The Colts comes into this game not facing an offense as potent as The Saints since the beginning of November except against the Texans(won by 8) & The Pats(won by 1).
On the flip side, NO haven’t faced a defense since October as stout as the Colts besides the Cowboys(Lost by 7), Washington(won by 3), & NE(won by 21).
Indy comes into the game looking like a defensive juggernaut shutting down the anemic offenses of the Ravens and the Jets in the playoffs. Flacco was struggling the L3 games of the season, and Sanchez and the punchless Jets did not have a potent offensive attack. It should be noted that the Colts shutting down the run-game of the Jets was impressive, but it is hard to gauge whether that is enough to don the Colts defense with a medal. They were playing games close to the vest before the “resting their players” and the playoffs and had to come from behind in multiple games at the end of the season.
The Saints limp into the SB with a 3 game loss at the end of the season vs lower tier teams, and a lackluster and borderline embarrassing performance against the Minny. You cannot be (plus too many) on turnovers at home and barely squeak out the game by a FG in OT because the opposing team’s 90 yr old QB turned the ball over for the 5th time which was more than expected if you have tuned in to a NFL game in the last decade. The Saints performance in this game is not a secret as millions of people watched the game, and made the same mental notes. Coinciding, the NFC Championship game is ringing very loudly in everyone’s ears who are backing the Colts on Sunday as it is easy to digest that game and deduce that the Saints “backed their way” into the Big Game and don’t deserve to be there.
But with the injuries on the Colt’s end, how can you really predict how they will perform against the NO offense? Sanders is obviously out, Freeney may not be able to move laterally with his ankle sprain, and Jarraud Powers is banged up as well. We all know the hype that is created with a game this big to create doubt as to who is available to start, but they will all play(except for Sanders), and even with modern sport’s technology/therapy, they will not be 100%.
Then you turn to the QB controversy: Manning is one of the best QB in the league next to Brady but he has only won one ring. He and the Colts team have the experience, and this is HUGE for him that he walks away with a second, and further brands his stamp in Canton. Brees on the other hand, was not the most prolific college player, and after his clunker last week, there are legitimately a lot of doubts on whether or not he will come out scared and shit the bed. Every year there is banter about the “Happy to be there” team, and the Saints are the poster child for that phrase. I have a hard time not seeing and hearing Manning talk about the game with confetti sprinkling all over his head at the end of the game, while he digresses about the key moves to why the Colts won, but the NFL(or any professional sport for that matter), is not that logical.