FSH: FOOTBALL TALK

January 27th, 2010 10:17pm PST

FOOTBALL TALK

Looking under the hood of the

Championship Weekend

Saints prove they have the Savvy...

When the Saints began their post season run they were coming off a three game slide to end the regular season; not exactly how they wanted start their post season.

Despite the poor finish the Saints rebounded in the divisional round lighting up the scoreboard with 45 points against a suspect Cardinals defense. The offense showed no I'll effects from their two week layoff outlasting Arizona in a classic shootout.

The Championship matchup took on a completely different complexion with a more physical style of play. The Saints defense stepped up to the plate on Championship Sunday and brought a lot of wood and hurt to the Vikings offense; constant pressure and hits on quarterback Brett Favre characterized the style and play of the Saints defense.

With the defense applying the heat and the offense making the needed plays, the Saints proved throughout the playoffs, as they did much of the regular season they had the savvy to get the job done.

With the big dance up next on Super Sunday the Saints are going to need to raise the bar and bring their best. The offense has as much firepower as the Colts boast, but they won't be able to count on Manning and company to make mistakes.

Manning proves to be too much....

The Colts took a little time in preparation for their Championship run and against the Jets in the AFC title game; they proved their rest time was well spent. It was never the goal of this team to be perfect this season, but perfection is what they have achieved if this was their plan all along.

Peyton Manning led his troops into the post season with one mission in mind, win a Super Bowl. Neither Pro Bowl linebacker Ray Lewis nor an upstart rookie quarterback could slow down the leagues four-time MVP.

In two games, Manning bested two of the AFC's best defenses passing for well over 600 yards and throwing five touchdowns. Even if the face of adversity during the AFC title tilt with the Jets, the Colts signal caller kept his poised and systematically shredded the Jets secondary taking what the defense allowed and what he wanted. He used experience, savvy, and his crafty skill to constantly find and target his best matchups; the result 26 of 39 passing, 377 yards passing, and three touchdowns.

Peyton Manning does not have the pedigree he boasts for nothing; he is a winner. On Super Sunday when he faces the Saints, expect to see his very best effort. The only way Manning will lose in Miami, the Saints are going to have to be at their best to beat him; no way does he give anything away.

More fantasy Notes

The Colts signal caller Peyton Manning has been exceptional throughout the playoffs completing more than two-thirds of his passes. The biggest key has been pocket protection and while it was a little shaky in the AFC title game, Manning's feathers were never ruffled. Peyton was sacked just twice in 41 pass plays; the Saints will have to do a much better job.

The Saints running back Pierre Thomas has not been a huge factor on the ground for offense just yet, but on Super Sunday that could all change. Thomas has 113 yards rushing in the post season averaging better than four yards a carry and against the Colts undersized defense (ranked 24th against the run) he might get an opportunity for a big day.

The Colts receiver Reggie Wayne was stifled in the AFC title matchup constantly being shadowed by the Jets cover corner Darrelle Revis. In the two games he faced Revis, Wayne caught just six passes for only 88 yards; granted the Saints have an opportunistic secondary they lack a corner of Revis' skill level cover ability. With the Saint having to worry about all of Manning's weapons, expect to see Wayne more involved in the passing game on Super Sunday.

By David Ortega

Check back every Tuesday for more “Football Talk”