Indianapolis Colts: Who dat say they gonna beat them Saints?
The New Orleans Saints claimed Super Bowl glory by defeating Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in South Florida yesterday. It marked the first time in franchise history the Saints have won the Super Bowl.
Drew Brees completed 32-39 passes for 288 yards and 2 touchdowns while was Manning 31-45 for 333 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 costly interception.
It appeared destiny sided with the Saints. The Super Bowl represented more than a game to the Saints: It marked an opportunity to show the world what a persistent unified effort can do for a state, city, and a franchise.
Four years ago New Orleans was in dire straights because of hurricane Katrina. The city was ravaged. Rebuilding continues even to this day.
The Superdome was severely damaged as well. It served a hotel/restaurant/hospital/home for hurricane victims who had no where to go. Even dead bodies were stored there.
Then the team whose fans once wore bags over their heads signed free agent Drew Brees. Brees was injured during the final game of the 2005 season with San Diego. The Chargers opted to let Brees walk.
The Miami Dolphins and the New Orleans Saints wanted Brees. Brees chose the Saints because he wanted to help rebuild the city and the franchise that was in ruins.
In his first season he led the Saints to the NFC Championship game where they lost to the Chicago Bears. The last two seasons the Saints were up and down. They were essentially a .500 team that just couldn’t get over the hump. This year they did.
Many tried to make this Peyton Manning’s Super Bowl. The experts wanted to anoint Manning as the greatest of all time if he won this game. This game proved Manning isn’t the greatest of all time and it wasn’t going to be his day. Matter of fact it can be asserted Manning is slightly overrated.
Let’s examine.
Manning has rarely come up big when it’s been needed in the big games in playoff/championship games in college and the pros.
How did he do at Tennessee? Did Manning win the Heisman? No, Charles Woodson did. I guess Woodson was better on defense than Manning was on offense.
Did Manning win a National Championship? No, but Tee Martin did in 1999 after Manning departed to the NFL.
Hold your horses. I know the Colts won the Super Bowl three seasons ago but it wasn’t because of Manning. The Colts beat the Bears because of the running of Dominic Rhodes. Manning was average at best even though he was named MVP of the game.
Yesterday when Manning was needed most he pulls a Brett Favre and throws an interception while driving late in the fourth quarter.
You think Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw, Troy Aikman, or Tom Brady would make such a mistake down the stretch?
We can now put this “greatest of all time” talk to rest until Manning consistently shows up in the playoffs.
Furthermore, I put some of the blame on Bill Polian and head coach Jim Caldwell. First of all, they should’ve tried for the perfect season. Resting players didn’t prove to work out after all huh?
Did the Colts rest players when they won the Super Bowl in 2006?
No.
Now they go home with nothing.
Bottom line: the Saints were destined to win this game. They were playing for something bigger than merely hoisting a trophy in the air. The Colts were seemingly playing to cement Manning’s legacy while the Saints were playing for the resilient state of Louisiana who endured so much.
Then there’s Drew Brees. I saw how special he was three seasons ago. I’ve since said emphatically he’s been the best quarterback in football the last three seasons. Now he’s starting to get the credit he deserves.
I know there are a lot of disappointed Colts fans this morning, but all the credit must go to the better team.
Drew Brees completed 32-39 passes for 288 yards and 2 touchdowns while was Manning 31-45 for 333 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 costly interception.
It appeared destiny sided with the Saints. The Super Bowl represented more than a game to the Saints: It marked an opportunity to show the world what a persistent unified effort can do for a state, city, and a franchise.
Four years ago New Orleans was in dire straights because of hurricane Katrina. The city was ravaged. Rebuilding continues even to this day.
The Superdome was severely damaged as well. It served a hotel/restaurant/hospital/home for hurricane victims who had no where to go. Even dead bodies were stored there.
Then the team whose fans once wore bags over their heads signed free agent Drew Brees. Brees was injured during the final game of the 2005 season with San Diego. The Chargers opted to let Brees walk.
The Miami Dolphins and the New Orleans Saints wanted Brees. Brees chose the Saints because he wanted to help rebuild the city and the franchise that was in ruins.
In his first season he led the Saints to the NFC Championship game where they lost to the Chicago Bears. The last two seasons the Saints were up and down. They were essentially a .500 team that just couldn’t get over the hump. This year they did.
Many tried to make this Peyton Manning’s Super Bowl. The experts wanted to anoint Manning as the greatest of all time if he won this game. This game proved Manning isn’t the greatest of all time and it wasn’t going to be his day. Matter of fact it can be asserted Manning is slightly overrated.
Let’s examine.
Manning has rarely come up big when it’s been needed in the big games in playoff/championship games in college and the pros.
How did he do at Tennessee? Did Manning win the Heisman? No, Charles Woodson did. I guess Woodson was better on defense than Manning was on offense.
Did Manning win a National Championship? No, but Tee Martin did in 1999 after Manning departed to the NFL.
Hold your horses. I know the Colts won the Super Bowl three seasons ago but it wasn’t because of Manning. The Colts beat the Bears because of the running of Dominic Rhodes. Manning was average at best even though he was named MVP of the game.
Yesterday when Manning was needed most he pulls a Brett Favre and throws an interception while driving late in the fourth quarter.
You think Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw, Troy Aikman, or Tom Brady would make such a mistake down the stretch?
We can now put this “greatest of all time” talk to rest until Manning consistently shows up in the playoffs.
Furthermore, I put some of the blame on Bill Polian and head coach Jim Caldwell. First of all, they should’ve tried for the perfect season. Resting players didn’t prove to work out after all huh?
Did the Colts rest players when they won the Super Bowl in 2006?
No.
Now they go home with nothing.
Bottom line: the Saints were destined to win this game. They were playing for something bigger than merely hoisting a trophy in the air. The Colts were seemingly playing to cement Manning’s legacy while the Saints were playing for the resilient state of Louisiana who endured so much.
Then there’s Drew Brees. I saw how special he was three seasons ago. I’ve since said emphatically he’s been the best quarterback in football the last three seasons. Now he’s starting to get the credit he deserves.
I know there are a lot of disappointed Colts fans this morning, but all the credit must go to the better team.
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