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NFL News, Opinion, Top PostsSuper Bowl XLIV match-ups by position: Saints vs. Colts
EDDIE LEE
NFLPosts.com Editor
Peyton Manning. Drew Brees. One was born in New Orleans, the other represents the rebirth of the city ravaged by a hurricane.
They are two QBs at the very top of their profession, a position hyper crucial to success in their sport. To have two of the best in Super Bowl XLIV is one thing. But as is often the case with Manning and Brees, there’s much more.
The Colts QB, the son of former Saints QB Archie Manning and older brother of Giants QB Eli, hails from the NFL’s reigning first family. At 6-foot-5, 230-pounds, Manning has DNA that spells QB.
Over his 12-year career, he has authored hall of fame credentials that put him among the very best that ever played the game, at any position.
A win on Sunday and Manning climbs another notch in the pantheon of greatness.
Brees is not quite there yet but his 4-year run in New Orleans, which coincided with the team’s return to the city after a season on the run due to the devastation left behind by Hurricane Katrina, is without peer.
From the ruins of a 3-13 season, he arrived as a free agent. A hired gun who helped clean up the mess and helped the city to rebuild its identity, on and off the field.
At 6-feet, 209 pounds, Brees is not the prototypical QB. He was labelled too short, not strong enough. Which is why he was shipped adrift by San Diego before landing in New Orleans.
Now he stands one win away from the city’s greatest sporting triumph.
And they say it’s just a game.
THE MATCHUP
New Orleans (15-3) vs. Indianapolis (16-2)
Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET, CBS
The line: Colts -5.5, O/U 56
Saints offense: 31.9 pts/gm (1st), 403.8 ypg (1st) Pass: 272.2 (4th) Rush: 131.6 (6th)
Colts defense: 19.2 pts/gm (8th), 339.2 ypg (18th) Pass 212.7 (14th) Rush 126.5 (24th)
When the Saints have the ball: The Saints try to establish the run with Pierre Thomas and then option into the multiple aerial weapons that include WRs Marques Colston, Robert Meacham, TE Jeremy Shockey and RB Reggie Bush. Brees, who can deliver the ball from multiple arm slots accurately, holds it all together. The ankle injury to Colts DE Dwight Freeney means fellow pass rushing specialist Robert Mathis will get extra attention. Veteran Raheem Brock will likely spell Freeney, which isn’t as big a drop off as some might think.
Colts offense: 26.0 pts/gm (7th), 363.1 ypg (9th) Pass 282.2 (2nd) Rush 80.9 (32nd)
Saints defense: 21.3 pts/gm (20th), 357.8 ypg (25th) Pass: 235.6 (4th) Rush 122.2 (21st)
When the Colts have the ball: The Colts establish the pass with Manning and run the ball to keep defenses honest. The Saints aim to hit Manning, which means plenty of blitzing. Away from the rabid Superdome, however, that may be just opting for a quicker as opposed to a more deliberate death. Manning was the second most productive passer in the league against the blitz in the regular season (next to Brees). He also stood up pretty well against the Jets onslaught in the AFC title game.
Last meeting: Sept. 6, 2007. Colts 41 Saints 10
Notable: The 2007 Thursday night season opener featured the defending Super Bowl champion Colts against a Saints squad that posted a 12-4 mark in their return to New Orleans. WR Reggie Wayne caught 2 of Manning’s 3 TD passes and LSU grad Joseph Addai ran for 118 yards and a TD. Brees threw 2 picks and lost a fumble as the Saints were outscored 31-0 in the second half.
Regular season, all-time: 5-5
Notable: Manning is 2-1 against his daddy’s team but that one loss was in his fourth career start. In the two wins, he passed for more than 600 yards and tossed 9 TDs.
By position
THE QUARTERBACKS
| Comp. | Att. | Yards | Pct. | TD | INT | Sacked | Rating | |
| Drew Brees, NO | 363 | 514 | 70.6 | 4,388 | 34 | 11 | 20 | 109.6 |
| Playoffs | 40 | 63 | 63.5 | 444 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 116.1 |
| Peyton Manning, IND | 393 | 571 | 68.8 | 4,500 | 33 | 16 | 10 | 99.9 |
| Playoffs | 56 | 83 | 67.5 | 623 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 104.6 |
EDGE: Colts
In terms of physical abilities at this stage in their careers, Manning and Brees would seem to be equals, both statistically and in terms of on-the-field effectiveness (game and clock management). The slight edge goes to Manning because of his additional big-game experience.
THE RUNNERS
| Att. | Yards | Avg. | TDS | Playoffs | Att. | Yards | Avg. | TDS | |
| Pierre Thomas, NO | 147 | 793 | 5.4 | 6 | 27 | 113 | 4.2 | 1 | |
| Reggie Bush, NO | 70 | 390 | 5.6 | 5 | 12 | 92 | 7.7 | 1 | |
| Mike Bell, NO | 172 | 654 | 3.8 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 1.8 | 0 | |
| Joseph Addai, IND | 218 | 828 | 3.8 | 10 | 27 | 103 | 3.8 | 0 | |
| Donald Brown, IND | 78 | 281 | 3.6 | 3 | 12 | 28 | 2.3 | 0 |
EDGE: Saints
Addai is coming off his best rushing totals of the season (80 yards, a 5.0 average and a fumble) but his real value is in keeping Manning’s shirt clean, either as a blocker or as a hot-read receiver. The Saints feature more explosiveness with Bush and the underrated Thomas. All the former Illini gets is first downs. An undrafted free agent, Thomas keys the Saints rushing attack between the tackles.
THE RECEIVERS
| Catches | Yards | Avg. | TDs | Playoffs | Catches | Yards | Avg. | TDs | |
| Marques Colston, NO | 70 | 1,074 | 15.3 | 9 | 8 | 105 | 13.1 | 1 | |
| Devery Henderson, NO | 51 | 804 | 15.8 | 2 | 8 | 119 | 14.9 | 2 | |
| Jeremy Shockey, NO | 48 | 569 | 11.9 | 3 | 4 | 45 | 11.3 | 1 | |
| Robert Meachem, NO | 45 | 722 | 16.0 | 9 | 2 | 19 | 9.5 | 0 | |
| Reggie Wayne, IND | 100 | 1,264 | 12.6 | 10 | 11 | 118 | 10.7 | 1 | |
| Dallas Clark, IND | 100 | 1,106 | 11.1 | 10 | 11 | 94 | 8.5 | 1 | |
| Austin Collie, IND | 60 | 676 | 11.3 | 7 | 11 | 175 | 15.9 | 2 | |
| Pierre Garcon | 47 | 765 | 16.3 | 4 | 16 | 185 | 11.6 | 1 |
EDGE: Colts
Of the Saints’ starting receivers and tight ends, only Colston would start in Indianapolis. And while former first rounder Meacham had a breakthrough season with 9 TDs, he’s gone AWOL in the playoffs. TE Jeremy Shockey remains hobbled with a knee injury but the Saints seem to have a capable replacement in David Thomas. Is Manning comfortable? All 4 of his top threats have double-digit receptions in two post-season games. Collie, a rookie, and Garcon, a sophomore have been the revelations that have allowed the passing game to prosper this season and through the playoffs.
THE OFFENSIVE LINE
| Rushes | Yards | Avg. | Sacks | QB Hits | Playoffs | Rushes | Yards | Avg. | Sacks | QB Hits | |
| NO | 468 | 2,106 | 4.5 | 20 | 52 | 57 | 239 | 4.2 | 1 | 7 | |
| IND | 366 | 1,294 | 3.5 | 13 | 44 | 49 | 143 | 2.9 | 4 | 12 |
EDGE: Saints
New Orleans won the John Madden Most valuable Protectors award presented by Prilosec, whatever that means. The strength of the Saints line lies on the right side, behind Pro Bowl G Jahri Evans, T John Stinchcomb and C Jonathan Goodwin, who was voted in an injury replacement. G Carl Nicks is another massive road grader while LT Jermon Bushrod has done a nice job since taking over for the injured Jammal Brown.
The Colts are led by crafty Pro Bowl C Jeff Saturday and because of their pass-happy offense, are more of a finesse bunch. Since being inserted into the lineup, G Kyle DeVan has helped the running game. DeVan, an undrafted free agent, played last spring with the Boise Burn of arenafootball2 and was a substitute teacher when the Colts called.
THE FRONT SEVEN
| Tackles | Sacks | FF | Playoffs | Tackles | Sacks | FF | |
| Jonathan Vilma, NO | 110 | 2.0 | 0 | 6 | 0.0 | 1 | |
| Scott Shanle, NO | 69 | 0.0 | 0 | 17 | 0.0 | 0 | |
| Will Smith, NO | 49 | 13.0 | 3 | 7 | 0.0 | 1 | |
| Anthony Hargrove, NO | 42 | 5.0 | 1 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | |
| Clint Session, IND | 103 | 0.5 | 1 | 11 | 0.0 | 0 | |
| Gary Brackett, IND | 99 | 1.0 | 0 | 13 | 1.0 | 0 | |
| Robert Mathis, IND | 37 | 9.5 | 5 | 8 | 0.0 | 0 | |
| Dwight Freeney, IND | 24 | 13.5 | 1 | 7 | 0.0 | 0 |
EDGE: Colts
Freeney’s ankle has become the most discussed joint since Cheech and Chong stopped rolling. The Colts DE will be limited and likely spelled by Raheem Brock. Not many have mentioned it but the injury levels the playing field somewhat for the Saints, who lost DE Charles Grant in their regular season finale. Mathis and Smith should battle to a draw and while DT Sedrick Ellis of the Saints makes more of an impact than either of the Colts DTs, Antonio Johnson and Daniel Muir, the LB edge goes to Indy on the strength of playmakers Gary Brackett and Clint Session.
THE SECONDARY
| Tackles | Ints | FF | Playoffs | Tackles | Ints | FF | |
| Roman Harper, NO | 102 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 1 | |
| Darren Sharper, NO | 71 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | |
| Tracy Porter, NO | 57 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 1 | 1 | |
| Antoine Bethea, IND | 95 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 0 | |
| Jacob Lacey, IND | 85 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | |
| Melvin Bullitt, IND | 77 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
EDGE: Even
If the Colts had injured SS Bob Sanders and CB Marlin Jackson available it’d be no contest. The Colts remaining top three, Bethea, Bullitt and CB Kelvin Hayden, match up well with the Saints trio of Sharper, Harper and CB Jabari Greer. Rookie CBs Jerrod Powers and Lacey make up that slight shortfall, even if Powers is not 100 per cent.
THE SPECIAL TEAMS
EDGE: Even
The Colts opted for Matt Stover over a gimpy Adam Vinateri and while Garrett Hartley delivered the Saints to the Super Bowl, Stover’s experience gives the Colts a leg up. Both punters, the Colts’ Pat McAfee and the Saints’ Thomas Morstead, averaged about 44 yards per punt in the regular season, with McAfee earning a rough 2-yard edge in net yards, 37.8 to 36. Saints KR Courtney Roby, who left the NFC championship game with a knee injury, remained limited in practices this week. He averaged 4 more yards per return than the Colts’ Chad Simpson in the regular season. Bush however balances the scales as the Saints’ dangerous punt returner.
THE COACHING
EDGE: Saints
The Colts Jim Caldwell hasn’t made many mistakes in his rookie season and his decision to turn his back on a perfect season and rest his starters forged his mettle. Sean Payton, however, is a gifted offensive guru who often locates and exploits mismatches for his club. Both men have Super Bowl experience, with Caldwell serving as quarterbacks coach in the Colts title run while Payton was the Giants offensive coordinator 8 years ago, when the Giants lost to the Ravens.
SUPER BOWL LINKS
The mother of all Super Bowl XLIV blogs
From Dec. 14: Super Bowl XLIV preview: How Colts, Saints match up
Super Bowl Media Day fails to reveal status of Freeney
Who Dat Nation includes Barack Obama
Top 10 reasons to root for the Colts in Super Bowl
Recipe for a Saints’ Super Bowl upset of Colts
Peyton Manning’s 5 best and worst games
Drew Brees’ 5 best and worst games
Super Bowl tale of the tape: Indianapolis vs. New Orleans
Carrie Underwood to sing national anthem at Super Bowl
Five Super Bowl matchups to watch
Super Bowl XLIV Preview – Manning, Colts to march over Saints
How the Super Bowl contenders, the Saints and the Colts were built
