Super Bowl XLIV Pick!

Last Week's Record: 0-1-1
Playoff Record: 3-6-1

COLTS (-4) over SAINTS:


Super Bowl XLIV will kickoff in a little over 48 hours. The Colts and Saints will take the field in Sun Life Stadium, and the matchup has produced little drama all week from South Beach. The only injury storyline is the health of Colts DE Dwight Freeney. The only other storylines from Miami involving this game have been about Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and the city of New Orleans. With that being said, this has the possiblity of being a very good Super Bowl. Both teams feature elite Quarterbacks, very good offenses, and opportunistic defenses. The Saints are the underdog, but they are no slouch. They can move the ball and score in chunks, and their defense forces a lot of turnovers and produce a lot of big plays from that standpoint. We know what we are getting from the Colts: An offense that can be deadly when it is in rhythm with the best QB in the league at the controls, and a tough and hard-nosed defense that tackles well and flys to the football. Since Super Bowl XXXII (Denver over Green Bay 31-24) there have been 7 Super Bowls that have been decided by 7 points or less. In this modern NFL no longer is the Super Bowl a big blowout and dissappointment. Underdogs have real chances and the lesser team is not that far away from the favorite, so I would expect the Saints to play well and give America a good showing and a good game.

Forget about all the rest of the storylines because this game comes down to one aspect and one aspect only: Peyton Manning. When he is all said and done, he will have all of the records NFL history: Consecutive Games Started and Played, Wins as a Starting QB, Completions, Attempts, Yards, and Touchdown Passes. He will own every single one of those records. He already has 1 Super Bowl to his name, but he needs one more to solidify his status as the "Greatest QB Ever." What we have witnessed in Manning's career is unreal. The guy is amazing. If he gets his second ring on Sunday, then Peyton Manning's name would have to vault to the top of the QB list and above the other members of the exclusive group. That group includes: Otto Graham, Johnny Unitas, Roger Staubach, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana, Dan Marino, John Elway, Tom Brady, and Brett Favre. Manning would stand above all of them if he gets his second Super Bowl on Sunday. We could be watching the greatest player at the QB position cement his status among the immortals. One day my kid is going to turn to me and say, "What was Peyton Manning like?" If he wins on Sunday, then I have no choice but to tell my son that Manning was the greatest Quarterback ever- hands down.

Will he get that second ring on Sunday? Yes, he will. I see this game playing out like some of the better games this decade. A lot of jostling back and forth for three quarters, then an aerial assault to finish up a wild fourth quarter. The Saints will play well, and I even see them taking an early lead. The Colts will respond with Manning and that offense. Expect a few turnovers and missed field goals. When push comes to shove, Manning will make the plays that are needed in the fourth quarter to give the Colts a late lead. That Colts defense-one that gets no respect- will then put the clamps down on Brees and the Saints to finish it off. The Colts will get their second Super Bowl victory in four seasons, and Manning becomes an immortal.

Final Score: Colts-31 Saints-24