Manning Poised to Spoil New Orleans Dreams

(AP)  Quarterback Peyton Manning and his Indianapolis Colts are favorites to spoil the ending of New Orleans' NFL renaissance when they take on the Saints in Sunday's Super Bowl.

The odd twist to this story is that Manning, who grew up in the Big Easy supporting his dad as quarterback for the then awful Saints, may end up breaking New Orleans' heart as the team contests its first Super Bowl.

New Orleans always has been a football town, even when the Saints were the Aints - back in the days Archie Manning led the team and fans wore paper bags on their heads to prevent being identified as supporters. But that four-decade love affair morphed into something more meaningful in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

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"It's important for not only the people in New Orleans, but the people around the country because you do understand how much it means to that community and what they've been through," Saints quarterback Drew Brees says. "Our success as a team over the last four years, but especially this year, has been tremendous just in regards to giving so many of the members of that community hope and lifting their spirits.

"There are still a lot of people in some pretty dire straits. For us to be able to have the success we're having, it just does so much for that community as far as bringing everyone together. There's a bond that we have with our fans - between our organization and our fans - that's truly special."

The Saints (15-3) led the league in scoring with 510 points. If Colts All-Pro defensive end Dwight Freeney and his 13-1/2 season sacks aren't available due to an ankle injury, then Brees, along with Reggie Bush, Marques Colston and company might light up the Miami night with touchdowns.

So could the Colts (16-2) with their deep receiving corps and the incomparable Manning. Surpassing the 75 points in the 1995 Super Bowl (San Francisco 49, San Diego 26) is not out of the question. Doing it by halftime isn't totally absurd.

When the Colts won their only championship representing Indianapolis, Tony Dungy was the coach. Now it's his hand-chosen successor, Jim Caldwell, and only two rookie coaches have ever won the Super Bowl. One of them, Don McCafferty, did it for the Baltimore Colts in 1971, the first title game after the AFL-NFL merger.

(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

(Left: New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush races teammates to the sideline during practice in Sun Life Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010 in Miami.)

The Saints and Colts approached the unbeaten threshold in December. New Orleans was 13-0 before losing at home to Dallas, then rested many regulars in dropping the last two regular-season games. Indianapolis was 14-0 and perhaps headed for a 15th victory when Manning and other starters were removed in the third quarter against the Jets. New York rallied to win, and the backups lost at Buffalo in the season finale.

In the playoffs, the Colts handled the Baltimore Ravens and Jets pretty easily. The Saints, following a romp past Arizona, needed several mistakes by Minnesota - including Brett Favre throwing an interception in the final seconds - before beating the Vikings in overtime and finally erasing that Super Bowl void.

"I feel like both teams have gotten to this point because of the success of the teams," Manning says. "Certainly if you look at our regular season and playoff schedule it has been a team season. Different guys have stepped up along the way, making critical plays at critical times.

"That is how I feel this game is going to turn out. It will be somebody stepping up along the way, in a critical situation, making a play and you never know just who it might be."

Stories:
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Will Injured Star Freeney Play in Super Bowl?

Videos:
CBSSports.com Video: Freeney Talks about Ankle
CBSSports.com Video: Saints Playing for the City
CBSSports.com Video: Colts Have New Orleans Ties
CBSSports.com Video: Peyton Manning on Miami Weather, Dan Marino
CBSSports.com Video: Super Bowl Media Day Recap
By AP Football Writer Barry Wilner

[jonsart1]

This article must have been written by the same author who keeps writing about how global warming is coming to turn us into a desert. This is the coldest winter I've ever spent. At least the Saints won to warm things up a bit.

[thesevenveils]

BWAAA HA HA HA
Eat your prediction and for desert have a big slice of humble pie!

[Henri_Rochard]

I was enjoying the CBS pre-game show until Katie Couric interviewed President Obama.

Obama started talking about health care and I shut my TV off. There's plenty of time for that stuff later; I wanted to watch football. (I'll pick the game up again later when I get to the Stupor Bowl party.)

Sorry to the sponsors who shelled out for commercials -- didn't see 'em, you wasted your money.

Catch you when the game starts.

[firewidow0]

MAKE THEM EAT ALL OF THOSE OFFENSIVE PREDICTIONS!

[firewidow0]

GEAUX SAINTS

[ramos1129]

I hope that the Saints defensive coordinator either reads this or someone shows it to him prior to game time.

The Colts do have a secret, yet not secret, weapon in the way Manning conducts the offense. Before the snap, Manning, who is the only offensive player allowed full freedom to move, will go from Colt to Colt, yell nonsence, point to anybody and everybody and in general, get the defense all tense and nervious. Many times, a defensive lineman will jump offsides. When the defense is throughly confused, then Manning will crunch down behind the Center and start the play immediately. The Saints must have already practised ignoring Manny's antics and not paying attention to him until he actually crunches behind the Center. If they have not, they are in a deep work of that stuff.

Another key to winning is playing wisely. This includes leaving the receiver alone once he catches the ball and is clearly going to be out of bounds. Another costly penalty because they add up is off sides. The team that has the most penalties will lose the game.
There are other ways but these will suffice gort now.

GO SAINTS...........

[makemyday2day]

GO COLTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!