Saints vs. Colts: Superbowl XLIV for the innocent bystander

-Well, it’s that time of year again, though the storyline this year has been a little more interesting than it normally has been. This year could be described as the Year of the Quarterback, with the four finalist offenses being led by outstanding quarterbacks (Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and Mark Sanchez). This has made the games even more entertaining than usual, especially if you’re a defensive back.

As we enter the week preceeding this master of television ratings, numerous stories emerge, many of them being extremely interesting and highly publicized and not worth putting in this article. Numerous questions emerge on Twitter and Facebook (ex: Will Dwight Freeney play on his hurt ankle?, or How did Dwight Freeney get such a weird name, anyway?). To gain good perspective on this massive event, one must learn to see through the smokescreen of obscure blogs and online publications and peer into the inner sanctum of Pro Football. That’s right: take a look at the Meaningful Questions.

There are two questions for the first-time Saints, the first one being how they are going to try and contain Peyton Manning, who is at the top of his game and is hungry for a second superbowl ring. Peyton is arguably the best quarterback under pressure in the NFL (or National Football League, for those of you who really have got no clue whatsoever.) Peyton has never been sacked more than two times in his two playoff games this season behind his fortress of an offensive line. He was sacked(tackled) twice by the Jets in the first half, then got up, shook off the dust, and won the game for the Colts. Said a teammate of his determination, “He just won’t let us lose.” Peyton is known for his ability to battle through games.

The second question for the Saints is how they’re going to take advantage of Dwight Freeney’s recent 3^rd degree ankle injury. The Colts lost one of the league’s best blind-side pass rushers (guys who the quarterback can’t see who run up and tackle him just for kicks.) His injury will likely open the game up to the long-ball loving Drew Brees, as it will give him much more time to get the guys he likes to throw to down the field. Because of this, the running game will be a bit looser as well, mostly because the Colts will then have the long passes to worry about, decreasing the number of guys to plug the holes(gaps between offensive linemen that running backs like to run through). The best way for the Saints to take advantage of Dwight (if he plays) is to test that ankle. You’ll probably see an obscure 300-pounder attempting to pound him into the dirt at some point in the upcoming game.

There is only one major question for the Colts, this being how they are going to reconfigure their defensive game without Freeney. He is virtually irreplaceable, and even if they do play him, they are going to try and route blockers and dangerous hotspots of activity away from his bum ankle and the pain it causes one of their star players. The Saints’ running game has been known for its no-name running backs, and blocking them may prove difficult.

In conclusion, I’d just like to say that the Superbowl is going to be worth watching this year- and now, with your newfound knowledge, you can sound like another one of the experts.

Seth's Prediction: Peyton guns it out from behind his huge O-line, but the Saints take advantage of an unhealthy Dwight Freeney and the Saints trample all over the Colts’ D, racking up the yardage. Saints 45, Colts 38.