Super Bowl 44

This Super Bowl match-up proves momentum going into the playoffs is overrated. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

So much for every "expert's" assertion that you have to be playing well going into the playoffs.

The Indianapolis Colts (two straight) and the New Orleans Saints (three straight) combined to lose five straight games going into the playoffs by an average of 12 points a game.

In the playoffs, however, the Colts have been dominant. They've allowed only 20 points in two playoff games while scoring a total of 50 against two of the best defenses in the league. Both Baltimore (16.3) and the New York Jets (14.8) were in the top three in scoring defense in the NFL, during the regular season.

New Orleans won convincingly in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, a 45-14 beat-down of Arizona, and then their ball-hawking harassed and confused Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings all game long. This led to five forced turnovers for a team that was second in the NFL in takeaways during the regular season with 39.

Prediction

This is the most excited that I've been about a Super Bowl in a long time.

Super Bowl 44 features two excellent offenses led by arguably the two best quarterbacks in the game today. Drew Brees and Peyton Manning have combined to throw 11 touchdowns with only one interception in the postseason, while also taking only five sacks combined - one for Brees and four for Manning.

Don't sleep on the defenses either, as both the Saints and the Colts get pressure on the quarterback and force turnovers.

Manning will be tested by Darren Sharper (nine interceptions, three touchdowns in the regular season) but, unless the Saints get pressure on him, he is going to have a field day.

The Colts defense (even if Dwight Freeney doesn't play - which he will), has dealt with injuries to it's top players all season long. From former Defensive MVP Bob Sanders, to losing starting corners; this team has persevered through injuries to their best defensive players for most of the season.

I beleive this will be an exciting game, with lots of points on the board and some key turnovers on both sides.

Peyton Manning is too good not to win this game. He is, in my opinion, easily the best quarterback in the last 10 years - if not the best of all-time.

Colts - 42

Saints - 38

I was like ummmm

Ellis Lanksder is my new favorite special team's player.

This video is from August, but it's still gold.

Watch this first. This is actually kind of sad, but you need to see at least half of it to set up the next clip.

The Remix. This is kind of awesome. I especially like when he breaks it down after the reporter asks a question.

Yeah, it's my new ring-tone.

You've got to feel bad for the kid, especially considering the guys in the Bills' locker room probably ripped the rookie more than anyone could hope to do on YouTube.

Colts Caldwell Is Going To Regret His Decision

Even if the Indianapolis Colts win the Super Bowl this season, Coach Jim Caldwell is going to have to live with the fact the he willingly gave up perfection and that he pissed off many Colts' fans in the process. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Every year in the NFL, one team wins the Super Bowl.

It's inevitable.

Only once in the history of the National Football League (90 years) has a team gone undefeated.

I couldn't tell you who won the Super Bowl in 1980 and I'm sure without reference, you, dear reader, couldn't list every Super Bowl champion in the last 43 years. What I do know, however, is the only team in history to go undefeated all the way through the Super Bowl is the 1972 Dolphins and I'm sure you knew the same.

So here is the question: Why would you sacrifice a chance to be the only team in the 16-game era to go undefeated? A chance to cancel that once-a-year champagne celebration those 72 Miami Dolphins partake in, that you would be able to takeover?

Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Caldwell answered this very question, saying that he would rather be healthy for the Super Bowl. In pulling the majority of his starters with the score 15-10 Colts in the third-quarter, Caldwell made his decision. Indy then was outscored 19-0 with their starters on the bench for their first loss of the season, 29-10 at home to the Jets.

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, an obvious choice for the MVP this year, has been sacked an NFL low 10 times among starting QB's who have attempted 231 or more passes. So it's not like there was a good chance the NY Jets defense, who had hit Manning only twice all game, were going to injure the All-Pro player.

Injuries happen in the NFL.

Whether it's in a so-called meaningless game or the Super Bowl; they are going to happen regardless of the situation, so why not go for it?

Here is what irks me the most about this situation. This guy decided to pull his starters and give up the game AT HOME!

All of these Indy fans paid for their tickets. They paid to see their franchise QB and his talented receivers win the game and go to 15-0. This could have many of these fans first game of the season and they had to watch some guy named Curtis Painter lead a second-team offense to zero points. If you want to rest your guys, rest them on the road. Don't put your loyal fans through almost an entire half of unwatchable football.

Even if the Colts win the Super Bowl this year, Caldwell is going to have to live with the fact that he was one and 1/2 games away from football immortality.