BY ERIC AHLQVIST
COOPERSTOWN CRIER
The NFL got its dream
match-up for this year’s
Super Bowl, when the
Indianapolis Colts take on
the New Orleans Saints this
Sunday in Miami at 6:30 p.m.
Not only are the teams
the top two seeds in their
respective conferences, but
they also feature star power
at the quarterback position.
Colts quarterback Peyton
Manning has taken the position
to a whole new level.
The wisdom in the NFL used
to be that a good running
game coupled with great defenses
win championships.
But Manning, the league’s
Most Valuable Player this
season, has led a change
in that thinking, taking the
majority of his snaps in the
shotgun and using a precision
passing game much like
a running game.
A few years ago when the
New England Patriots were
in the midst of their dynasty,
they figured out a way to
stop Manning, but no one
has been able to do that this
year.
I don’t think the Saints will
either. In the NFC championship
game against the
Vikings, New Orleans defenders
punished Favre with
hit after hit, but they won’t
be able to do that very often
against Manning, who gets
rid of the ball faster than
anyone in the league.
On the other side of the
ball is New Orleans quarterback
Drew Brees, whose 34
touchdown passes were one
more than Manning’s, and 11
interceptions five less than
Manning’s during the regular
season.
The Colts’ best pass rusher,
Dwight Freeney, is nursing
an ankle injury and if he can’t
play that might open things
up for Brees to have a huge
day against a mediocre Colts
secondary.
The Saints’ running game
is also better than the Colts’,
with Pierre Thomas coupled
with Reggie Bush, who is
also a threat out of the backfield
and on punts.
If the Saints do win, I look
for Bush to be the reason.
Both quarterbacks have
plenty of options at wide
receiver, while Colts tight
end Dallas Clark may be the
best in the NFL.
So, who is going to win? I
could make a case for both
teams, but I think Manning
and the Colts’ experience will
be the difference.
While the Saints are still
settling in to the game and
getting their bearings, I look
for the Colts to start strong
and get a big lead.
That will be the difference
in their 31-21 victory.
Let’s look at some other
area experts’ predictions:
Cooperstown football
head coach Steve Pugliese:
I think the Saints may have
more offensive talent than
the Colts, but Manning is
just so good he makes up
for that.
Which Saints team is going
to show up? Both teams are
Dome teams but I think if
you oook at the Saints playing
on grass they are much
less productive.
Turnovers always play a
big part, and the Saints can’t
afford to fall behind early.
I think the Colts’ defense is
better than New Orleans’ and
will be the difference in the
game.
Final score: Colts 31, Saints
17.
Cooperstown assitant
coach Jay Baldo: Man, I hate
to try and predict this one.
However, I will go with the
Colts. Peyton Manning is
going to be too much for the
Saints defense to handle. Defense
will be the key to this
game, and I think the Colts
have an edge in that area.
Final score: (Great minds
think alike) Colts 31, Saints
17.
