http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid271557392?bctid=64790979001

was going to post last night, but just went to bed in disgust...hope everyone's SB party went well, mine did till around the onside kick to begin the 2nd half...and btw, that had to be most gutsy play i have ever seen on a stage like that...simply amazing!

 

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well, I didnt have a dog in this fight but I did see what NO did to NE earlier this year. My score prediction was based solely on my idea that the Indy would not be able to score much against the NO defense while on the flip side, NO offense has been scoring on everyone this year (except teams that had horrible records).

I was off a bit on how much they would score, but my overall idea of how the game was going to play out seems (in retrospect) to be solid. NO just did not get their offense going in the first half.

 

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The difference wasn't really the offense, though. I thought both offenses performed well, but neither dominated. Numbers mostly favored the Colts. As usual, it came down to turnovers. The onside kick gave the Saints an extra possession, and then the pick six. There's your 14 point margin. The Saints have been an opportunistic team all year, and it saw them through to the end.

I agree Liquid, after the Colts stopped the Saints on the goal line at the end of the 1st half, that really changed the whole momentum of the game. If Indy came out and scored at the start of the 3rd it would have been hard for the Saints to get going. Really ballsy call for the onside kick, and what a scrum for the ball that was!!! I wonder how many players got punched in the nuts in that pile LOL!


Congrats Saints, a good game to watch.

 

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The goal line stand wasn't really that big of a deal. The Saints made a calculation. They didn't want to settle for a field goal and leave Manning with enough time to score. So they decided, either we get a touchdown or we force the Colts to be conservative because they'll be pushed so far back and only have about a minute to work with. They would have rather had the 7, obviously, but they got the next best thing. Sure enough, the Colts just ran it three times, taking the ball out of Manning's hands. Then the Saints used their time outs, and with 35 seconds left they got the ball at midfield off the punt. A medium range pass or two and now they're in FG range with no time for Manning to get the ball back before halftime. It was pure situational play calling based in field position and time remaining.

Yeah I completely agree. It would have been a horrible decision to kick a FG and give Manning time to score a TD. Worked out great for the Saints. The real disturbing thing with the game is that the Colts only scored 7 points in the second half. TD, Missed Field goal, Pick 6, and then turnover on downs. On all of their drives they found themselves in scoring range, and they only converted once. That is real disturbing. That is the difference in the game.

 

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In my mind, one of the biggest reasons for the Saints win was the inability of the Colts defenders to take a guy down on the first hit. So many times the Colts linebackers hit a Saint for a loss or very short gain, but the Saint would spin or shrug it off and get the necessary yardage. Colts LB Sessions had a few shots at guys in the backfield and whiffed nearly every time.

 

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Oopsrah