The Sports Informant

The Super Bowl was yesterday. Did anything else during the week matter? 

Super Bowl not a bust

I hoped for two things watching Super Bowl XLIV on Sunday. One, I wanted to see a great game. Two, I wanted to see someone deserving win. Luckily, I got both, although it wasn’t in the way I expected.

Covering Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Austin Collie all season long, it was tough to see his team go down in the biggest game of any football player’s career. Collie, an El Dorado Hills native, played fantastic down the stretch of the season as a rookie, and it would have been a nice feather in the Sacramento area’s cap to have a local bring home a Super Bowl ring.

So naturally, it was disappointing to see his team lose. But didn’t it feel right to watch the New Orleans Saints win? Forget the usual greatness of Peyton Manning and the local tie to Collie and Colts guard Kyle DeVan — another product of Sacramento — and the game’s result felt justified. The Saints became the sweethearts of America this year, and their success helped not only a state rise from ashes, but a nation come together and recognize the greatness of this country. That’s far more powerful than Manning winning a second Super Bowl.

I expected the game to be an offensive shootout, with a final score somewhere around 35-31. I don’t think anyone expected a Manning interception in the fourth quarter to be the biggest play in the game, and no one expected the Saints to end up the better team. It was a pleasant surprise, one I wasn’t hoping for but thoroughly enjoyed watching.

As for Collie, the former Oak Ridge Trojan capped his first pro season with a six-catch and 66-yard performance in the Super Bowl. That’s plenty rewarding, and he has much to be proud about. Collie became a playmaker this year, a virtual NFL star. That’s something not even losing a Super Bowl ring can put a damper on.

Besides, what’s there to look forward to the rest of his career if he accomplishes everything now? Collie thrives on working to accomplish goals. Now he still has a big one to go after.

Will the Colts be back?

Manning may be past a decade in the NFL, but he’s nowhere near finished. This year’s NFL MVP should have another fantastic season next year, and his corps of talent is unrivaled in the AFC.

It’s not unusual to see a team get back to the Super Bowl quickly. The New England Patriots went to three Super Bowls in four years from 2002-2005, and the Pittsburgh Steelers were in two of the last four prior to this year. The Colts can definitely make it three Super Bowl appearances in five years.

Manning is always healthy, and the Colts proved that even when stars get hurt, like receiver Anthony Gonzalez for the whole season, they have the talent to step up and not only win, but dominate.

I give the Colts a 50 percent chance of making the Super Bowl next year.

Will the Saints be back?

The easy answer is no. While the Saints’ offense was the best in the NFL this season, and the defense was opportunistic enough to create the takeaways to get wins, it won’t be enough next year to stay on top. While the Minnesota Vikings won’t be as powerful as they were this year, other teams will be stronger in the NFC.

The Philadelphia Eagles were as explosive as anyone and young enough to get better next season. Green Bay looked fantastic down the stretch, and again, was young and inexperienced. The New York Giants will be a threat if they figure out how to play football again.

Shoot, the Saints may not even win their own division. The Atlanta Falcons will be playoff-bound again next season if their quarterback stays healthy, and the Carolina Panthers will be tough if they can find a quarterback to compliment the rest of their talent.

I give the Saints a 10 percent chance of making the Super Bowl next year.

It’s a pity… the Saints do everything they have to do to prove they are the best team in the NFL and they still can’t get any respect. Oh well; that’s football.