Are you ready for two weeks of hype for a Brett Favre versus Peyton Manning Super Bowl?
Well TOO FREAKING BAD! The Saints were having none of it today. And what a coincidence that in a year marred by missed field goals, it was on the leg of lesser-known Saints kicker Garrett Hartley that the Saints earned a spot in their first ever Super Bowl with a 31-28 win over the Vikings.
With two minutes left to go in a 28-all tie, Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings marched the ball down the field in the hopes of setting up a game-winning field goal. A costly 12-man in the huddle penalty put the Vikes in a third and 15 situation, forcing Brad Childress to call a pass. It was there that the Brett Favre gunslinger of years past appeared on the field, throwing an interception to end any hopes of ending this game in regulation and to keep the Saints' hopes alive. And then there was overtime. The Vikings never saw the ball, so Favre's last play on the field as a Viking (this season, anyway) ended with an interception. The Saints started at the 39 and drove the length of the field, with three plays receiving lengthy reviews, ending in a 40-yard Hartley field goal.
It was a slug-fest all night long, with each team scoring 14 points in each half. Brett Favre was planed on the turf early and often, obviously a focal point of the Saints defensive strategy. The same passes Favre completed early while being hit were incomplete or intercepted as the game drew on. He simply could not stand up to the constant beating, despite never actually being sacked. Conversely, Brees also fumbled twice but didn't lose either and threw no interceptions. New Orleans' one turnover beats Minnesota's five. It was that simple.
New Orleans squandered multiple Vikings turnovers by failing to produce points. They couldn't run the ball with any regularity or real effectiveness with Reggie Bush. When their defense wasn't stripping the ball from a Viking play-maker they were giving up touchdowns. A pass interference penalty set up a late Vikings score to even the game back up on the board. Brees spread the ball around to eight different receivers but no Saint had more than 4 catches or 40 yards. Not exactly a legendary effort, but a win is a win is a win. That city needed it and Sean Payton delivered.
Someone must have contaminated the Vikings' Gatorade with a sample of Fumblitis, because no one on that team wanted to hang into the ball. They were credited with five fumbles (Favre, Peterson and Percy Harvin), three of which were lost. Adrian Peterson did rush for 122 yards and two scores but also fumbled twice, not including an early mishandled snap. It was amazing they were able to force overtime. With the loss, Brad Childress and the Vikes will be subject to the Brett Favre retirement drama and will dwell in quarterback limbo.
Playoff predictions so far: 5-5. For my first time picking against the spread, that's not too shabby I suppose.
In a post-season filled with lackluster games that were over by halftime, today's match-ups were everything I could have hoped for. Now we get two weeks of Super Bowl hype broken up with a uniquely timed Pro Bowl. Let the Colts-Saints premature speculation commence!
