WOW!!!

NO New England, NO Dallas, NO San Diego, NO Minnesota, NO Pittsburgh…but there is one NO left…New Orleans is still there…and they are in a prime positions to win this Sunday’s game versus the Colts.

This will not be a cake though, the Saints will be facing yet again another hall of fame quarterback. I cannot think of a postseason where I team has had to potentially beat 3-1st-Ballot-Hall of Fame Quarterbacks. Kurt Warner is the only questionable quarterback and the question is more “when” than “if”. But that is a discussion for another time. Between Warner, Brett Farve, and Peyton Manning it is hard to get a better trio of quarterbacks and resumes in the business of quarterbacking. Relatively speaking the first two were easy compared to Manning. Farve and Warner are both on their way out of the NFL (Warner just retired and…well we all know the flip-flop that is Farve), while Manning is still in his prime years as a quarterback. It is hard to believe Manning along with his teammate were able to go to the Super Bowl after cutting ties with Marvin Harrison(future Hall of Fame Wide Out) and losing Anthony Gonzalez for the whole year (minus the first offensive play the Colts had). Maybe that tells us just how truly unimportant the wide receivers the Colts have when number 18 is in the line up. The development of rookie Austin Collie and second year stud Pierre Garcon is truly impressive but I do think we need to give credit to Reggie Wayne who reportedly was a huge role model for both receivers as well as the Colts’ offensive line…which gave up only 10 sacks this season. Manning has a huge advantage of not being roughed up and does not to deal with a lot of pressure because his offensive line is to consistent, healthy, and consummate professionals.

How exactly can the Saints beat the Colts tomorrow?

The Saints need to take a page out of the game plan of the Miami Dolphins. It may sound strange to use the game plan the Dolphins used in week 2 of this past regular season. The Colts won 27-23, but the Dolphins had the lead going into the final 4 minutes of the fourth quarter. The Colts offense had the ball for less than 15 minutes the entire game. I firmly believe the best way to stop Manning is not by giving him “remember me” shots like the Saints’ Defensive Coordinator, Gregg Williams wants to do but rather keep him on the sideline and wear down the Colts’ defense.

How is the high power offense of the Saints going to play against the clock instead of the Colts?

It will be important for the Saints to score and score often, I am not condoning the Saints to give up a wide open Marques Colston for a 40 yard pick up compared to a 5 yard run by Pierre Thomas. The Saints should strike when they can, but don’t force it…use the multitude of running backs to their advantage! With Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush, Mike Bell, and Lynell Hamilton. Another aspect will be short passes to Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush, Lance Moore, and Jeremy Shockey. I love it when Shockey is excited and fired up, his energy radiates throughout his teammates.

What happens if the Colts score quickly?

Well, if that happens…I am assuming it will be because of the long ball and missed tackles. If that is the case, Darren Sharper will need to rally his troops in the secondary to step up and make a play on the person and not the ball. But if that happens on more than one occasion, it will hurt the Colts defense more than anything. If the Saints are wearing down the Colts defense over 5-7 minutes of game clock and then the defense of the Colts only gets a minute or two hiatus, the Saints’ offense will be able to stomp all over them and the Saints defense should have time to look at the previous drives of the Colts’ offense and plan a way to shake things up on defense to try and create turn overs.

For the Saints to win….I firmly believe they need to punt the ball 3 or less times for the entire game. With an assasin such as Peyton Manning, the Saints’ offense will need to play extremely well and hope the Saints’ defense can make more than 3 stands.

The Colts are consistent, the Saints are a team of emotion and drive. If they can keep their emotions checked and focus on their drive, they have a great chance of winning this ball game!

My predictions:

Saints WIN! 52-38…with Garret Hartley coming on to lock up the game.

Your MVP is either going to come from the secondary player who steps up most (a la Sharper, Randal Gay, Jabari Greer, Roman Harper), Drew Brees, or Pierre Thomas!….my money is on a sleeper pick…Pierre Thomas.

I hope the Saints fans show up in Miami, if you can’t party on Bourbon Street…South Beach is not too bad.

GO Saints!!!