Super Bowl could be a thrilling battle of high-flying offense
Mike Williams
Issue date: 2/3/10 Section: Sports Features
After months of battling, the matchup for the biggest sports game of the year is set. The New Orleans Saints will meet the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV on Feb. 7, 2010, in Miami, Fla. For the first time since 1993 the top seeds from each conference will meet. The Saints started the season 13-0, while the Colts began 14-0, and were the last teams to lose a game this season.
Indianapolis finished 14-2, losing their final two games, but only because they rested their starters to avoid injury. New Orleans finished the season 13-3, losing their final three games of the season.
Despite each team ending the season with multiple losses in a row, neither team has seemed to miss a beat in the playoffs so far. In winning two games en route to the Super Bowl they have combined to outscore their opponents by 64 points.
While neither team boasts a great defense, both ranking in the bottom half of the league in total defense, the Colts have the slight advantage in pass defense and scoring defense giving up two fewer points per game than New Orleans.
The Saints biggest strength is creating turnovers. They were second in the league this year with 39takeaways, 13more than the Colts.
What these teams lack in defense they more than make up for in offense. The Colts are led by this year's MVP and four time NFL MVP quarterback Peyton Manning, while the Saints are led by MVP runner up quarterback Drew Brees, who led the NFL in passer rating and touchdown passes this year. Both qbs ranked in the top six in all major passing categories this year.
With both offenses ranking in the top four in passing for the season this game will ultimately be decided by the team that runs the ball more effectively. On paper the edge would seem to go in the Saints favor.
The Saints ranked sixth in the league in rushing this season while the Colts ranked dead last in rushing for the year and ranked 24thin stopping the run on defense.
The Colts defense has been able to shed 40 rush yards per game off their regular season average so far in the playoffs, but that is due more to their opponents. The teams they have faced in the playoffs so far ranked 18thand 31stin the NFL in passing and in the top five in rushing. Because of this the Colts were able to stack the line of scrimmage and put eight men in the box to stop the run.
Indianapolis finished 14-2, losing their final two games, but only because they rested their starters to avoid injury. New Orleans finished the season 13-3, losing their final three games of the season.
Despite each team ending the season with multiple losses in a row, neither team has seemed to miss a beat in the playoffs so far. In winning two games en route to the Super Bowl they have combined to outscore their opponents by 64 points.
While neither team boasts a great defense, both ranking in the bottom half of the league in total defense, the Colts have the slight advantage in pass defense and scoring defense giving up two fewer points per game than New Orleans.
The Saints biggest strength is creating turnovers. They were second in the league this year with 39takeaways, 13more than the Colts.
What these teams lack in defense they more than make up for in offense. The Colts are led by this year's MVP and four time NFL MVP quarterback Peyton Manning, while the Saints are led by MVP runner up quarterback Drew Brees, who led the NFL in passer rating and touchdown passes this year. Both qbs ranked in the top six in all major passing categories this year.
With both offenses ranking in the top four in passing for the season this game will ultimately be decided by the team that runs the ball more effectively. On paper the edge would seem to go in the Saints favor.
The Saints ranked sixth in the league in rushing this season while the Colts ranked dead last in rushing for the year and ranked 24thin stopping the run on defense.
The Colts defense has been able to shed 40 rush yards per game off their regular season average so far in the playoffs, but that is due more to their opponents. The teams they have faced in the playoffs so far ranked 18thand 31stin the NFL in passing and in the top five in rushing. Because of this the Colts were able to stack the line of scrimmage and put eight men in the box to stop the run.
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