Champion Coach: John Walen

John Whalen

2K8 SUPER BOWL XXII
Indianapolis colts 10 New Orleans Saints 17
10-6 12-4

Saints Summery
The confetti and pyrotechnics will likely decorate Crescent City skies for many nights to come. The festivities are on par with the wildest of Mardi Gras memories. The Saints have overcome Bounty-gate, coaching changes, injuries, and every other obstacle in their path to ensure that the black-n-gold will shine a little brighter for the next 365 days.

The playoffs offered a series of bruising tests and the Superbowl was a heavyweight brawl, if not the scoring spectacle that some anticipated. Coach “Mojo” Beaux explained, “We came in knowing it would be a tough one. We knew we were in for a battle. We had to make several adjustments and take what they were giving us. We had to slow down Manning, too. That’s obvious. That was a big challenge for us today.”

The Saints didn’t get out of the gate well and the Colts were in rhythm early. Through the first quarter and a half it looked like the Saints might be in for a long day. The Colts were able to put seven on the board before anyone could blink with a rushing touchdown by Joseph Addai, and moved the ball well enough to find themselves in scoring position again in the second quarter when the Saints finally started to slow the horses. Adjustments by the Saints defense helped stop the bleeding as the Colts were held to a Kai Forbath field goal. Those three points would be the last scored by the Colts on this day.

Coach Beaux applauded his team’s defensive effort, “Our guys stuck it out. They stayed with it. We were down early and scrambling for answers, but our guys dug in their heels. We tried several different adjustments in the first quarter, but they were gashing us with the run. Manning was on track, too. It wasn’t looking good. We found something in the second quarter and our guys executed well from that point on. We finally got them in the right front and they made the plays.”

Saints’ defensive adjustments slowed the Colts’ running game and put Manning in more manageable situations. The Saints were able to generate enough pressure to keep Manning from getting comfortable. Manning finished 20 of 38 with no touchdowns. Three sacks and two interceptions by the Saints defense broke the continuity of the Indianapolis offense. Jonathan Vilma was the standout performer with eight tackles, one tackle for a loss, one sack, and one interception (all despite being sidelined with an injury for the entire fourth quarter).

The Saints’ offense recovered from a slow start and showed signs of life late in the second quarter. Coach Beaux summarizes, “We were able to clamp down on them defensively, but our offense was still struggling. We were hoping to hit them with the two minute drill at the end of the half. We decided to run it right at them and see if we could force some adjustments, then when we got inside of two minutes we went no huddle. Reggie was the key. He has been questioned. People have criticized him, but he showed it today. He showed that he can be that workhorse….that carry-the-load kind of back. .

Reggie ran strong at the end of the half and scored for us. He had 32 carries on the day for 112 yards. I think that says it all.” After the score, the Saints held the Colts in check to run out the half. They went to the break down by three points, 10-7

The third period was a strategic battle royal. There were some big hits on both sides of the ball and every inch was earned. Neither team was able to put points on the board in the third quarter as both defenses were tightening up at opportune moments. Injuries began to mount on both sidelines. The Saints found themselves without the services of MLB Jonathan Vilma and CB Tracy Porter as they began the final period.

The fourth quarter belonged to the Saints. They were finally able to string together some gains and HB Ryan Grant capped a drive with a 43 yard run and a touchdown. The Saints took the lead 14-10 and a subsequent drive ended in a Garrett Hartley field goal to put the Saints up by seven, 17-10. There would be no more scoring, but the fireworks were just beginning. Two, yes….TWO, goal line stands in the final minutes of the fourth quarter would show what the Saints were made of and keep the Colts from pushing the game to overtime.

Coach Beaux’s enthusiasm cannot be contained, “Wow! That was incredible! Really….. It was. I thought we were headed to overtime. I knew we were. They had us backed up in the red zone with about two and a half minutes there…. Then they got it down to the one. Our guys didn’t back down. I mean…. It was fourth and goal on the one, and our guys held. Amazing! Then….we got pinned….I thought they had us for a safety. We had to punt from our one yard line….and here they come again. I’m thinking….You gotta be kidding me! How many chances can you give an offense like that? And we were without Vilma and Porter. We told our guys to strap ‘em up and do it again. They did. They came up big keepin’ ‘em out of the endzone again with less than a minute to go. Turnover on downs twice in under three minutes. You see that? Unbelievable! I wouldn’t doubt our guys, but that was unbelievable!” The Saints late-game defensive heroics short-circuited the Colts' offense and closed the door on any comeback hopes.

The Saints fans are rejoicing in a Superbowl triumph that will be remembered as a test of toughness. All of the gaudy numbers and records broken……………. All of the flash and all of the bang…………. All of the shock and awe…………. But it came down to big man on big man, hat on hat. This triumph will be remembered as a blue collar tour de force. Coach Beaux says it best, “We showed ‘em what we’re made of. We’re not just a finesse team. We can get down and dirty. People said we couldn’t do it. Well, we did it! People said we weren’t tough enough. Well, we Are! People said the bad press would break us down. Well we’re still together! People said that if we won the Superbowl, it would have an asterisk by it…..well bring it on, by God! We’ll take the ring AND the asterisk. Hell…we embrace it! It will help us tell the difference between this one and the rest of ‘em we plan to win in years to come! You hear that? Hear what they’re hollerin’? Go Saints! or Go to Hell! That’s what I’m feelin’ right now! Go Saints! Or Go to Hell!” Indeed.

Game Log