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A place in history will be the prize awaiting either the Indianapolis Colts or New Orleans Saints on Sunday, as the two No. 1 seeds face off in Super Bowl XLIV from Sun Life Stadium in South Florida.
For the Colts, who have already recorded their most single-season wins in franchise history with 16, the quest will be a second Super Bowl title in a four-year span. Indianapolis descended on the Miami area the last time the game was played in that locale, defeating the Bears, 29-17, following the 2006 season to hand quarterback Peyton Manning the first title of his esteemed career.
Much has changed about the makeup of the Indianapolis roster since that time, with former staples like wide receiver Marvin Harrison (out of football), safety Bob Sanders (injured), and left tackle Tarik Glenn (retired) not a part of this run toward a title.
Also different is the team's sideline leader. Former assistant head coach Jim Caldwell took over the top reins after Tony Dungy stepped down following last season, and became the first rookie head coach to lead his team to the Super Bowl stage since the Raiders' Bill Callahan in 2002. No rookie head man has won a Super Bowl since George Seifert guided the 1989 San Francisco 49ers to the crown. With a win, Caldwell would become the second Colts rookie head coach to win a title, joining Don McCafferty, who led the then-Baltimore-based organization to a win over the Cowboys, also in Miami, in Super Bowl V.
The Colts have reached this stage after handling the Ravens (20-3) and Jets (30-17) in their first two postseason contests.
The Saints, meanwhile, know all about firsts. This is the franchise's first Super Bowl in a mostly star-crossed 43-year history, one that was attained following an all-time-best 13-3 regular season, followed by postseason victories over the Cardinals (45-14) and Vikings (31-28 in overtime). This also marks the first time New Orleans has won multiple playoff games in a campaign.
New Orleans head coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees are among those who will be making their initial Super Bowl forays, though Payton did serve as offensive coordinator on the 2000 New York Giants team that was a 34-7 loser to the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV.
Saints cornerback Randall Gay (Patriots, 2004, 2007) and safety Darren Sharper (Packers, 1997) are the only New Orleans players with relevant Super Bowl experience.
Also, though the city has hosted many championship events including Super Bowls and Final Fours, New Orleans has never won a major professional sports championship.
The Saints and Colts are the first No. 1 seeds to meet in a Super Bowl since the Cowboys defeated the Bills, 30-13, in Super Bowl XXVIII following the 1993 season.
Sunday will mark the 10th time the Super Bowl will be played in South Florida, an NFL record.
SERIES HISTORY
The all-time series between the Saints and Colts is knotted, 5-5, with Indianapolis evening the series by virtue of a 41-10 home victory in the 2007 regular opener. Indy has won its last two games against New Orleans by a composite score of 96-31, and Manning is 38-of-55 for 602 yards, nine touchdowns and no interceptions in those contests.
The Saints' most recent win over the Colts was a 34-20 affair at the Superdome in 2001, and their only other matchup against Manning was a 19-13 victory in 1998, in what was the quarterback's fourth career NFL start.
Brees is 1-2 head-to-head against Manning, including 1-1 while with the Chargers (loss in 2004, win in 2005) in addition to the 2007 defeat while with New Orleans.
Payton is 0-1 against the Colts, while Indianapolis' Caldwell will be meeting both Payton and the Colts for the first time as a head man.
The Colts are 9-10 at Sun Life Stadium all-time, including a 27-23 win over the Dolphins there in Week 2 of this season, and their 29-17 triumph over the Bears in Super Bowl XLI. The Saints are 1-1 in meaningful games played at the facility, scoring their first win ever in South Florida with a 46-34 win over Miami there in Week 7 of this season.
WHEN THE SAINTS HAVE THE BALL
Saints Quarterback: Brees (4388 passing yards, 34 TD, 11 INT) is already revered by fantasy football enthusiasts from coast to coast, and his four Pro Bowl citations over the past six years and 2008 NFL Offensive Player of the Year honor are proof positive that he is an elite-level quarterback. But the 31-year-old Purdue product is just 3-2 in career playoff games, and it will take a win in Super Bowl XLIV to put him in the Manning-Brady-Favre tier of passers, or at least in the discussion. Brees' 70.6 completion percentage, 109.6 passer rating, and 34 touchdown tosses all led the league in 2009. Backup Mark Brunell, whose 31,928 career yards surpass even Brees' total, will suit up for his first Super Bowl at the age of 39.
Saints Running Backs: Pierre Thomas (793 rushing yards, 39 receptions, 8 TD), Mike Bell (654 rushing yards, 5 TD) and Reggie Bush (390 rushing yards, 47 receptions, 8 TD) all figure to get their touches against the Colts, with Thomas serving in the primary role and Bell and Bush being used in their customary supporting roles. Bell has been battling a knee problem and did not have a touch in the NFC Championship against the Vikings, but head coach Sean Payton implied that he would see more action in the Super Bowl. Thomas has 27 carries for 113 yards and two touchdowns in these playoffs, while Bush has 149 yards and three touchdowns on 18 offensive touches.
For the Colts, who have already recorded their most single-season wins in franchise history with 16, the quest will be a second Super Bowl title in a four-year span. Indianapolis descended on the Miami area the last time the game was played in that locale, defeating the Bears, 29-17, following the 2006 season to hand quarterback Peyton Manning the first title of his esteemed career.
Much has changed about the makeup of the Indianapolis roster since that time, with former staples like wide receiver Marvin Harrison (out of football), safety Bob Sanders (injured), and left tackle Tarik Glenn (retired) not a part of this run toward a title.
Also different is the team's sideline leader. Former assistant head coach Jim Caldwell took over the top reins after Tony Dungy stepped down following last season, and became the first rookie head coach to lead his team to the Super Bowl stage since the Raiders' Bill Callahan in 2002. No rookie head man has won a Super Bowl since George Seifert guided the 1989 San Francisco 49ers to the crown. With a win, Caldwell would become the second Colts rookie head coach to win a title, joining Don McCafferty, who led the then-Baltimore-based organization to a win over the Cowboys, also in Miami, in Super Bowl V.
The Colts have reached this stage after handling the Ravens (20-3) and Jets (30-17) in their first two postseason contests.
The Saints, meanwhile, know all about firsts. This is the franchise's first Super Bowl in a mostly star-crossed 43-year history, one that was attained following an all-time-best 13-3 regular season, followed by postseason victories over the Cardinals (45-14) and Vikings (31-28 in overtime). This also marks the first time New Orleans has won multiple playoff games in a campaign.
New Orleans head coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees are among those who will be making their initial Super Bowl forays, though Payton did serve as offensive coordinator on the 2000 New York Giants team that was a 34-7 loser to the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV.
Saints cornerback Randall Gay (Patriots, 2004, 2007) and safety Darren Sharper (Packers, 1997) are the only New Orleans players with relevant Super Bowl experience.
Also, though the city has hosted many championship events including Super Bowls and Final Fours, New Orleans has never won a major professional sports championship.
The Saints and Colts are the first No. 1 seeds to meet in a Super Bowl since the Cowboys defeated the Bills, 30-13, in Super Bowl XXVIII following the 1993 season.
Sunday will mark the 10th time the Super Bowl will be played in South Florida, an NFL record.
SERIES HISTORY
The all-time series between the Saints and Colts is knotted, 5-5, with Indianapolis evening the series by virtue of a 41-10 home victory in the 2007 regular opener. Indy has won its last two games against New Orleans by a composite score of 96-31, and Manning is 38-of-55 for 602 yards, nine touchdowns and no interceptions in those contests.
The Saints' most recent win over the Colts was a 34-20 affair at the Superdome in 2001, and their only other matchup against Manning was a 19-13 victory in 1998, in what was the quarterback's fourth career NFL start.
Brees is 1-2 head-to-head against Manning, including 1-1 while with the Chargers (loss in 2004, win in 2005) in addition to the 2007 defeat while with New Orleans.
Payton is 0-1 against the Colts, while Indianapolis' Caldwell will be meeting both Payton and the Colts for the first time as a head man.
The Colts are 9-10 at Sun Life Stadium all-time, including a 27-23 win over the Dolphins there in Week 2 of this season, and their 29-17 triumph over the Bears in Super Bowl XLI. The Saints are 1-1 in meaningful games played at the facility, scoring their first win ever in South Florida with a 46-34 win over Miami there in Week 7 of this season.
WHEN THE SAINTS HAVE THE BALL
Saints Quarterback: Brees (4388 passing yards, 34 TD, 11 INT) is already revered by fantasy football enthusiasts from coast to coast, and his four Pro Bowl citations over the past six years and 2008 NFL Offensive Player of the Year honor are proof positive that he is an elite-level quarterback. But the 31-year-old Purdue product is just 3-2 in career playoff games, and it will take a win in Super Bowl XLIV to put him in the Manning-Brady-Favre tier of passers, or at least in the discussion. Brees' 70.6 completion percentage, 109.6 passer rating, and 34 touchdown tosses all led the league in 2009. Backup Mark Brunell, whose 31,928 career yards surpass even Brees' total, will suit up for his first Super Bowl at the age of 39.
Saints Running Backs: Pierre Thomas (793 rushing yards, 39 receptions, 8 TD), Mike Bell (654 rushing yards, 5 TD) and Reggie Bush (390 rushing yards, 47 receptions, 8 TD) all figure to get their touches against the Colts, with Thomas serving in the primary role and Bell and Bush being used in their customary supporting roles. Bell has been battling a knee problem and did not have a touch in the NFC Championship against the Vikings, but head coach Sean Payton implied that he would see more action in the Super Bowl. Thomas has 27 carries for 113 yards and two touchdowns in these playoffs, while Bush has 149 yards and three touchdowns on 18 offensive touches.
