By Rick Teverbaugh, Herald Bulletin Sports Editor
There are a multitude of reasons why the Indianapolis Colts are going to win their second Super Bowl in three years this coming Sunday.
I have just enough flair for the dramatic to save the No. 1 reason for last, but don’t you go down to the bottom to find that one. That would be cheating. After all, this is the NFL we’re talking about and not the PGA Tour.
The first reason is because the Colts have the world’s best quarterback — perhaps the best ever to play the game. Certainly he has changed the position in the most drastic way since the forward pass was made legal and that was 104 years ago.
The next reason is because Dwight Freeney, the Colts All-World defensive end, is going to play. When he plays, which might be limited to passing downs due to his ankle injury, he will either force New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees to play quicker than he’d like or he will draw so much attention that one of his defensive mates will get an opportunity to make a play.
Another reason is that the Colts really deserve the win more.
It seems that most of the country is enthralled by the idea that a Saints win would be just the elixir the city needs and deserves as it continues the long road back from the devastation of hurricane Katrina.
While it is undoubtedly true that such a win would give New Orleans a rare reason to celebrate, central Indiana hasn’t exactly been a hotbed for good news in any area worth celebrating.
Since the Colts aren’t the sentimental favorite across the country, a win in the Super Bowl would help even the scales.
Indianapolis also has been through more hardship as a team than New Orleans. There have been more obstacles thrown in its path.
Consider what this team has lost either before or during this season: Coach Tony Dungy; one of the NFL’s best defensive players, Bob Sanders; a certain Hall of Fame receiver, Marvin Harrison; and a certain Hall of Fame kicker, Adam Vinatieri. Such perseverance shouldn’t and won’t go unrewarded.
Also there’s the matter of the Saints’ favorite NFL son (at least prior to Drew Brees), Archie Manning. It has to hurt New Orleans’ chances that not even he will be rooting for the team this year. How compelling is the story of this team’s run if not even Archie can buy into it?
The Colts also will win because they have won this game at this same venue just three years ago. Who doesn’t use history as a guide to what is likely to happen in the future? Winning breeds winning. Comfortable players are relaxed players. Relaxed players perform at levels closer to their natural abilities.
There are other similarities between 2010 and 2007 that bode well for the Colts. They are again playing the NFC’s top-seeded team. They are again installed as the betting favorite.
But the No. 1 reason the Colts will win Sunday is because, Dave Letterman said so on his “Late Night” program. What better authority could be found?
After all, he predicted the Colts would defeat Baltimore and was right.
Then he told his New York audience that the Jets had no chance. Case closed.
Colts 28, Saints 17
Contact Rick Teverbaugh: 640-4886, rick.teveverbaugh @heraldbulletin.com.
