5 THINGS TO WATCH
1 — How is Freeney’s sprained ankle?
The most talked-about body part in South Florida has been Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney’s right ankle, which the star pass rusher sprained late in the AFC championship game against the Jets. Even with the extra week, Freeney is listed as questionable. No one really knows whether he will play against the Saints. If he does play, how much will the injury affect his ability to get to Drew Brees? There’s no question that getting into the Saints’ pocket with consistency is vital for the Colts’ defense.
2 — Manning is “The Man” in the Colts’ pocket
Here’s a startling stat: Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has been sacked only 14 times this entire season. That means Manning is getting terrific pass protection from the Colts’ offensive line. And it means the Saints’ defense is facing a tremendous challenge today in Miami. Manning has consistently beaten the blitz all season, better than any other NFL quarterback, so Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams must find a way for his players to plant Manning in the grass.
3 — Colts can’t afford big game from Bush
Saints running back Reggie Bush is one of the NFL’s most intriguing and electrifying players. The former Heisman Trophy winner at Southern California has remarkable talent and big-play potential, but the Saints seem to search for ways to use him effectively. When the Saints get Bush involved consistently by using him as a target for screen passes, their offense takes on a completely different look. It will be interesting to see how the Colts try to take Bush out of the game plan.
4 — Team Turnover? It’s the Saints’ defense
On the stat sheet alone, the Saints’ defense can seem pedestrian, with plenty of yards and points allowed. But no other team in the NFL this season has been as good at making game-changing defensive plays. The Saints have intercepted 29 passes — including three in the playoffs — and recovered 13 fumbles. Four of those fumble recoveries have come in the postseason. Peyton Manning and the Colts rarely turn the ball over — the glaring exception was Manning’s three- interception game against Denver — but the Saints should be able to get the ball away from him.
5 — There’s room for kids in Wayne’s world
Think back to August. Did you know who Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie were? Now those young wide receivers are as important to the Colts’ offense as Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark. With so many playmakers, defenses often try to eliminate Wayne, unquestionably the Colts’ best weapon, and hope that Garcon, a second-year wideout from Division III Mount Union, and Collie, a rookie from Brigham Young, won’t beat them. Ask the Jets how well that worked.
GAME PLAN
When the Colts run
The Colts won’t win this game — or any game — if they have to rely on their running game. Indianapolis rushed for only 80.9 yards per game this season, the NFL’s worst average. Joseph Addai was right at that average with 80 yards in the AFC title game against the Jets. But to his credit, he did it on only 16 carries. The Saints’ run defense has been OK — allowing 122.2 yards per game during the regular season and slightly more than that during the postseason. But the Saints have been vulnerable, such as when the Cardinals’ Tim Hightower scored on a running play on the first snap of a playoff game. Edge: Saints
When the Saints run
For all the talk about the Saints’ passing attack, the success of their offense depends on the running game, led by Pierre Thomas. Reggie Bush and Mike Bell (remember him, Broncos fans?) also contribute. If they can get going early, Drew Brees will be in perfect position to hit the big plays New Orleans is known for. You might not know the names of the Colts’ top run stoppers, but Daniel Muir and Gary Brackett have been effective. The Colts held the Jets (the NFL’s No. 1 rushing team) to 86 yards in the AFC championship game. Edge: Colts
When the Colts pass
Apologies to the New Orleans secondary, especially to star safety Darren Sharper, but there is no question who holds the edge here. His name is Peyton Manning, and the Colts’ star could be known as the greatest quarterback of all time when he’s done playing. It doesn’t hurt that Manning has a receiving corps that includes wideout Reggie Wayne and tight end Dallas Clark. The Saints have given up only 235.6 yards passing per game and have picked off 29 passes to this point. Edge: Colts
When the Saints pass
The Saints run a complicated, timing-based offense that quarterback Drew Brees has mastered. Brees passed for nearly 4,400 yards in the regular season and has thrown for 444 yards in two playoff games. But most impressively, he has completed about 70 percent of his passes. New Orleans’ wide receivers — Marques Colston, Devery Henderson and Lance Moore — aren’t stars, but Brees can make them look great. The Colts’ secondary is led by underrated safety Antoine Bethea, but the unit has been vulnerable on the outside (remember Brandon Marshall’s record- setting game against Indianapolis?) and cornerback Jerraud Powers, a rookie, didn’t practice last week because of a foot injury. Edge: Saints
Special teams
The Colts have one of the best kickers in Super Bowl history, Adam Vinatieri, on their roster. But he’s not playing, having been replaced by 42-year-old Matt Stover. The kicker everyone has been talking about is the Saints’ Garrett Hartley, who nailed a 40-yard field goal in overtime to win the NFC championship game. New Orleans’ kickoff and punt return teams are powered by the lightning-quick Reggie Bush. Edge: Saints
CELEBRITY PICKS
Brooklyn Decker
Sports Illustrated swimsuit model
Decker, who is married to tennis star Andy Roddick, is hoping to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s 2010 swimsuit issue, which will be released next week. She is an avid football fan, and even picked the Giants to beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl two years ago on .
Saints 24, Colts 19. “Everyone is writing off Drew Brees,” Decker said. “As much as I love Peyton and admire the Colts, I’ve got to pick the Saints.”
Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend
members of The Who
Today’s halftime performers have famously had their differences over the years, and though the legendary rockers are chummy now, they don’t agree on their Super Bowl picks. Daltrey: “All I care is if the best team wins. That said, New Orleans could be due a little bit of luck.” Townshend: “In that case, I’ll go for the Colts.”
Papa John
Founder, Papa John’s Pizza
Papa John, whose real name is John Schnatter, personally delivered 250 pizza pies to radio row at the Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Convention Center on Thursday. He’s hoping for a huge business day today, as well as for a win for his beloved Colts. Schnatter, you see, is an Indiana native.
Colts 42, Saints 35. “It’s going to be a good game, with two great quarterbacks. Definitely high scoring,” he said.
