THAT'S why we watch. After watching hundreds of games for over a decade, after believing I've the game basically figured out I can still be completely shocked by the brilliance of a coach. Did anyone see the onside kcik coming? Indy clearly didn't. That's how you call a game. You go for the win. Not to say an onside kick's always a good idea, but if you think it's necessary and if you think you can execute it, go for it. Sean Payton risked being the goat of the Super Bowl by going for the win. Had the Colts recovered the ball and marched for a quick TD to go up 17-6, Payton would've been hanged by the court of public opinion. He didn't care. He wanted to win. He called last night's game as if he was playing Madden. Just go for the win. Do whatever you can.
Still, he wasn't perfect...
Super Bowl Power Rankings
1.) New Orleans Saints
Super Bowl Thoughts I Think I Thought About Thinking
1.) The Colts WRs were terrible. They had some huge drops. Garcon early in the second dropped a pass that would've converted a third down for a big gain. Indy didn't touch the ball with an eye for the endzone again for over an hour. They got the ball at their own goal line and just tried running out the clock. Then the onside kick after the half. At the point of the Garcon drop Indy was up 10-3 and the Saints showed no signs of being able to stop them.
2.) I thought it was a good move by Payton going for fourth and goal at the end of the half. A FG would've made it 10-6 while a TD would've tied the game. If they failed, Indy would get the ball deep in their own territory. It'd be tough for them to march the field with the time left. What I didn't like, though, was the playcalling. The Saints ran for it on 2nd, 3rd, and 4th and goal. I think third and goal should've been a playaction call. I think Payton ran for it on third because he knew he'd go for it on fourth, so if he didn't get in he'd kill time for the Colts. So if that's the logic, they should've thrown on fourth. Their passing offense is one of the best, take at least one shot.
3.) Payton was bailed out there by Caldwell. You've Peyton Manning at your disposal. A score from your own 2 with unbder 2 left in the half might've broken the Saints' backs. Okay if you didn't want to risk anything you got a big run on second. So throw on third and short to try to get the first and maybe march. A safety's out of the question there. At any rate, they ran it up the middle, got stuffed, punted, let the Saints move , and get the FG they would've gotten had they not gone for it on fourth.
4.) You'll hear today that Gregg Williams made adjustments that threw off the Colts offense in the second half. It's not true. What the Saints did was keep the ball out of Peyton's hands, not exactly a novel approach. In the second half the Colts marched for a TD. Marched again, including converting a fourth down, and settled for a long FG try (should've punted there and pinned the Saints deep). The Colts then marched again until the INT. They then marched to the goal line again. The Saints defense isn't the reason they won the game.
5.) To win a football game a team needs to win with at least two of thier three units (offense, defense, special teams.) This was illustrated again last night. For the Saints to win, they needed to win the special teams battle, not let it be a wash. They did. That was the difference in the game.
6.) Now to another Colts WR: Reggie Wayne. He had an awful game.In the first half he was held to one catch. Then on the fourth down desperation play he made one of the worst plays you'll see a reciever make. He was a decoy on the play, running a slant a yard and a half short of the endzone. His purpose was to draw some coverage up so Peyton could hit someone in the back of the endzone. He ran the route as if he was a decoy. He's clearly not sprinting, watch the replay. He comes out of his break and jogs across the field. The Saints cover up the play leavong Wayne open. Wayne sees Peyton look at him and only then does he pick up speed again. Manning fires the ball towards him, but Wayne, who had mentally checked out of the play from the start, short arms the ball anticipating the hit which would've been later than he expected. Game over. Now you can argue that that play wasn't that big because the chance of a Colts comeback was minimal at that point. That's fair. So lets look at the play that turned the game....
7.) The Colts had marched down the field and were in position for about a 47 yard fg try. With all three timeouts remaining, you obviously kick it and try to get the ball back for the win. On third and short, Indy ran a pass play where on the left side both Wayne and Collie run ins of varying lengths. Wayne got to the top of his route and as he was about to cut, Manning threw where he thought Wayne outght to be. Wayne wasn't there. He ran a weak route with a weak cut. He should've cut in front of Porter, but instead he just reached his arms out while fading away from the ball. Ball goes to Porter, checkmate. Now while Wayne made a bad play there, I'm not exonerating Peyton either. He chose to throw to Wayne on a timing play, where he thought Wayne would be in a position to catch the ball rather than throw to Collie a few yard in, who'd already made his cut and was crossing open. That would've been a first down, or at the least incomplete.
8.) In the last drive, once the Colts burned their first timeout, I don't understand why they went out of their way to conserve their second. On third and goal they complete a pass short of the endzone and rush to the line for a fourth down play. They should've called timeout and calmed everyone down and run a set play. Once the first TO was used, you lose if the Saints get the ball. And the only thing more important than the timeouts and time was that TD. Don't rush it.
9.) Note to the media: Drew Brees was a great QB before the game and Peyton Manning is still the elite QB in the NFL.
10.) Great job, great season for the New Orleans Saints.
Limerick of the Week
The Trace Porter fourth pick
Made every Colts fan totally sick
The season is done
But here's something fun
Only 212 days left till opening kick.
There will be a TARP next week.
Peace
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