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Countdown Daily: AccuScore Report SB XLIVSCOUTING REPORT
Saints-Colts: 10 observations
After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in the Saints-Colts Super Bowl matchup.

1. Slow down the Colts’ offense: Indianapolis is operating at an extremely high level on offense. Against the Jets, WRs Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie combined for 274 yards, while Peyton Manning threw for 377. Reggie Wayne is one of the best wide receivers in the game and has a fantastic symmetry with Manning. The vastly underrated Jabari Greer held Sidney Rice to only 43 receiving yards and is the Saints’ best cover man in a good secondary, but the Colts are just dripping with firepower in their precision attack. TE Visanthe Shiancoe gave the Saints serious problems in the second half, which makes you wonder what Dallas Clark might do. Adrian Peterson had three touchdowns and ran for 122 yards, and the Saints’ run defense is a problem area. But while the Colts use their running game effectively, they win with Manning’s right arm. Going against Manning is a daunting endeavor, but the Saints have beaten Kurt Warner and Brett Favre in back-to-back playoff games.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
W-L PF PA HOME ROAD DIV CONF
NOR 2-0 76 42 2-0 0-0 0-0 2-0
IND 2-0 50 20 2-0 0-0 0-0 2-0
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders
New Orleans Passing
CMP% YDS TD INT
Brees 70.6 4388 34 11
Brunel… 50.0 102 0 1
Indianapolis Passing
CMP% YDS TD INT
Mannin… 68.8 4500 33 16
Painte… 28.6 83 0 2

New Orleans Rushing
CAR YDS AVG TD
Thomas 147 793 5.4 6
Bell 172 654 3.8 5
Indianapolis Rushing
CAR YDS AVG TD
Addai 219 828 3.8 10
Brown 78 281 3.6 3

New Orleans Receiving
REC YDS AVG TD
Colsto… 70 1074 15.3 9
Hender… 51 804 15.8 2
Indianapolis Receiving
REC YDS AVG TD
Wayne 100 1264 12.6 10
Clark 100 1106 11.1 10

Full Player Stats: New Orleans | Indianapolis

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE TEAM PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards NOR 404.0
IND 363.0
Yards Passing NOR 272.2
IND 282.2
Yards Rushing NOR 131.6
IND 80.9
TEAM DEFENSE TEAM PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed NOR 357.8
IND 339.2
Pass Yds Allowed NOR 235.6
IND 212.7
Rush Yds Allowed NOR 122.2
IND 126.5

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Indianapolis leads 2-1
Sep 6, 2007 NOR 10, IND 41
Sep 28, 2003 NOR 21, @IND 55
Nov 18, 2001 NOR 34, @IND 20
STATS LLC
There may be more than a few people who are having a tough time hashing out their loyalties for Super Bowl XLIV. They’ll be watching a pair of quarterbacks, though, who are about as decisive as it gets.

Peyton Manning faces his hometown team, once quarterbacked by his father, as the Indianapolis Colts try for their second title in four years Sunday at Miami in a matchup with Drew Brees and a New Orleans Saints team making its Super Bowl debut.

Three years ago, Manning won his first championship, leading Indianapolis to a 29-17 win over Chicago in South Florida. He’s returning to the same site, this time to face a team that has deep roots in his family.

New Orleans is the city where his father, Archie, played and still lives. Manning played at Isidore Newman High School in New Orleans, as did his brothers, Eli — who won a Super Bowl with the New York Giants two years ago — and Cooper.

If Manning can outduel Brees in what has the potential to be one of the highest-scoring Super Bowls, many fans in New Orleans will certainly be celebrating their hometown hero’s accomplishment.

“New Orleans is a huge part of my life, as well as Eli’s life,” said Manning, who became the only four-time league MVP this season. “My dad’s been a part of the Saints organization for 39 years in some ways. We definitely have strong ties.”

Manning’s top receiver, Reggie Wayne, also grew up in New Orleans and Colts running back Joseph Addai was still playing for LSU when Hurricane Katrina devastated the area in 2005.

Despite those ties, the Saints (15-3) have the undying loyalty of New Orleans natives, perhaps as much for their role in helping rebuild the city following Katrina as their success on the field.

New Orleans, still in recovery mode, has gotten a boost from the Saints’ rise to prominence. The 43-year-old franchise has never appeared in the Super Bowl.

“It’s a moment I’ve been waiting for a long time,” Brees said. “The job is not done yet but obviously we’re going to enjoy this. Now we’ve got to finish it in Miami.”

If the Saints win, parts of northwest Indiana will be cheering.

Near the Purdue campus in West Lafayette, 65 miles from Indianapolis, loyalties are split. Brees remains an icon in the area after leading the Boilermakers’ revival a decade ago.

Brees led the NFL with a 109.8 passer rating, throwing for 4,388 yards and a league-best 34 touchdown passes. He threw for three TDs as New Orleans won the NFC championship game 31-28 in overtime against Minnesota on Jan. 24.

With plenty of options offensively, New Orleans led the NFL with 31.9 points per game. The Colts were seventh, averaging 26.0 points.

“You understand just how explosive their offense can be,” Manning said. “I think you have to be careful trying to get out of your rhythm in order to keep up with them. You still have to go play offense the way we have played all year, trying to be efficient. We have been excellent on third down, been good in the red zone. Those things will be important this year.”

Manning once was criticized for his failure to win big games, but he’s won six if his last eight playoff contests. He’s led the Colts to a 16-2 record this season, and they may have been perfect if Manning and other starters weren’t rested by first-year coach Jim Caldwell in the final two games of the regular season.

Manning is attempting to join a short list of quarterbacks, including John Elway, Terry Bradshaw, Tom Brady and Joe Montana, to win more than one Super Bowl.

After finishing 2009 second in the NFL in yards passing (4,500) and TD passes (33), Manning was masterful in beating Baltimore and the Jets — two of league’s best defenses — in the postseason. Manning has a 104.6 passer rating in the playoffs, throwing a total of five TDs and one interception.

Manning passed for 377 yards and three touchdowns against the league’s top-ranked defense in the AFC championship game, leading Indianapolis to a 30-17 win over New York on Jan. 24.

Colts defensive leader Dwight Freeney, though, suffered a torn ligament in his right ankle, which has been keeping him out of practice. The All-Pro defensive end, who led Indianapolis with 3 1/2 sacks, expects to play but it could be in a limited role.

“I think he’ll be back and playing third downs. And I think he’ll be effective, until I see something different,” said Raheem Brock, who is first in line to replace Freeney in the lineup.

Freeney’s absence would be a big blow to the Colts, who ranked eighth in scoring defense (19.2 points per game) during the regular season and have been impressive during the playoffs.

New Orleans ranked 20th in scoring defense, giving up 21.3 points a contest, and has surrendered a total of 42 in the postseason. The Saints, though, have been opportunistic, forcing 39 turnovers during the regular season and seven in the playoffs.

Against one of the NFL’s top offenses in the NFC title game, New Orleans intercepted Brett Favre twice and recovered three fumbles. However, Favre wasn’t sacked in that contest and the Saints have one in two postseason games.

Though Manning was sacked 10 times in the regular season, New Orleans’ only chance defensively may be to find a way to pressure him. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams created a buzz by saying the Saints will try to put some “remember-me hits” on Manning.

To help out their defense, New Orleans may focus a bit more on running the ball in an attempt to control the clock and keep Manning off the field.

Pierre Thomas led New Orleans with 793 yards on the ground during the regular season, but Reggie Bush is the Saints’ most dynamic player at that position. Bush has been relatively disappointing as a running back since being selected No. 2 overall in the 2006 draft, but he’s been a more physical runner in the postseason and he can make big plays as a receiver and a returner.

Bush has run one TD apiece rushing, receiving and returning in the postseason.

“They have really good backs, fast backs with Reggie Bush,” Colts linebacker Clint Session said. “We try not to get a lot of separation with a guy like him in the open field, so we’re probably playing him a little tighter than normal.

“We have to know the beast, as we call it. Know the beast, respect his speed, and try to keep a close eye on him.”

Bush was held to 38 yards on 12 carries, seven yards on four receptions and two yards on one punt return in the last meeting between the teams, a 41-10 Colts win Sept. 6, 2007. Manning threw for 288 yards and three TDs — two to Wayne — while Brees was picked off twice and finished with 192 yards.

The Super Bowl 2010 Kick Off Time is on the forefront of many people’s minds. Super Bowl XLIV will be a match against the Colts and Saints. Many Bowl predictions place the Colts as the victors, but one should exercise much caution when making such predictions. The Kick Off time is 6:28 EST or 3:28 PST.

Today many people will be planning their Super Bowl parties, as kick off time is rapidly approaching. Those planning a party should be sure to pick up plenty of chips and dip, salsa, crackers, cheese, sausage, beer, and soda. Finger Foods are always a party favorite as well.

What types of finger foods should you have ready before Super Bowl Kick Off time? Chicken tenders, Buffalo wings, and cheesy nachos are a big favorite for many. In addition, sausage balls and crudités trays are also typically a hit.

For those who have a sweet tooth, make a tray of fruits with various dips. You can also make different cookies. Jell-O shots are a party time favorite that will really get the party started (especially if teamed with some whipped cream!), and bowls of candies such as M&Ms in your favorite team’s colors or bowls of party mints or nuts are great to snack on.

If you are still at a loss or don’t feel like putting forth the effort to make your own snacks, call around to local restaurants. Fast food places like Chick-fil-a make great party trays (but try to get them today because they are closed Sunday!), and there are also many other places to find these types of party trays.

In addition to planning for a party, there are many people that are speculating who will win the Super Bowl. The Colts are favored to win, as many people see the Saints as the underdog. This is Peyton Manning’s second time to the Super Bowl, and the first time ever that the Saints have made it this far. The Colts would have had an undefeated season, but they did lose one game.

As the Super Bowl kick off time approaches tomorrow, make sure you have everything around. After all, you don’t want to miss a critical portion of the game just because you didn’t have that party tray around or you were hurrying to make sure those Buffalo wings were cooked all the way through.

For women who don’t particularly like football, don’t snub the Super Bowl! There are tons of really great commercials that will start with the very first commercial break. Among them are commercials featuring Tim Tebow and a variety of other really great advertisements.

Source:

www.nfl.com/superbowl/44

February 5, 2010 — Rihanna brought down the house at the Pepsi Fan Jam Super Bowl concert in South Beach last night. Performing a set following Justin Bieber, the popular entertainer took on a look that can hardly be described as typical.

To the delight of her fans, not only did the music sound good, but Rihanna’s outfit was totally hot. Lately, this artist has been pushing the style button as Rihanna is pulling out threads that put her on top of celebrity news and fashion magazines. Besides that, her fans loved the Rihanna look, leaving wanting more.

At the Pepsi Fan Jam Super Bowl concert, Rihanna was sporting a one-piece outfit trimmed in white. The unusual jumpsuit was designed so the entertainer’s right arm and left leg remained completely uncovered. Then, the opposite leg and arm were entirely draped in black. Adding big hoops for accessories, Rhianna had the crowd’s immediate attention.

The Pepsi Fan Fame Super Bowl Concert launches the start of the NFL’s biggest weekend. The Super Bowl is played on Sunday, February 7, with people watching from around the world.

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