You bet!!
The national mediots are already throwing a coronation for Goober and one of the reasons why is everyone reacts to the last thing they saw.
A question - how different would the media vibe be heading into the SB if these two teams switched the opponents they faced in the playoffs?
Imagine if it were the Saints who got to play the 2 weakest teams in the playoffs. We could combine the WR's/QB's on the Jets and Ravens and still not have a group as good as the Saints. The Colts got to face Joe Flacco and Mark Sanchez. The Saints got to face Kurt Warner and Brett Favre. The Saints also had to face the best defense of all the playoff teams, the Vikings. Imagine if the Colts first had to play a high powered offense like the Cardinals and then turn around and play Favre, Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings?? How different would the media be viewing the Colts right now if they had their weaknesses exposed by two HOF QB's in Warner and Favre?? Personally I don't think the Colts beat the Vikings because I don't think the Colts D pummels Favre into submission and forces the number of TO's we saw. Don't underestimate the role Favre's physical beating played in the outcome of that game.
I love the fact that all the mediots have Goober and his Goobette's already in the book as SB champs. Going to make the Saints victory on February 7th all the sweeter. Goober will get his numbers BUT so will the Saints and then some. It's the latter part of that game equation the mediots are not paying attention to i.e., the Saints offense vs. the Colts D.
Got some stats on the game , we dont matchup to bad
Colts
Differential of 109 points (6.8/g)
Turnover Differential +2
Allowed 307 points (19.2/g)
Scored 416 points (26/g)
Saints
Differential of 169 points (10.6/g)
Turnover Differential +11
Allowed 341 points (21.3/g)
Scored 510 points (31.9/g)
Saints average 5.9 points per game more than the Colts. Advantage Saints
Saints allowed 2.1 points per game more than the Colts. Advantage Colts
Turnover Differential highly favors Saints.
Colts have 34 sacks as a team.
Saints have 35 sacks as a team.
slight advantage Saints.
Saints have caused 28.5 sacks using just Dlineman.
Colts have caused 30.5 sacks using just Dlineman.
Slight edge to Colts.
Rushing QB slight edge to Colts almost a push.
Saints Average 4.5 yards per rush
Colts Average 3.5 yards per rush.
Advantage Saints
Saints average 12.1 yards per reception.
Colts average 11.5 yards per reception.
advantage to the Saints.
Manning Sacked 1.7 % of Dropbacks(very hard to Sack)
Brees Sacked 3.7% of Dropbacks(Hard to SacK) advantage Colts
Brees intercepted 2.1% of Passes
Manning intercepted 2.8% of Passes Slight edge to Saints
16 interceptions and 18 Forced Fumbles by Colts
26 interceptions and 16 Forced Fumbles by Saints Big Advantage Saints
Saints allow 5.5 yards per play
Colts allow 5.0 yards per play
slight advantage Colts
Saints gain 6.3 yards per play
Colts gain 5.9 yards per play
slight advantage Saints
Colts gain 5.2 yards per Punt Return
Saints Gain 4.6 yards per Punt Return
advantage Colts
Saints Gain 24.4 yards per Kickoff Return
Colts Gain 22.2 yards per Kickoff Return
advantage Saints
Colts Average 44.3 yards per punt
Saints Average 43.6 yards per punt
Advantage Colts
Hartley Field Goal 81.8%
Stover Field Goals 81.8%
Push
Special Teams Slight Advantage Colts
Colts have allowed 44 QB hits
Saints have allowed 52 QB Hits
Advantage Colts
saints 89 penalties
colts 74 penalties
advantage Colts
Colts
Rushing to Right
11 runs of 10+, 24 First Downs, 17 Negative Runs
Saints
Rushing to the Right
19 runs of 10+,48 first downs, 15 negative runs
Advantage Big Time Saints
Colts
Rushing to the Middle
13 runs of 10+, 22 first downs, 5 negative runs
Saints
Rushing to the Middle
8 runs of 10+,23 first downs, 4 negative runs
pretty much a push on running up the gut
Colts
rushing to the Left
13 runs of 10+,23 first downs,21 negative runs
Saints
rushing to the Left
24 runs of 10+,44 first downs,23 negatives
Advantage Saints we Ran way More to the Left than they did and only got Stuffed 2 more times and had almost double the number of first downs and big plays running the ball
Colts line allowed 44 hits
Saints line allowed 52 hits
advantage Colts
Saints line allowed 20 Sacks
Colts line allowed 13
Advantage Colts
Center
Saturday
.5 sack allowed
2 penalties
Goodwin
0 Sacks allowed
2 penalties
Slight edge Saints
Right Guard
Evans
2 sacks allowed
5 penalties
DeVan
0 Sacks allowed
2 penalties
Advantage Colts
Right Tackle
Stinchcomb
3 sacks allowed
4 penalties
Diem
1 sack allowed
7 penalties
diem allowed 3 more penalties and 2 less Sacks so I'd say wash or slight advantage Saints
Left Guard
Nicks
1.5 Sacks Allowed
3 penalties
Lilja
1 sack allowed
0 penalties
advantage Colts
Left Tackle
Bushrod
7.5 Sacks allowed
4 penalties
Johnson
2.5 Sacks allowed
1 penalty
Clear advantage Colts
Right Guard/Right Tackle seems to be their weekspot if you can call it that