Before we get into my incredibly, incredibly, inaccurate predictions, I want to give a big congratulations to the 2009 New Orleans Saints and their fans. This team truly deserved it, and I am truly happy for them. They out-played and out-coached the Indianapolis Colts in every phase of the game. This was probably the only way to make Mardi Gras even more fun than it already is, so enjoy it, New Orleans.-Pierre Garcon/Pierre Thomas: Statistically, they were pretty even, but Thomas' team won the game, so I'm saying yes on this one. Correct.
-Reggie Wayne: If I were a Colts fan I would be furious at Mr. Wayne. 4th and goal, trailing at the end of the FREAKIN' SUPERBOWL, and this guy doesn't put his body behind the ball because he's afraid of getting hit. Result: ball bounces off his unnecessarily outstretched hands, game over. Unbelievable. Correct.
-Robert Meachum: Did he even play? Incorrect.
-Dallas Clark: Good, not great game. Incorrect.
-Jeremy Shockey: I honestly cannot believe Shockey scored the go-ahead touchdown. Incorrect.
-Jonathan Vilma: Was up there in tackles, but Gary Brackett had more. Incorrect.
-Scott Fujita: His name does look like "fajita" AND sounds like "vagina." Correct.
-Joseph Addai: Close. Actually, Pierre Thomas had the quintessential "Joseph Addai game." Incorrect.
-Dwight Freeney: Had a big first-half sack, and then dissappeared. Correct.
-Reggie Bush: What'd I tell you about Reggie Bush? Correct.
-Drew Brees: What can you really say about Brees? He soundly out-played the Great Peyton Manning. Was poised late in the game, whereas Manning became skiddish. A true MVP. And the image of Brees holding his son, trying to tell his little boy what was going on while his eyes were filling with tears was an image that I'll always remember. Incorrect, but I have no problem with that.
-Marques Colston: Like Dallas Clark, good but not great. Incorrect.
-Austin Collie: Good game for a rookie. Incorrect.
-Peyton Manning: Yeah...
...what are we to make of Manning at this point? He's the prototypical quarterback in every sense of the word...except he shrinks on the biggest stages. He's done it time and time again. Even when they won it four years ago...it wasn't really because of Peyton, it was because of Dominic Rhodes (where'd he go?) and a terrible Chicago Bears' offense. Manning was only ok in that game. But you look at his throws though...I mean, that 3rd quarter throw to Dalls Clark (over about 6 defenders) was unbelievable, and the 40 yard pass in the 4th to Austin Collie was even better. They were perfectly placed footballs. He's one of the few QBs I would trust to make those throws, and he makes them more frequently than anybody.
But yet, with the Big Game on the line...he can't do it. He regresses. And it looks like it is just something that is built into him. Its his Fatal Flaw. And its why, unless he shakes that, he can never be considered the greatest of all-time. He's still the Peyton Manning who stumbles when it matters most.
