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Everyone else on the planet is making their Super Bowl predictions, so I figure I'll throw my hat into the ring. I mean, it's not like anyone is held accountable for these things, right?To start off, it's no secret that neither of these defenses deserve to be in this Super Bowl. It's two defenses whose only job was to hold the opposing team to less than 30 points so their high-powered offenses could come in, score at least 31, and send them home with the win.
Most people expect this to be a high-scoring game, and it probably will turn out that way, but I don't believe it will be the arm of a quarterback to determine this game in the end. I don't believe it will be whoever has the ball last, or which quarterback throws for more touchdowns will win, but I think this game will come down to what all other games of this magnitude come down to.
That, of course, is defense and being able to run the ball.
The last time the Colts were in the Super Bowl, they had perhaps the worst defense to make it to the big game. However, they came up big when it mattered most and it wound up being the nail in the Bears' coffin.
I think that in order for them to win, it will have to happen again.
The Saints could certainly help themselves by picking off Peyton a couple times, but I think they're biggest asset will be their running game. Pierre Thomas has proven himself to be a back that can carry the offense when he has to, and then just when the Colts' defense is expecting Thomas, they hit them with Bush on the sweep.
The Colts have a fairly talented backfield, but they just don't use them enough. Not to say I blame them all that much, it's far too tempting to pass when you have arguably the best quarterback of all time, but they will have to match the Saints rushing attack today.
One stop, or one key first down late in the game will most likely be the deciding factor.
With that in mind, I'm still going with the Colts in this one. I think their experience will certainly help and they will catch the Saints wide-eyed. I expect the Colts to come out and get some quick points while the Saints struggle to get their footing.
Once they do, they will start scoring points and making the game closer, but it will be too little, too late as the Colts go on to win 38-27.
I think Manning will throw for three touchdowns and over 300 yards, while Brees will also throw three, but with two or three costly interceptions.
Manning will win his second Super Bowl MVP, and become only the fifth (or sixth) player to win MVP of the season, and in the Super Bowl, firmly cementing his place in the Hall of Fame -- quite a feat for a player with a lot of time still left in this league.
