season by improving the running game. Pierre Thomas led the running backs with Mike Bell and Reggie Bush also contributing. The Saints had the 6th ranked rushing attack this season averaging 131.6 yards per game. Reggie Bush was also a factor in the passing game coming out of the back field catching 47 passes. Bush has been a factor in the punt returns of the special teams.

The Saints defense is led by Pro Bowl defensive lineman Will Smith with 13 sacks and Jonathan Vilma with 87 tackles and 3 interceptions. Acquiring the 12 year veteran safety Darren Sharper has been a valuable move to improve the secondary. Sharper had 9 interceptions for an NFL record 376 yards and 3 TD’s. CB Tracey Porter added help with 4 picks and 49 tackles.

The Saints defense was huge in producing turnovers this season. They were a +11 in turnover ratio which ranked 3rd in the league. The defense finished ranked 25th overall, but turnovers made a huge difference and the ability to outscore opponents with their high powered offense.

1. Peyton Manning vs Saints Defense

Manning is the master of dissecting and slicing defenses. Rush him and he dumps the ball to TE Dallas Clark or RB Addai out of the backfield. Give Manning a few seconds and he will burn you down field to Reggie Wayne, Austin Collie or Pierre Garcon. The Colts offensive line has only allowed 13 sacks of Manning this year. Peyton Manning makes quick reads of defenses and gets the ball out of his hands. Peyton must recognize where Darren Sharper is on the field. He is one of the best at interceptions.

The Saints defense will try to disguise their defensive schemes to throw off Manning. The pass rush must get to Manning and disrupt his rhythm or he will light them up like the Las Vegas Strip. Manning will make completions, but the pass rushers must make hits on Manning in attempt to make him move from the pocket. The Saints secondary must contain the wide receivers. Hit them at the line of scrimmage and get them out of their routes.

2. Drew Brees- Colts pass Rush

Drew Brees needs to get off to a fast start but also to establish the running game. Short passes to Reggie Bush out of the backfield and TE Jeremy Shockey can help Brees develop a rhythm and settle the nerves of the team at the beginning of the Super Bowl game. Brees must get rid of the ball quickly and hope the offensive line can control Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis from getting to Brees. Freeney suffered an ankle injury in the AFC Championship game and might be a little slower.

Marques Colston, Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson must find ways to get open down field and in the middle to keep the Colts defense from teeing off on Brees. Brees needs to stretch the field with his receivers to allow the running game to develop. The longer the Saints offense can stay on the field, the more likely they can wear down the undersized Colts defense and allow the running game to become more of a factor in the second half of the game.

3. Colts Defense-Saints Defense

Neither defense has been spectacular this season. The Colts defense looked great against the Baltimore Ravens and the NY Jets, but they were able to concentrate on stopping the run since neither offense was a huge passing threat. The Saints #1 league offense will create a bigger challenge. The Saints use a balanced attack with the run and the pass. The Colts defensive players are not very big, but have excellent speed to make plays all over the field.

The Saints defense has been very vulnerable, especially in the second half of the season. The secondary must find ways to limit big plays downfield. Force Manning to throw underneath and make tackles at the catch and not allow run-after-catch yardage from these explosive Colts receivers. The Saints defense must choose their blitz packages wisely. Peyton Manning has that clock in his head that allows him to make quick reads and get rid of the ball quickly. Mixing up the defense plays is key.

Turnovers won the game for the New Orleans Saints last week over the Minnesota Vikings. The Saints are +11 in turnovers and the Colts are +1. The Saints defense will go after the ball on every play. The Colts have to pay extra attention to protect the ball.

4. Distractions

Super Bowl week leading up to the Big Game is filled with media and festivities that can overwhelm and distract a team from their main objective. The excitement of playing in the Super Bowl itself, especially for those that are here for the first time, can easily get swept away with all that is going on around them. Coaches and staff must be able to keep their teams focused on the game and the game plan.

Who will win Super Bowl XLIV (44)?

1. Team that handles the pressure of the Super Bowl extravaganza. Avoids the distractions.

2. Defense! We have two of the best offenses in the league and two of the best quarterbacks, but a single defensive play can and probably will determine the winner of this game.

3. Experience. This is the first trip in the history of the New Orleans Saints. The Indianapolis Colts have been here before winning Super Bowl XLI (41) in the 2006-2007 season. Peyton Manning is the “General” of this team and can carry the Colts team on his back to a victory.

Prediction: Peyton Manning will be too much for the Saints defense. The Saints will start slow in the first half as Manning builds an early big lead. The Saints will get jumped started in the second half, but will be too far behind to catch up and by taking risk, the Saints will turn the ball over.

Indianapolis Colts-37 New Orleans Saints-31

American Idol and Grammy winner Carrie Underwood, country singer, has been named to sing the National Anthem "The Star Spangled Banner" for Super Bowl 44 in Pre-Game festivities. Queen Latifah, actress and singer, will sing "America The Beautiful."

The NFL Super Bowl 44 halftime show is a huge highlight of the festivities involved with the NFL event. Some of the biggest names in the music industry have performed with extravagant shows. This year’s Super Bowl halftime performers will be the English Rock band The Who featuring Pete Townshend (Townsend) and Roger Daltrey. The Who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. The Who won the first annual Freddie Mercury Lifetime Achievement in Live Music Award in 2006. Some of their most notable single are “I Can See for Miles,” “Bailey O’Riley,” "Pinball Wizard" and “Who Are You.”