Superbowl Predictions

Oh dear, it's pick time again. I know, I promised not to make any more picks after my disaster during the divisional round But this is different. This is the big one, what it's all been about. It is of course.... the Superbowl!!!!! (cue some suitably dramatic and stirring music like they use on the NFL network or, failing that, their unique rendition of "Drunken Sailor" will do) Saints @ Colts -- It's been a long old journey this year. For the Colts, their have been three key elements. One is their defensive front 7, who've basically shut down almost anything in their path. Two is Peyton Manning and his ability to dissect defensive coverages and then tear them to pieces. Three has been some shall we say 'fortuitus' officiating. For the Saints their have been four keys to success. One is without doubt the quality of their Cornerback trio of Gay, Porter and Greer, who have somehow managed to achieve the impossible by turning Darren Sharper into a Defensive MVP candidate and making Greg Williams seem like a defensive mastermind while apparently receiving little credit for their work, other than from this author. Two is the play of receivers like Robert Meachem, who've fought and worked their guts out week in and week out to make Drew Brees look special, while again receiving little credit for their work (it's a QB driven league in case you hadn't noticed). Three is them officials again, who've given the Saints more than their fair share of dubious calls. And fourth has been the opposition coaches and players, who at regular intervals throughout the season have conspired to make poor decisions in order to make the Saints look better than they really are. So what we're left with is a Superbowl that the NFL couldn't have even dared to dream for; two teams that predominantly pass the ball and will likely get involved in a shootout. In theory it should be a good game. In all likelyhood, it's going to be a massacre. Becaus the Saints really aren't on a par with the Colts. The Colts may get the odd lift down the field thanks to a dodgy pass interference call (or two, or three) and 50% of their pass plays will probably be of the illegal 'pick' variety (oh wait, I forgot, they're not illegal because they're 'rub' plays, not 'pick' plays) but still, the fact is that the Colts are a fundamentally more sound team than the Saints. Especially on defense. While everyone may be frothing at the mouth at the prospect of Darren Sharper going up against Peyton Manning, it's all for the wrong reasons. Many people believe that Sharper is about to break the Manning spell. Personally I think it's going to be the reverse. See Sharper enjoyed two things this season; picking off passes by rubbish QBs (in general, not always) and knowing that his cornerbacks would do much of the work for him, leaving him free to pick up the Fumbles and tipped passes that they created. Manning will be a different prospect all together. Likely Sharper will spend a lot of the game getting very close to TE Dallas Clark, and the mismatch is going to be nothing short of criminal. Afterwards, I'd be interested to hear the TV talking heads excuses for why Sharper got burnt so badly and so often. In fact, I honestly think the Saints have just one chance, and that's the men in black and white stripes. If 'rub' plays suddenly become 'pick' plays and the Saints 'physical' (read: blatantly malicious and unsporting) defense get their way, it could be a whole different ball game. What happens if the Saints win the battle for pass intereference yards? Who knows. Ultimately, I don't want either team to win. It just has this feel of being very fabricated, as if the league had planned it this way. By I must pick a winner and so I'm going with Indy. Colts win. And on a slightly different note, glad to see Dick LeBeau finally get his place in the pro football Hall Of Fame. But two questions: What about Don Coryell? What about Roger Craig? Am I missing something?