What an event the Super Bowl has become. This years broadcast reached new levels becoming the most watched event in television history. Regardless of which side you were on the game had something for everyone. Two of the games best QB's, the leagues most marketed player and for the first time in well over a decade the top two teams from each conference squared off. In the end the New Orleans Saints escaped with a 31-17 win and for the first time in franchise history a championship.
The game was 60 minutes but the game was decided over the course of four plays and one common theme. Moment 1: After stopping the Saints at the goaline the Colts despite having a legend at QB decide to play it safe and run on three consecutive plays and fail to make a first down. The Colts punt, the Saints drive and knock in a FG to end the half and essentially negate the failed 4th down attempt. Moment 2: Saints execution of the onside kick coming out of halftime. The Saints close the deal with a TD and take their first lead of the game. The play served as a turnover and took another possession away from the Colts. Moment 3: Matt Stover missed 51 yd FG attempt. Since 02 Stover had made 1 FG over 50 yards and hadn't even attempted one since 06. The miss gave the Saints a short field Saints drive and go in for the go ahead and ultimately winning TD. Moment 4: Colts have the only turnover of the game as Manning is intercepted by Porter and it's returned for a TD.
Playing to win and playing not to lose. That was the theme for this game as well as these four major moments. In Moment 1, Caldwell in his best Tony Dungy impersonation decided to run the ball and let his D do the work. Simply put Caldwell played it safe. Despite having not only one of the most talented QB's but also one of the smartest I find it hard to fathom not allowing him to have control of at least two of the plays. One first down ice's the clock and the Colts go into Halftime with all of the momentum and a 7 point lead. Moment 2, Sean Payton essentially goes all in with the Onside kick. If that play fails the Colts have a short field and the opportunity to go up by two scores. Peyton's role of the dice gave the Saints the momentum and eliminated another possession for the Colts. Moment 3, Faced with a 4th and 11 Caldwell once again takes the ball out of the hands of the MVP and gives it to a 40+ year old kicker who simply doesn't have the distance. After going for it earlier in the drive on 4th and 2 how can you justify this decision? You clearly are committed to attempting to score based on your prior decision to go for it but given the choice between Manning and a 4th and 11 or Stover and 51 I would role the dice on Manning. Percentages be damned. Moment 4: Coming out of the route Wayne lallygag out of the break while Harper cuts directly to the ball. Although the pass would have been broken up regardless if Wayne would have made more of an effort a pick six likely wouldn't have happened. Thus the Colts would have been down by 7 with all three timeouts left.
The Saints played aggressively like they have all season. Peyton has always been an aggressive play caller going for it often on 4th downs and not afraid to pass on any down and distance. Unlike the Saints the Colts are more of a conservative team as they have been for the last 7 years or so. Despite having an explosive offense the team has been managed as though they are the Steel Curtain Defense of the 70's Steelers. The Colts came out and quickly went up 10 but seemed to be content at that point to slow the pace down and avoid the shootout. It is not a requirement of success to be aggressive often a conservative approach can produce success. However there is a fine line between playing it safe and playing not to lose. The Colts crossed that line on Sunday one to many times.
One More Thought: Sports are such a big part of my life. I often times wonder why I devote so much time to something so insignificant to the overall scheme of things. However their are moments when I realize why sports mean what they mean to me. Sometimes it may be an event and other times it may be a moment captured in time. Sunday provided one of those times with a simple picture that defines what sport is and why it is so important to me. Seeing Drew Brees after the game and holding his son with tears in his eyes. What a moment.
No comments:
Post a Comment