Super Bowl XLIV: Colts or Saints...who to cheer for?
by David Fucillo on Feb 5, 2010 10:30 AM PST
in San Francisco 49ers News
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PrintIn two days, Super Bowl XLIV will go down in what could be an epic battle between the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints. Before I get to the point of this article, I wanted to pimp out one thing (well two sites). SB Nation has gotten unprecedented access this year at the Super Bowl. We've got three bloggers spending all week in sunny Miami, taking part in the events leading up to the Super Bowl. If you get a free moment, make sure and check out the impressive coverage at Stampede Blue and Canal Street Chronicles. It's a big step forward for the network, and particularly the football sites.
Now, as to the point of this post. Normally I don't have much trouble finding a specific team to root for in the Super Bowl. It's not always an easy decision, but I can usually figure it out. This year, I'm having a bit of trouble. We've got a Super Bowl featuring the two best teams in the league. And if you don't think New Orleans and Indianapolis aren't the two best teams, I'd have to strongly disagree with you.
My problem is that I actually kind of like both teams. Not in a big time fan kind of way. Rather, it's more that they both provide highly entertaining brands of football that I enjoy watching. I know I'm getting my hopes up (only to have them crushed), but there is a decent chance we could be looking at a fantastic football game. Like New Years it's probably not going to be as good as I expect, but I'm willing to get rather excited about the game.
Given that I think it will be a fun game to watch, I suppose I could just sit back and enjoy it with no rooting interest. But really how much fun is that? One of the most entertaining non-49ers Super Bowl evenings I ever had was Pittsburgh vs Dallas back in Super Bowl XXX. Although Pittsburgh ended up losing, I was sitting in a good mix of Cowboys fans and I found myself cheering rather passionately for the Steelers. Of course, that was more because I hated the Cowboys that much.
I don't have that option in front of me this year. On the one hand you've got New Orleans. The Saints have been one of the most downtrodden franchises in league history and they've finally turned things around. They've got a high octane offense and a defense that forces a lot of turnovers. And of course there is the Hurricane Katrine storyline. They're definitely the sentimental choice among non-football fans this year.
On the other hand you've got the Indianapolis Colts. They also provide a high octane offense, and I certainly don't need to explain how great a quarterback Peyton Manning is. His abilities at running that offense are quickly becoming legendary. Any support from me for the Colts would have more to do with my respect for them as a football team, than any other side stories.
In the end, I feel it will be a game-time decision. I'm leaning towards the Saints at this point, but this could be one of those games where I really do end up just enjoying the game, no matter who wins or loses.
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We’ve got a Super Bowl featuring the two best teams in the league. And if you don’t think New Orleans and Indianapolis aren’t the two best teams, I’d have to strongly disagree with you.
To put this idea into somewhat more context, let me refer to something somebody very smart said on these boards not long ago:
It’s just not often that the two Super Bowl teams combined for no more than five losses over the course of the entire season. Even when the Patriots went undefeated, the Giants had lost six games. The last time this happened, the Patriots played the Eagles in 2004. The last time before that, the Broncos played the Falcons in 1998. Before that: Redskins / Bills in 1991. Before that? 49ers / Dolphins, 1984 – believe it or not! Excluding the strike shortened 1982 season, those are the only four times that this has happened since the league went to a 16 game schedule.
Maybe I’ll give that a minute to sink in.
This is something that has only happened four times since 1978. This is something that has only happened three times in my entire lifetime.
Now, not all of those were great Super Bowls. But the people watching those games knew that they were watching two absolutely elite NFL teams square off against each other. And we get to see the two hands-down best teams in the entire league play each other slightly less than two weeks from now.
Even if I wasn’t a fan of both of these teams, I’d be stoked. The sheer scale of this Super Bowl is just something that happens so rarely, I would want to appreciate it. Nay, I would have to appreciate it.
Four times since 1978. Unbelievable.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
Also, I'm rooting for nobody... with a slight Colts pull.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Feb 5, 2010 10:49 AM PST up reply actions
Who was that really smart guy then I wonder!!!!!!!!
I understand your reasoning above, and agree that it is unbelievable that the two #1 seeds made it to the SB. However, having said all that I believe – and this is just a personal opinion – that the Vikings are a better all round team than the Saints this year.
by Ninerfromacrossthepond on Feb 5, 2010 7:18 PM PST up reply actions
Oh yeah, I will be supporting the Saints come Sunday
cos they are the underdogs, and us Brits love an underdog! Also, I dislike the overkill of praise that the media constantly lavish on Peyton Manning, and it makes me want to see him get beaten all the time. Don’t get me wrong, I think he is one of the best QB’s to have ever played the game, but they go overboard!!
That said, I am really looking forward to this game – it has the makings of a cracker! I think if Freeney is fully fit and plays then the Colts win, if he can’t play then its anybody’s.
by Ninerfromacrossthepond on Feb 5, 2010 7:30 PM PST up reply actions
I still don’t like that blue haired guy from the Colts blog…so Go Saints!
"The Football The 49ers Team has The excitement of the bear, the velocity of the deer and strenght of the buffalo.
LOL
This.
Ever since he called Sing a bum I’ve lost interest in the Colts.
Part of me wishes I could forget because I want to root for Peyton Manning this weekend….
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
by SportsChicken on Feb 5, 2010 10:45 PM PST up reply actions
I have to pull for the Saints this year. For a few reasons.
First, I love the city of New Orleans. I go party there when I can afford to, and the energy in the city, especially the french quarter, is just unbelievable. This is a completely non-football reason, but who cares.
Second, I almost always pull for the underdog when I have no other real set reasons to root for a team one way or another. And not only are the Saints the underdog against Indy, but they’ve been perennial underdogs for nearly their entire franchise run. Talk about a long suffering fan base who deserves it.
Third, I really admired how New Orleans actively wanted to go for perfection. They fell short, obviously…but it wasn’t for lack of trying, which we can say is certainly the case with the Colts. When a team doesn’t care enough to try and do something that’s never been done before (19-0), why should we care about them trying to win a Super Bowl.
Finally, Drew Brees is an amazing QB, but often gets overshadowed by Manning, Brady, Favre, Rivers, Other Manning, Rodgers, and even Sanchez got more hype this season than he did. He deserves his moment in the sun. He deserves people to put him up in the same class as the elite in this league. He deserves to have people talking about him nonstop, and he deserves to be in plenty of commercials.
Go Saints!
"I want people to be afraid of how much they love me." ~Michael Scott
here here
…on all of this- except for one thing….Brees. Dude got plenty of hype this year. Brady’s a darling…he’ll get his. Mr Nameless is loved by the media….he’ll get his. Brees is just the type to let his play do the talking, and there’s been plenty to talk about.
I am torn
If there was nothing else but this game, I would definitely pull for the Saints. I tend to root for the underdog (I know they’re aren’t huge underdogs, but still) and it’s their first SB and all.
But with the bigger picture involved, I kind of lean towards the Colts. The reason being I live in CT. And I can’t stand the Patriots and even more-so their fans. Plus who the hell do they think they are taking 6 states and acting like it’s their region. Anyways, I feel like if the Colts lose, then just like the Cowboys of the ‘90s, the Pats of the ’00s will be the default team of the decade. On the other hand, if the Colts win, I feel like the ’00s have to be split amongst the Pats, Steelers and Colts, and can’t be given to one team. So just to spite the Pats, there’s a part of me rooting for the Colts. I know it’s petty, but whatever.
So like you I think it’ll be a game-time decision. Whether I look at the game on it’s own or in terms of the decade when the game starts will determine who I root for. Hopefully I stick with the Saints and the feel good story and don’t let the Pats decide who I root for.
truthfully...
I am involved in a Super Bowl pool so I rooting for my numbers to pop up. But would like to see Brees get a ring before he retires so why not this year!!
Joe and Steve were under the same system for years... don't expect Smith to be super so soon.
a story about the saints
My former coach e-mailed me yesterday
and asked me to root for the saints. He coached Paul Spicer and Kelvin Hayden in Junior College, and since Hayden already has a ring, he’d like Spicer to get one as well…
Saints easy.
The Saints have never won it all while the Colts did just a few years ago.
Manning is awesome but I don’t want to hear the “greatest of all time” argument, at least not yet.
OTOH, I think the whole “Saints are a bunch of guys nobody wanted” I’ve been hearing lately is way overstated.
by microwave donut on Feb 5, 2010 11:34 AM PST reply actions
This is a tough one
I love Peyton Manning. He’s redefined the position of the QB and in my opinion will go down as maybe the best QB ever. If the Colts were playing against anyone else but the Saints I’d root for them. The Saint’s story is such a good one that you can’t help but want to root for them too.
It should be a great game. Maybe we’ll see an overtime in the Super Bowl for the firs time ever. That would be cool.
Yes Drew K, Tim Tebow will probably get picked in the first round.
I will be cheering for the Saints, for personal reasons. Back in november when our niners played the colts, the chief blogger for the colts refered to us as “cheaters” since we were “faking” injuries. And to cheer for the team he represents? -- that. Indy fans have been worse then bostons fans this year… And that’s saying a lot.
by M F on Feb 5, 2010 1:40 PM PST via mobile reply actions
Saints for two reasons
Obviously it would be one of the best feel good stories in over four years for the city of New Orleans. But also, as of late I’ve been hearing Peyton being touted as the best NFL quarterback of all time. I think Mr. Montana would have something to say about that. I think Peyton should call Joe when he gets two more championships. Until then. . .
Saints for two reasons.
1. The guy from the Colts blog is the closest thing to someone who is both a football fan and a nazi.
2. Drew Brees deserves a ring.
I chose water over wine... Jars of formaldehyde... think of all the things I missed... Why'd you make me a scientist?
comments
I don’t know about that (#1). I strongly disagreed with him on the Singletary comment, and he certainly runs his site differently than we do here, but I’m not sure about calling him a Nazi.
by David Fucillo on Feb 5, 2010 4:15 PM PST up reply actions
It's in jest.
That whole “faked injuriesssss” thing and the fake apology was the biggest slap in the face to all of Niners Nation and its users that I’ve ever seen. Come on if you’ll just let me have 100% biased hate for just one person let it be him.
I chose water over wine... Jars of formaldehyde... think of all the things I missed... Why'd you make me a scientist?
true
That was rather ridiculous how all of that went down.
by David Fucillo on Feb 5, 2010 4:22 PM PST up reply actions
I won't say anymore than I already have, promise. :]
I chose water over wine... Jars of formaldehyde... think of all the things I missed... Why'd you make me a scientist?
Totally agree
49ers Al Grito De Guerra!!! hahaha
by 49erSalvatrucha on Feb 5, 2010 8:49 PM PST up reply actions
Colts, I guess
As a 49ers fan living in Indiana, I’ve always watched the Colts growing up so this should have been an easy choice to make. The behavior of Colts fans on Stampede Blue after the 49ers-Colts game and the immaturity of their “leader” BBS made this a bit of a dilemma, but I guess I’ll go with the home team.
Voting for the Saints...
For me, since the Niners are not in it, then the NFC conference winner is my vote to win. Pretty simple when I look at it that way.
Another year, another chance to hope for the team !!
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