FORT LAUDERDALE -- Always beware of the team that nobody expects to win.
I've been to several national championship games and Super Bowls. And it seems like the team that nobody expects to win ALWAYS wins. I remember a Nebraska team (or maybe it was Oklahoma; they all run together) that had NO SHOT against Chris Weinke and Florida State's offense. I think FSU scored two points and lost.
The Giants had NO SHOT against Tom Brady and the 18-0 Patriots in the Super Bowl two years ago. But, naturally, the Giants won.
Iwon't say the Saints were a team that hadno shot against the Colts last night. But most people did expect the Colts to win. Naturally, Drew Brees outplayed Peyton Manning and theSaintswon 31-17.
Innever thought in a million years that Manning would pull a Favre and throw thatgame-clinchinginterception late in thefourth quarter.Likethe entire universe, I thought we were heading forthe firstovertime in SuperBowl history whenTracy Porter interceptedManningand returned it 74 yards for a touchdownand a two-touchdown lead.
Hats offtoBrees, the Saints and city of New Orleans. They deserved the win.
I'm writing for tomorrow about how the game was really a celebration of the modern passing game.I'll leave you with this stat:
In the Saints' three biggest drives -- the one right before the half, the one right after the onside kick to open the secondhalf and the one that followed Jim Caldwell's boneheaded decision tohave Matt Stover attempt a51-yard field goal -- Brees completed 15 of 15 passesto seven different receivers for 121 yards, two touchdowns and a field goal. And not one of the completions went farther than 19 yards.