NFL Championship Sunday

[ScrubMD]

terrific video of the reaction after the kick of people running out of the bars and onto Bourbon Street

 

http://videos.nola.com/times-picayune/2010/01/saints_video_bourbon_street.html

 

I remember being in downtown Indy after they beat the Patriots in 07. Good times, although I doubt it was nearly as crazy as New Orleans last night.

[bukie]

I have a feeling this Super Bowl will be a blowout, because if ever there was a team that was going into the Super Bowl with a "just happy to be here" vibe, it's the Saints.

[OleMissCub]

I have a feeling this Super Bowl will be a blowout, because if ever there was a team that was going into the Super Bowl with a "just happy to be here" vibe, it's the Saints.

 

you are mistaking the team for the fans. The fans are just happy to be there. The team is a different matter.

 

A blowout seems extremely improbable. The worst the Saints have been beaten this year was by 7 points (I'm not counting the last game where the starters didn't play). They had one of the best offenses in the history of the NFL this season. Even if Manning is destroying their defense, their offense will do enough to keep the game respectable. The Colts defense is hardly stellar. Certainly not on par with what the Vikings were throwing at them.

[Soul]

I have a feeling this Super Bowl will be a blowout, because if ever there was a team that was going into the Super Bowl with a "just happy to be here" vibe, it's the Saints.

 

you are mistaking the team for the fans. The fans are just happy to be there. The team is a different matter.

 

A blowout seems extremely improbable. The worst the Saints have been beaten this year was by 7 points (I'm not counting the last game where the starters didn't play). They had one of the best offenses in the history of the NFL this season. Even if Manning is destroying their defense, their offense will do enough to keep the game respectable. The Colts defense is hardly stellar. Certainly not on par with what the Vikings were throwing at them.

 

Yeah but the Colts can pressure, and what I was seeing yesterday was Brees struggling because the Vikings were getting good pressure.

 

I'm hoping for a good game, but I do think a Colts blowout is on the table. There's an outside chance the Saints could win by taking the ball away (which they are marvelous at), keeping Manning a little rushed if not sacked, and taking away the deep stuff. If they can keep it close and then get turnovers, that's where I see the opportunity.

[jersey cubs fan]

I have a feeling this Super Bowl will be a blowout, because if ever there was a team that was going into the Super Bowl with a "just happy to be here" vibe, it's the Saints.

 

you are mistaking the team for the fans. The fans are just happy to be there. The team is a different matter.

 

A blowout seems extremely improbable. The worst the Saints have been beaten this year was by 7 points (I'm not counting the last game where the starters didn't play). They had one of the best offenses in the history of the NFL this season. Even if Manning is destroying their defense, their offense will do enough to keep the game respectable. The Colts defense is hardly stellar. Certainly not on par with what the Vikings were throwing at them.

 

Yeah but the Colts can pressure, and what I was seeing yesterday was Brees struggling because the Vikings were getting good pressure.

 

I'm hoping for a good game, but I do think a Colts blowout is on the table. There's an outside chance the Saints could win by taking the ball away (which they are marvelous at), keeping Manning a little rushed if not sacked, and taking away the deep stuff. If they can keep it close and then get turnovers, that's where I see the opportunity.

 

A colts blowout is definitely on the table. But New Orleans has more than an outside shot at winning this game. They beat the Jets handidly because the Jets didn't have a a real offensive threat. Neither did Baltimore. Indy only played a couple teams this year with a real big offense, they blew out Arizona early, then barely beat New England and had some relatively close games with Houston. New Orleans will provide the biggest challenge they have had to date.

[imb]

terrific video of the reaction after the kick of people running out of the bars and onto Bourbon Street

 

http://videos.nola.com/times-picayune/2010/01/saints_video_bourbon_street.html

 

god this fills me with jealous envy

[Banedon]

god this fills me with jealous envy

 

jealous envy is the worst kind of envy.

[imb]

god this fills me with jealous envy

 

jealous envy is the worst kind of envy.

 

that's some serious envy

[OleMissCub]

Soul is right. It's gonna be 172-7, Colts. It's not like the Saints were any good this season. It's not like they scored the 9th most points in history this season. It's not like their defense rated third in opposing passer ratings. It's not like they beat three teams with better offenses than the Colts this season. It's not like their only (real) losses were by a touchdown in one and a field goal in the other. It'll be a blowout, no doubt.

 

You see, squeaking out a game against the Vikings = Colts blowout.

[OleMissCub]

terrific video of the reaction after the kick of people running out of the bars and onto Bourbon Street

 

http://videos.nola.com/times-picayune/2010/01/saints_video_bourbon_street.html

 

god this fills me with jealous envy

 

I know you are being sarcastic, but it was pretty fun. Similar to what Wrigleyville would be like if we'd have won those games in 03.

[imb]

terrific video of the reaction after the kick of people running out of the bars and onto Bourbon Street

 

http://videos.nola.com/times-picayune/2010/01/saints_video_bourbon_street.html

 

god this fills me with jealous envy

 

I know you are being sarcastic, but it was pretty fun. Similar to what Wrigleyville would be like if we'd have won those games in 03.

 

actually i was being serious. i want to be a part of a celebration like that

[Banedon]

In time zone adjusted ratings (likely very close to the finals) the NFC Championship Game delivered a 21.3 adults 18-49 rating beating the 2008 NFC Championship Game by 3%, and averaged 57.9 million viewers, which would be the second best NFC Championship average viewership of all time, behind only 1982’s Dallas/San Francisco (“The Catch”) matchup that produced a 68.7 million average.

[Soul]

terrific video of the reaction after the kick of people running out of the bars and onto Bourbon Street

 

http://videos.nola.com/times-picayune/2010/01/saints_video_bourbon_street.html

 

god this fills me with jealous envy

 

I know you are being sarcastic, but it was pretty fun. Similar to what Wrigleyville would be like if we'd have won those games in 03.

 

actually i was being serious. i want to be a part of a celebration like that

 

Yeah, that looked like a great time.

[UMFan83]

It's funny, those people are supposed to be big Saints fans and only like half of them are wearing anything that has to do with the Saints.

[jersey cubs fan]

It's funny, those people are supposed to be big Saints fans and only like half of them are wearing anything that has to do with the Saints.

 

Lots of fans don't actually wear paraphernalia with team logos.

[SouthSideRyan]

Soul is right. It's gonna be 172-7, Colts. It's not like the Saints were any good this season. It's not like they scored the 9th most points in history this season. It's not like their defense rated third in opposing passer ratings. It's not like they beat three teams with better offenses than the Colts this season. It's not like their only (real) losses were by a touchdown in one and a field goal in the other. It'll be a blowout, no doubt.

 

You see, squeaking out a game against the Vikings = Colts blowout.

 

Decaf

[OleMissCub]

It's funny, those people are supposed to be big Saints fans and only like half of them are wearing anything that has to do with the Saints.

 

there were people sitting near me who paid $600+ bucks a piece for their tix and weren't wearing any Saints gear at all. That's definitely not me though, I get decked out in Saints gear, Cubs gear, whatever. But to each his own.

[OleMissCub]

holy crap, I'm watching the NFL Network's coverage after the game and I think Deion is on some sort of drugs. Anyone else see him last night?

[Soul]

Soul is right. It's gonna be 172-7, Colts. It's not like the Saints were any good this season. It's not like they scored the 9th most points in history this season. It's not like their defense rated third in opposing passer ratings. It's not like they beat three teams with better offenses than the Colts this season. It's not like their only (real) losses were by a touchdown in one and a field goal in the other. It'll be a blowout, no doubt.

 

You see, squeaking out a game against the Vikings = Colts blowout.

 

Oh come now. I was actually trying to throw the Saints a bone; provide a way that they could win.

 

Most people have already concluded that they have no chance.

[jersey cubs fan]

Most people have already concluded that they have no chance.

 

Who are these idiots?

[OleMissCub]

 

Most people have already concluded that they have no chance.

 

and they would be REALLY stupid to say that. Maybe I'm just blinded by my bias, but I don't understand why it is a foregone conclusion that they have no chance. I think the teams match up very well. This seems like the most well matched up Super Bowl in a long time. Two killer QB's, two killer offenses, suspect defenses.

[Soul]

Most people have already concluded that they have no chance.

 

Who are these idiots?

 

The rabble.

 

More specifically, the sports rabble.

[OleMissCub]

I wonder if the consistent lack of respect for the Saints all season mainly has to do with the fact that they are THE SAINTS. It'd be like if all the sudden the Royals were badass in baseball. I guess the equivalent of a 13 win season in baseball is 100 wins. So even if the Royals won 100 games, I'd still have a hard time taking them seriously I guess. So I suppose I understand the lack of respect.

[Exile on Waveland]

I think the game will be close, but this isn't 2002. The Colts' defense isn't suspect at all. So far this year, prior to the mass resting, the Colts allowed 12-23 (wildcat)-10-17-9-6-14-17-34 (Pats, yuck)-15-27-17-16, and then in the playoffs 3-17. The Colts were fifth in the NFL in total defense and eighth in scoring defense (again, despite mass resting). By advanced stats, the Colts ranked sixth in defensive efficiency. This is a very good defense.

 

I have concerns heading into the Saints game, however. I have been more bearish on the pass defense than most -- excepting when Freeney/Mathis run wild -- and the Colts uncharacteristically got beat deep Sunday. Jerraud Powers really needs to be healthy for the Super Bowl; it will be very difficult without him. The Saints have a ton of weapons and the Colts are already without Bob Sanders and Marlin Jackson, and Kelvin Hayden hasn't been as good since returning from injury. The Colts worked out Deltha O'Neal last week and he may be an option for added depth there (though this would be un-Colt-like).

 

It should be a good game, and the Saints will score (probably a darn good amount). They're good. That doesn't mean the Colts have a suspect defense -- they don't.

[Sammy Sofa]

"Two killer QB's?"

 

Yeah, Brees is really good, but to sum it up like that is really understating that 1 of the QB's in that equation is Peyton [expletive] Manning.