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Colts Offense vs Saints Defense:

The Colts offense led by quarterback Peyton Manning will have to once again put together legendary game for the Colts to pull this one out. Unlike Manning’s first Super Bowl trip, he will be playing with two very young receivers in Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie, who have more than earned their paycheck this year.

Despite the lack of experience that these two guys have, they have come through for Manning, game in and game out. The experienced weapons Manning has are running back Joseph Addai, wide receiver Reggie Wayne and tight end Dallas Clark. Addai will have a decent game but I’m looking for Wayne and Clark to have real good games against the Saints secondary.

The Saints defense, who is led by future Hall of Fame safety Darren Sharper, will have to have a huge game for the Saints to win this battle. Cornerbacks Tracy Porter and Jabari Greer aren’t exactly top notch NFL ball players and fellow safety Roman Harper is an extremely smart safety but it will be up to Sharper to carry this Saints defense to glory. The only way Sharper will get this big game is if the Saints defense put some pressure on Manning. Defensive ends Will Smith and Bobby McCray will have to have an even bigger game against the Colts to help the Saints defense beat the Colts offense

Darren Sharper is the number one turnover guy for the Saints and they will need to win the turnover battle to beat Peyton Manning and his high powered offense. Manning doesn’t make alot of mistakes and the Saints will have to force him to and Sharper will more than likely be there to pick up the pieces if he does. I do expect a little more running than the experts think from the Colts offense because the Saints believe it will be an extremely pass heavy offense, so linebackers Scott Shanle, Scott Fujita and Pro Bowl linebacker Jonathan Vilma will be some busy young men this evening.

Advantage: Indianapolis Colts

Saints Offense vs Colts Defense:

The Saints offense is led Pro Bowl quarterback Drew Brees who has a plethora of weapons in his arsenal including wide receivers Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem, Lance Moore and tight end Jeremy Shockey. Brees is in my opinion is the most accurate passer in the NFL. He very rarely over or under throws receivers and like his counterpart he very rarely makes a mistake. The ex-factor for Brees and the Saints offense is all-purpose threat running back Reggie Bush, who could play as a running back or a wide receiver for the Saints.

Running backs Mike Bell and Pierre Thomas will get some carries to keep the Colts defense honest but the majority of the offense for the Saints this evening will be passing. Brees will spread the ball around and make use of all of weapons so I don’t expect for one of his weapons to have a huge game, I think it will be just about equal for all of them. Brees has also played against better defensive backs then he will see in this game so he should be able to settle in quite nicely.

The Colts defense have been missing some key defensive players throughout this season and have not faced an offense like this at all this season. The biggest buzz since the past month few weeks has been defensive end Dwight Freeney and his injured right ankle and how affective he will be against the Saints’ high powered offense, well Freeney will play but won’t be as affective as he could be but he has defensive ends Robert Mathis and Raheem Brock to back him up. The Colts may have to bring some pressure with linebackers Freddy Keiaho and Gary Brackett to help with the pass rush.

The Colts secondary is a very weak one. After losing Pro Bowl safety Bob Sanders, cornerback Marlin Jackson and a hobbled rookie cornerback Jerraud Powers, the Colts are going to have to count on cornerbacks Tim Jennings, rookie cornerback Jacob Lacey and Kelvin Hayden to stop the high-powered Saints offense. The Colts defense MUST get pressure on Brees to win this battle. Brees like Manning doesn’t make many mistakes and the Colts defense will have to count on their front seven to put some pressure on Brees. Safeties Melvin Bullett and Antoine Bethea will have to have huges games to help the Colts defense pull this one off.

Advantage: New Orleans Saints

Prediction: Indianapolis Colts 31, New Orleans Saints 30

Super Bowl MVP: Peyton Manning

Honorable Mention: Pierre Garcon