Sports Sunday Special: Super Bowl 44 Game Preview

The 44th installment of the National Football League's championship contest between the American Football Conference and the National Football conference in Miami, Florida is headlined by the two teams who showed themselves to be head and shoulders ahead of everyone else this year.

Going for their second title in four years, the Indianapolis Colts go back to Miami to see if they can replicate the feat of winning Super Bowl 41 three years ago over the Chicago Bears. It was a massive monkey off the back of one Peyton Manning, capturing his first championship. And he certainly has as much desire to get a second ring as he did his first one.

For the New Orleans Saints, their long troubled history of a franchise could have its most defining moment ever today, winning their first Super Bowl title. The heart and soul of New Orleans is felt by the players coached under Sean Payton and led by Drew Brees. Their success this season, particularly in the beloved Superdome, has led them one step towards a win of a lifetime. Most of the nation who were neutrals coming into this contest will be on their side.

After starting off their seasons as possibly the creators of the only battle of undefeated teams in the Super Bowl, the Colts and Saints used their home field advantage in the playoffs to win their respective conferences titles two weeks ago. But they did it in two completely different circumstances.

After trailing the New York Jets 17-6, Manning engineered a crucial quick strike touchdown drive before the end of the first half to jump start the Colts to a deciding 30-17 win. Meanwhile, thanks to an ill advised interception into the hands of Tracy Porter by Brett Favre, the Saints won it in overtime on a Garrett Hartley chip shot field goal despite getting outplayed by the Minnesota Vikings in that contest.

Outside of the sentimental story of NOLA and the "Who dat" nation, the biggest story of Super Bowl XLIV's buildup hype over the last fortnight has been the torn ligament damage of Colts' star rush end Dwight Freeney. If you're a casual fan or just a Super bowl only fan, believe all the pre-game shows when they say this is a potential game changing (and championship) injury. Freeney's presence not only makes himself a dynamic player, but also his opposite end Robert Mathis as well. They are arguably the fiercest pash rushing duo in the league with their incredible speed of the edges.

Now with Freeney's injury, the pressure will fall on the shoulders of not only Mathis to deal with arguably more attention from Sean Payton's crew, but also on solid bench performer Raheem Brock.

Other than that, there hasn't been any trash talking for either side, and that is a refreshing thing in my mind to be honest. In fact, over the last few years, the trash talking hasn't been there leading up to the Super Bowl contest from what I can remember.

Besides the Freeney injury, there are no fitness concerns of any note. Reggie Wayne gave himself and the Colts a scare by slighting injuring his knee in practice on Friday. So Jim Caldwell and the rest of the staff took no chances and got him right off the field. He'll be okay for the game. Colts Cornerback Jerraud Powers hasn't practiced all week, but even if he was fully 100% healthy, the matchup still favors the Saints.

The Key points
Pressure, Pressure, who gets the Pressure?
It is no surprise that the reason why both of these teams have outstanding offenses is their ability to protect their intelligent and accurate quarterbacks.

The challenge for both defenses today is finding someway to get Peyton Manning and Drew Brees out of their comfort zone for a few crucial plays. They won't be able to do it all game or even most of the game, so chances to get to these signal callers must be taken. Gregg Williams has gotten in trouble for his public comments last week of wanting to get to Peyton Manning. He knows how important that is, and everyone does.

For the Colts, Freeney's injury is massive. Sean Payton and his Saints staff focus first on protection for Brees before anything else in their game plan. That focus has been made easier without a healthy Freeney for this game. Not only that, but Jim Caldwell doesn't like to blitz much, and with a combo like Freeney and Mathis, why would he? He will probably need to do that today at some times with Freeney.

Takeaways
Both of these teams defenses have made the big plays and big stops when they have been called upon. Although the Colts, despite without the presence of Bob Sanders and Marlon Jackson, are a better defense (before without Freeney), the Saints are truly outstanding in the Takeaway department. Now against a guy who takes good care of the ball in Manning, Darren Sharper and company will need to somehow bait Manning into mistakes today to win this contest. And wiil Joseph Abdai doesn't fumble much, can the Saints strip the ball away from rookie Donald Brown?

On the other side, Brees takes as much good care of the ball as Manning does, but will the likes of Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush be careful with the ball?

Special teams big players
With the legend that is Adam Vintaeri injured, it sure is something for the Colts to have an accomplished veteran kicker in Matt Stover to rely on against rookie kicker Garett Hartley on the other side. Nevertheless, the pressure will be on both of these individuals at all time's today, as conditions will be pitch perfect for kicking. No excuses will be made for them. And if both of these offenses can't score a touchdown, a missed field goal will truly be devastating.

In terms of return ability, all the attention has been placed on Reggie Bush, but not to be overshadowed on kickoff returns is the Colts Chad Simpson. He is capable of not only putting the Colts in Saints territory but taking it all the way to the other end.

The key matchups
Colts De's Freeney and/or Raheem Brock vs Saints LT's Jermod Bushrod , or Brock/ Robert Mathis vs LT's Jon Stinchcomb:
Obviously this was a matchup that would have propelled the Colts to a convincing win if Freeney was fully healthy. But that is obviously not the case as well.

As mentioned before, Sean Payton thinks about protecting Drew Brees first and foremost. With a diminished Freeney, his job becomes more facile, but he won't take Freeney lightly no matter what. But for Caldwell, defensive coordinator Larry Coyer, and the rest of the staff, they may switch Mathis off of the stellar Stinchomb and match him up against Bushrod if Freeney is rendered useless.

Either way, Brock will have to show how step up for Freeney's probably ineffectiveness to not be felt too much and contain Brees in the pocket.

Saints rush end Will Allen vs Colts left tackle Colts Charlie Johnson
Overshadowed by Freeney and Mathis is how good a defensive end the Saints Allen is. He will have to show that Pro Bowl form today in order for the Saints to get the timely stops and pressure on Manning tonight. Johnson is no slouch at left tackle though, so Allen will have to bring nothing short of his A game in order to beat the block.

Prediction
The Freeney injury, and just the story of New Orleans, make people believe that tonight is indeed the Saints night to actually stand on top of the world.

But the Colts, in their return to Miami, feel that destiny is shining on them as well.

A major characteristic about this game that hasn't been overlooked by some in the football community is how these teams play away from their dome fields. Most feel that the Saints get that extra edge when they play in the Superdome more than the Colts do at Lucas Oil, leaving them a little vulnerable when they are on the road. That showed as the season progressed with how they had trouble against the Rams and Redskins, two teams who are far from being dominant on their home fields.

It will be a shock if this is not only a high scoring contest, but one that could be the biggest point total in Super Bowl history.

And with that, despite Freeney's ailment being massive, I still think that it will be Indianapolis' day once again in Miami. It has become a third home for Manning and the Colts indeed.

Final score: Colts 45, Saints 35