Super Bowl XLIV Review: Who Dat? Nation Wins!

New Orleans Saints

Congrats to the New Orleans Saints for winning Super Bowl XLIV! Now I did pick the Colts to win, but was for the Saints although I wouldn't have been disappointed in the outcome. Here are the keys to victory I had on my preview blog.

1. The Saints must win in turnover margin. New Orleans were outgained in net yardage 475 to 257, but had a +4 in turnover margin. If they get out-gained like that again without winning the turnover margin, it will be an ugly one-sided win for the Colts.

Result: The Saints had a +1 turnover margin in this game. And was it ever a big turnover. Tracy Porter's interception return touchdown sealed the Saints first ever Super Bowl win.

2. The Saints must protect Drew Brees. It will be much easier to do that with Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney likely not playing much, and the Saints have only allowed one sack this post-season. Brees also hasn't thrown an interception which some credit has to be given to the Saints offensive line for that.

Result: Early in the game, the Colts were able to do a good job upfront until the Saints offense settled in in the 2nd quarter. After that, the Saints gave Brees plenty of time to pick apart the Colts defense.

3. The Saints defense must win on third down and limit Colts first downs. Against Arizona, they held the Cardinals to 1-for-8 on third down. But against Minnesota, the Vikings converted 7-of-12 while the Saints allowed 31 first downs. The defense has to get off the field on third down and limit first downs in this game.

Result: The Colts went 6-for-13 on 3rd down conversions, and allowed 22 first downs in the game. It was on a 3rd down play when Porter picked off Peyton Manning for a defensive touchdown.

Indianapolis Colts

1. The defensive line must win upfront for the Colts. As stated earlier, the Saints have only allowed one sack this post-season, and the Colts have only recorded one themselves. They have to win the battle upfront against a very good offensive line while defending both the pass and run.

Result: This to me was the difference in this game, and the Colts did very little to rattle the Saints offense. As the game went on, Brees was hardly ever touched in the backfield.

2. Peyton Manning needs to be Peyton Manning. He has a 5-to-1 touchdown to interception ratio in the post-season with a running game that has been non-existent all year. If Manning plays this game like he did in the second half against the Jets, that's going to be a huge problem for the Saints.

Result: For the most part he was Peyton Manning, and he did throw for 333 yards. He threw one costly interception, and the Saints did enough to keep him off the field in the 2nd quarter to dictate the game later on.

3. The Colts need to control the time of possession. It won't be easy because of their lack of running game, but it isn't wise to get in a track meet with the Saints offense even though they didn't play as well as Minnesota. The Colts need to be productive on offense without turning it over to keep their banged up defense off the field.

Result: In the 1st quarter, the Colts did control the clock. But in the 2nd quarter, the Colts only had six offensive plays. Then the Saints controlled the ball after an on-side kick to start the second half. TOP: Saints 30:11, Colts 29:49. The TOP was nearly even, but that 2nd quarter set the tone for the game.

I do expect this to be a tight game until the finish, but the Saints do have to get turnovers like they did against Minnesota. To me, the turnover margin will decide the game. I don't see the Colts turning it over that much, but the Saints will be able to stay in the game because Brees should be protected as usual. I'll take the Colts in a close one by a field goal, but I am pulling for the Saints to win.

My prediction: Colts 27, Saints 24

Result: Saints 31, Colts 17.

Yeah, I picked the wrong team to win. The Saints got the one turnover in this game that put the Colts away after the offensive line controlled the Colts defensive line from getting to Brees. The Saints out-scored the Colts 24-7 after the 1st quarter. In the end, the Saints won this game the way they did during the regular season: Out-score opponents and create mistakes while converting them into points. My hat's off to the Who Dat? Nation for winning Super Bowl XLIV!

First commenters:

Posted in: Colts, Indianapolis Colts, National Football League, New Orleans Saints, NFL, Saints, Super Bowl, Super Bowl XLIV

Reactions: