Super Bowl XLIV Preview and Prediction

The time is finally here: Super Bowl Sunday, the unofficial American holiday. After a long season of great football, it all comes down to two teams fighting it out for the Lombardi trophy. But who, way back in training camp, would have thought that one of those teams would be the Saints? As the season progressed, it was clear that both the Saints and Colts deserved to be in the Super Bowl, as each team nearly went undefeated. So it’s little surprise that they meet here in the last game of the season. So for one final time, here’s my preview and prediction.

Super Bowl XLIV– New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts 6 p.m. ET
After a year in which both teams nearly went undefeated, we finally get to see the Saints vs. the Colts. Both teams match up pretty evenly on paper so it should be a great game.

This is the first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history for New Orleans. The Saints had a great season as they won their first 13 regular season games, becoming a strong presence in the NFC. New Orleans then fell into a slump and lost the final three games of the season to end 13-3. When the playoffs started many people were uncertain if the Saints had the ability to reach the big game. The Saints quickly silenced their critics as they demolished the Cardinals 45-15.

The Vikings were the Saints’ next opponent and they gave New Orleans a run for their money. The Vikings nearly ended the Saints’ season, until Brett Favre threw an interception that sent the NFC Championship game to overtime, where the Saints kicked the game winning field goal. Now the Saints have finally reached the Super Bowl with a healthy squad in pursuit of the championship.

For the Colts, this is a familiar setting. Peyton Manning had a great season and the Colts nearly went undefeated too, but Coach Jim Caldwell decided to sit his starters late in the year and the Colts lost their last two regular season games.

Their first playoff game was against the Ravens and Indy quickly triumphed. Their second match was against the Jets and once again they prevailed. Both the Jets and Ravens played good football in the first half of those games but - as the Colts have done all season - they pulled out the win in the second half.

The Colts have another shot at the Super Bowl with hopes that Dwight Freeney will play on Sunday. As of Friday, he had not participated in practice, but he is optimistic about his injury and the Colts think he will be able to play Sunday.

The Colts were the No. 1 seed in the AFC and the Saints were the No. 1 seed in the NFC so they both earned their trip to Miami. The factor in this game will be the Saints’ defense and whether or not they can contain Peyton Manning. The Saints’ offense needs to control the clock and keep Manning off the field for as long as they can if they want to win this game.

Indy is obviously a team that relies on the pass because their running game isn’t the greatest, so the New Orleans secondary better be ready. The Colts have experience as an advantage but never count the Saints out.

It will be a great game that should go down to the wire and whoever wins truly deserves to be the champion. President Obama chose the Saints to win, and I have to agree with him. Saints win by 10.