FSH: MONDAY MORNING HUDDLE

January 26th, 2010 - 8:25pm PST

[Tuesday Edition]

Monday Morning Huddle

Championship Weekend

Well it the weekend ended pretty much in the fashion how many expected, although how we got there was a bit surprising in some sense. Missed opportunities and pure experienced highlighted the AFC matchup with Peyton Manning proving to be too skillful even for a Rex Ryan defense. In the nightcap, miscues and misfortune highlighted some of the action as the Saints too advantage and converted opportunity into destiny.

Both teams (Vikings and Saints) started fast with a few early scores in the first quarter and the game had the look of a track meet to start, but as both defenses started to settle in the offenses would very much have to earn their keep.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees led the charge passing for 197 yards and tossing three touchdowns. The offense was not spectacular on Sunday, but effective making the plays it needed to make. Brees and the Saints capitalized on the Vikings mistakes (5-turnovers) and turned possible defeat into victory.

It was a tough and bitter defeat for the Vikings, in particular Brett Favre who ended his only season with the Vikings with a turnover (interception). It was the third consecutive season that Favre ended his season with an interception; hardly the legacy who should be remember for.

The Saints were the number one offensive team in the league and finished with the second best record in the NFL, so there's no question they are deserving of their first ever appearance in the Super Bowl against the Colts.

Favre and the Vikings had a great season and made a great run, but in no way should the golden boy carry the weight of this loss on his sole shoulders. There were costly turnovers in the game long before his late interception that did the Vikings in, as well as a critical penalty down the stretch that took them out for seeming field goal range.

Congratulations to the Saints

Despite some of the late questionable calls or missed calls down the stretch of the NFC title bout, take nothing away from the New Orleans Saints winners); they deserve to be in the Super Bowl. By virtue of their win alone they are deserving, but also credit their physical play on Sunday.

The Saints brought their number one offense into this matchup and while Brees and company had struggles moving the ball at times against the Vikings stout defense, the passing game was still able to produce with three scoring plays. The biggest scoring play came late in the game when Reggie Bush caught a 5-yard pass in the flat and turned up field just inside the pylon to give the home team the lead, 28-21.

The Saints defense not to be outdone brought the wood and laid the hurt on Favre and company and that just may have been the biggest difference down the stretch of Sunday's classic tilt. The Saints defense harassed the Vikings signal caller; although Favre was not sacked he was hit relentlessly and may have played a big part in his ill-fated turnover down the stretch. The defense physical style of play was also responsible for four fumbles and five turnovers.

The Saints had a few miscues of their own with some untimely mishandles, but in the end they made all the plays they needed; two interceptions, four forced fumbles, and a game-winning 40-yard field goal.

With the victory on Sunday, Drew Brees has come full circle. Over the past several season he has led one of the league’s most explosive offenses and without that championship ring he has often been overlooked among the elite. With a chance to win his first championship Brees has a chance to complete the circle and put to rest any doubt about his deserving to be grouped with the likes of Manning and Brady as one of the elite.

The Saints are the deserving NFC Champions and with the league’s top rated offense, they will challenge for their first Super Bowl Championship ever.

Injury notes from Sunday...

RB-Pierre Thomas (Saints)...looks good for SB Sunday.

RB-Joseph Addai (Colts)....expected to start SB Sunday.

WR-Robert Meachum (Saints)....ankle should be fine for SB.

TE-Jeremy Shockey (Saints)....suffered no setbacks Sunday.

DL-Dwight Freeney (Colts)....fractured arm, will play.

Quick Notes:

The Saints quarterback Drew Brees has passed for only 444 yards in the post season, but he has thrown six touchdowns with no interceptions in 63 passes. He'll face the leagues 14th ranked pass defense in Super Bowl XLIV.

The Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has passed for over 600 yards in the post season while completing 67 percent of his passes. He has also thrown five touchdowns with only one pick and will face the leagues 26th ranked pass defense that finished third in the NFL with 26 picks.

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