The New Orleans Saints are Super Bowl champs. How crazy is that? I can honestly say that I’m ok with being wrong with my Super Bowl pick. Just a couple quick observations:
1- Sean Payton has balls the size of watermelons. First, he goes for it on 4th down at the 1, when many would take the points. That call was at least reasonable–I bet if the Saints made that field goal at that point in the game Peyton would have driven down the field for another score. Once the Saints turned it over one the 1 Manning couldn’t run his great 2 minute drill which has clocked teams all season, and basically settled for trying to run down the clock. Taking a possession away from Peyton Manning is huge. Second, there was the most INSANE play call I have ever seen in the Super Bowl: the onside kick to start the second half. If the Saints didn’t get that ball I think the game would have been over. It would have been Manning on a short field, he’d probably score and all the momentum would have been with Indy. I think the call was idiotic, but everyone is going to call Payton a genius now. He’s a great game planner but wow, cohones. That play took a posession away from Manning and changed the tone of the game. Third, the dude goes for 2 later in the game. Right call to make it a 7 point game, but another gamble. Sean Payton had one of the most aggressive game plan’s I’ve seen in the Super Bowl, and it worked.
2- Drew Brees is phenomenal. Nice dude, hugely involved in New Orleans, 32 completions on 39 attempts. Couldn’t be happier for the guy. He stepped up in his very first Super Bowl and played as well as Peyton Manning the whole game. Manning made some ridiculous throws, but so did Brees. Brees also had no turnovers. I would want him to be my quarterback.
3- Peyton Manning’s pick may have been more shocking than the onside kick. During that Colts drive where Manning threw the pick I never doubted that the Colts were going to score. Peyton Manning has played with a sense of invincibility all season and has played flawlessly in every close game this year. That pick may have been Reggie Wayne’s fault for not fighting for position under the receiver, but the fact that Manning’s throw not only didn’t result in a score, but went the other way was utterly shocking. I think that indicates how good Manning is– everyone in the country probably thought he was going to score on that drive. He may be the best QB of all time, regardless of the outcome here.
Congrats New Orleans, for a city that’s been through so much tonight’s celebration is well deserved.
