Colts stampede, Saints march to Miami
Tyler Diedrich
Issue date: 2/5/10 Section: Sports
Oddsmakers got their wish this season, as the top-seeded teams in each conference will meet in the Super Bowl for the first time in 16 years. The AFC-champion Indianapolis Colts face the NFC-champion New Orleans Saints Sunday in Miami in Super Bowl XLIV.
Both teams started their respective seasons 13-0, marking the first time in NFL history two teams remained unbeaten that long, seemingly on a collision course to meet in the Super Bowl. Despite this, it seems somewhat surprising they are actually meeting on Sunday, given the recent parity in the NFL.
The Colts finished 14-2, losing the last two games of regular season, with starters seeing limited action, before beating the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets in the playoffs. The Colts are making their second Super Bowl appearance in four years.
Ironically, the Colts' three prior Super Bowl appearances, in which they are 2-1, have all been in Miami, most recently a 29-17 win over the Chicago Bears three years ago.
The Saints dropped their last three games of the regular season to finish 13-3 but defeated the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings in the playoffs to win their first-ever NFC championship and earn their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history, dating back to their 1967 inception.
With apologies to Buffalo, perhaps the only city that could use a major professional sports title more is New Orleans. The Saints have helped a desolate city return to its normal, party-like atmosphere since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005. Just imagine the scene on Bourbon Street if the Saints march out of Miami with the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
In order to make that scene a reality, the Saints will have to stop the league's No. 2 passing attack, led by NFL Most Valuable Player Peyton Manning, who won the award for an NFL-record fourth time this season.
Manning has reliable targets in veteran Pro Bowlers Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark, who each posted 100 receptions in the regular season, complemented by two previously unheralded receivers in Pierre Garcon and rookie Austin Collie.
Both teams started their respective seasons 13-0, marking the first time in NFL history two teams remained unbeaten that long, seemingly on a collision course to meet in the Super Bowl. Despite this, it seems somewhat surprising they are actually meeting on Sunday, given the recent parity in the NFL.
The Colts finished 14-2, losing the last two games of regular season, with starters seeing limited action, before beating the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets in the playoffs. The Colts are making their second Super Bowl appearance in four years.
Ironically, the Colts' three prior Super Bowl appearances, in which they are 2-1, have all been in Miami, most recently a 29-17 win over the Chicago Bears three years ago.
The Saints dropped their last three games of the regular season to finish 13-3 but defeated the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings in the playoffs to win their first-ever NFC championship and earn their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history, dating back to their 1967 inception.
With apologies to Buffalo, perhaps the only city that could use a major professional sports title more is New Orleans. The Saints have helped a desolate city return to its normal, party-like atmosphere since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005. Just imagine the scene on Bourbon Street if the Saints march out of Miami with the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
In order to make that scene a reality, the Saints will have to stop the league's No. 2 passing attack, led by NFL Most Valuable Player Peyton Manning, who won the award for an NFL-record fourth time this season.
Manning has reliable targets in veteran Pro Bowlers Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark, who each posted 100 receptions in the regular season, complemented by two previously unheralded receivers in Pierre Garcon and rookie Austin Collie.
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