It was Super Duper
OH MY, to quote the great broadcaster Dick Enberg!
Talk about a SUPER SURPRISE last night! Not because the Saints won (and they WON this game. The Colts didn't lose it). Not because The Who demonstrated we can have a great half-time show by aging rockers who are sober, remember all their lyrics, keep their clothing intact, and don't yell out insipid lines like "I love you, Super bowl" (see Rolling Stones, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Paul McCartney). And not because the Great Peyton Manning couldn't pull out a game at the end. And not even because the Saints came back from a 10-point deficit.
This game was a super surprise because the Saints rolled the dice, played gutsy, bended without breaking, and stalled out a potential shooting match to keep the final score well under its expectation, hence giving itself the best chance to win.
So the Saints scored 31 points, right? We expected at least this many points. Well, 7 were courtesy of the defense, specifically Terry Porter, who cut in front of Reggie Wayne (who may or may not have been hampered by a tweaked knee) and went 74 yards with what ended up being the clinching touchdown. What about the other 24 points? The top scoring offense in the NFL this season put together a "six card Sammy" with 2 touchdowns and 3 long field goals by their newest hero placekicker.
Give credit to Indy's defense for keeping the Saints under wraps on several drives, forcing the Saints to settle for field goals or coming up empty on a second quarter goal line stand. And they did it mostly without Dwight Freeney, who played as best as he could until his right ankle was no longer able, no matter how many sideline tape jobs were done.
But let's give credit to the Saints' defense too. Let's face it, folks. Peyton Manning drove his troops up and down the field last night, generated over 400 yards of offense, but couldn't consistently finish off drives in the red zone. Take away Porter's pick-six, Peyton had his offense in position to tie the game at 24-24 and set up the stage for a potential sudden death. The Colts were able to run the ball, and then they forgot about Joseph Addai when the Saints' defense was still vulnerable up the gut. Former 49ers QB Steve Young noted on ESPN after the game that Indy only had 8 offensive possessions last night. EIGHT! The Colts usually have TWELVE. New Orleans' defense, coached brilliantly by their coordinator, Greg Williams, limited the Colts' offense to two-thirds of their typical number of opportunities. The Saints' defense took a page from the book of Parcells-Bellichick and shortened the game.
And they didn't even have to pummel Peyton Manning into submission (see Brett Favre)!
How else did the Saints win this game besides play keep-away? Let's give props to Sean Payton for calling that onside kick to start the second half. Was it gutsy? You bet. Was it crazy? Only if it didn't work. Coach Payton rolled his dice and prayed for 7, and 7 is what his offense produced. 13-10 in the Saints' favor makes the third quarter a lot more comfortable than 13-6 or 17-6 Indy. That onside kick was the tide turner, and allowed the Saints to keep playing their game and mess with Indy's.
For weeks, fans and talking heads have wondered how to deflate the Colts and their Superman QB Peyton Manning. Several teams have tried with different degrees of success: the Pats, Ravens, and Jets come to mind. Each week, an opponent provides little bread crumbs of hints at how to thwart the Colts and their incredible offense.
Peyton Manning studied the game films of that terrific Rams-Titans super bowl from January 2000, in order to gleam some insights into the mind of Greg Williams. Perhaps Peyton Manning should've gone back and re-watched the films from week 15, when the Jets won their "gift" game. Crazy idea? The Jets were only down 15-10 when Indy's varsity players got pulled, Brad Smith scored on a tide turning 106-yard kickoff return, and the Jets defense was pesky enough to mess up the timing and flow for Peyton and his receiving corps. And when opportunity knocked, the Jets grabbed it. Sound familiar?
Greg Williams' defense gave us all a little deja vu last night, doing just enough on defense to short-circuit Peyton's gameplan, buying time for the offense to do enough to put points on the scoreboard, more than the Colts could produce. Peyton's Colts fizzled out trying to cope with a "four corners" defensive scheme. Dean Smith should be smiling from ear to ear!
Was it a great season for Indy? Yes, it was, but it only reminds us of what differed between the Colts of SB LXIV compared to the champs from SB LXI three years ago. The champion Colts had a more balanced offense, stayed with their running game, and had a defense humming on all cylinders. This year's Colts showed us how indispensable their QB is, because they wouldn't be in Miami without him. The Colts will be back in the AFC mix next year, and the next year, until Peyton Manning hangs up his helmet and cleats. But for the Colts to get over the hump and take all the marbles, they need all parts working besides Peyton Manning.
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