Tag archives for new orleans saints

The Gay Man’s Guide to Super Bowl XLIV

2nd February 2010 by SportsFags under NFL     

Super Bowl Sunday 2010 is almost here and although some of us gay sports fans may be tuning in just for the commercials, we at SportsFags offer up some talking points so you can speak with authority at that lame-ass Super Bowl party.

Colts' TE Dallas Clark looks for his second Super Bowl trophy

Colts' TE Dallas Clark looks for his second Super Bowl trophy

Super Bowl XLIV (44)
New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts
Line = Colts -4
Sun Life Stadium, Miami
Sunday, February 7 @ 6:25 PM ET on CBS

Mix two prolific offenses, one decent defense, the two best quarterbacks in the game, controversial commercials, alcohol and lots of casual sports fans and you have a recipe for disaster. Rarely does the Super Bowl turn out to be truly super, yet we hold out hope for a repeat of Pittsburgh’s thrilling come-from-behind win in last year’s Super Bowl.

I must admit that I am somewhat of a sports’ snob, meaning I can’t watch important games with casual sports fans. There’s a greater than zero percent chance the drunk-ass kid yelling ‘Defense Girl’ during Super Bowl XL is directly responsible for my preference to watch big games at home. Plus, I can rewind on a hottie.

On Offense
Choosing between Colt’s quarterback Peyton Manning and Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees is like trying to choose between 7.5 or 8 inches, they’re both great but you gotta respect one more. Manning is facing one of the worst pass defenses, ranked 26th during the regular season, in the NFL, so expect a huge game from the current NFL MVP.

Brees will get his chances as well, but with the re-emergence of Reggie Bush at running back I expect the Saints will put more emphasis on the ground game in an effort to keep Manning’s ass on the sideline.

Both teams are loaded with great pass catchers but a slight edge goes to the Colts because of their depth.

On Defense
The Saints porous defense is best known for creating turnovers. Just like they did against Minnesota in the NFC championship game, for New Orleans to have a shot at winning Super Bowl XLIV they must finish on the plus side of the turnover margin.

On the road to the Super Bowl the Colts’ defense registered second-half shutouts against the Ravens and the Jets. I’ll take the unit that shuts offenses down versus the unit that relies on turnovers.

Prediction
Indianapolis Colts 30, New Orleans Saints 24

Hottie Watch
Indianapolis Colts’ Wide Receiver Austin Collie

Colts WR Austin Collie speaks with media

Colts WR Austin Collie speaks with media


Austin Collie's glamour shot

Austin Collie's glamour shot

New Orleans Saints’ Running Back Reggie Bush

Reggie relaxes, I cut the skank out of this photo.

Reggie relaxes, I cut the skank out of this photo.


Reggie Bush shirtless

Reggie Bush shirtless

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Who’s Archie Manning Pulling For?

25th January 2010 by SportsFags under NFL     

Read this story knowing that it’s real, not a Hollywood script. Better yet, put yourself in this story, consider the case of what may just be the longest suffering athlete turned fan in the history of the NFL.

College Career
As a college quarterback you are clearly the best player on the field, yet your team’s not so good. You throw for over 4700 yards and 56 touchdowns, you set a conference record for 540 yards in a single game, your jersey is retired, the campus speed limit is set at 18 MPH to honor your jersey number and legendary college football coach Bear Bryant says you’re the best college quarterback he’s ever seen.

You are a legend, yet your team’s combined record over three years is just 22-10-1, there are no national championships or conference titles to speak of.

NFL Career

Archie played for the 'Aints

Archie played for the 'Aints

When the NFL draft rolls around there’s no home-state team to draft you but the regions only NFL franchise selects you as the #2 overall selection. You endure 11 seasons with an organization that never comes close to the playoffs.

After 11 seasons you move on to play three more for two other franchises with little success, and in the end you never played for a winning team as a professional.

Post-NFL
After retirement from the NFL you settle down in the city where you were first drafted, you become the ambassador of a franchise as 42 years go by without a Super Bowl appearance. You suffer immeasurable pain alongside your adopted home town as a hurricane nearly destroys your beloved city. And then, the unthinkable happens!

Your franchise is reborn and spearheads a revival in the city and region, culminating with a shot at the ultimate prize, their first ever Super Bowl.

The irony here is that after nearly a four-decade association with this team and this city, you’ll find yourself pulling for them to lose the Super Bowl because your son, Peyton Manning, quarterbacks the opposition. It would be a tragic story if the stakes were more than just a game. As Peyton Manning prepares his Indianapolis Colts to take on New Orleans in Super Bowl XLIV, Peyton’s father Archie Manning must reconcile his 40-year dream against that of his sons.

As an ambassador and adopted son of New Orleans, Archie has endured a lifetime of disappointment and never complained about his situation. Knowing the character of the man, I’ll bet he sees this scenario as a blessing because he finally comes out a winner, no matter what happens in the game.

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AFC and NFC Championship Game Preview

22nd January 2010 by SportsFags under NFL     

AFC Championship Game
New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts
Sunday 3:00 PM ET – CBS

Last week I boldly predicted the Chargers would put the Jets away before the sun set in So Cal, boy was I wrong about the Jets, again. Why don’t they just succumb to popular opinion and lose like everyone predicts? Because Rex Ryan’s defense hasn’t given up more than 15 points in one game since November, that’s crazy good.

Can they keep that streak intact against the Colts and four-time MVP Peyton Manning? Probably not. But can they keep this game close? Absolutely.

A maturing young quarterback, managing an offense showcasing a punishing ground game, allowing the NFL’s top-rated defensive unit to tilt the field in their favor, have we seen this script before? In 2006 a young Ben Roethlisberger relied heavily on running back Jerome Bettis and a suffocating defense in the Steelers’ Super Bowl run.

The Colts other 1000-yard receiver Dallas Clark

The Colts other 1000-yard receiver Dallas Clark

Winning on the road in the playoffs is certainly noteworthy but winning on the road in a dome is extremely difficult, just ask the Cowboys how the dome crowd impacted their offense in Minnesota. The Colts defense is faster and just plain better than either of the Jets first two playoff opponents.

The Jets beat the Bengals and Chargers because cornerback Darrelle Revis shut down Chad Ochocinco and Vincent Jackson. If Revis shuts down Reggie Wayne, Peyton’s favorite target, expect Manning to spread the ball around to his other 1000-yard receiver, tight end Dallas Clark. If Clark isn’t available Manning, has two other dependable options in wide receivers Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon.

Manning has too many weapons at his disposal.

Prediction
Indianapolis Colts 31, Ny Jets 17

NFC Championship Game
Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints
Sunday 6:40 PM ET – FOX

Minnesota has lost four games this year, all four of them being on the road and the injury situation doesn’t look good.

Saints running back Reggie Bush is healthy

Saints running back Reggie Bush is healthy

On Thursday defensive tackle Kevin Williams and defensive end Ray Edwards missed their second straight practice due to knee problems and Percy Harvin, the AFC Rookie of the Year with over 2000 return, rushing and receiving yards combined, did not practice today after he got another migraine, a problem that has plagued him all season.

Vikings’ running back Adrian Peterson’s reputation for fumbling will be put to the test against a Saints defense that thrives on creating turnovers. Now that Reggie Bush is healthy, Saints quarterback Drew Brees, like Peyton Manning in the AFC, has too many weapons at his disposal.

Prediction
New Orleans Saints 38, Minnesota Vikings 24

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NFC Teams Hold Serve at Home

18th January 2010 by SportsFags under NFL     

Brett Favre makes me eat my words
It’s time for me to eat some crow here. Thinking it would become the biggest non-story of the year, I railed on ESPN’s round the clock reporting on Brett Favre during the preseason, boy was I wrong.

You run out of words when trying to describe his greatness this season, so to put it simply, he’s one of those rare players who makes everyone around him better. It’s kind of fun to think about what the Jets would have looked like if Favre wouldv’e stayed in New York. Maybe the Jets would be hosting Indianapolis instead of traveling to Lucas Oil stadium this weekend.

Ray Edwards chases after Tony Romo

Ray Edwards chases after Tony Romo

The key to the Vikings 34-3 drubbing of the Cowboys was their ability to put pressure on Cowboys’ quarterback Tony Romo. Minnesota defensive end Ray Edwards made Cowboys offensive tackle Marc Colombo look more like Dumbo, tying a Viking’s franchise record of three sacks in a game while leading a Minnesota defense that forced two lost fumbles, an interception and six sacks of Tony Romo.

The Cowboys season long trend of not cashing in on scoring opportunities against anyone other than Philadelphia continued against Minnesota, five Dallas drives ending in Minnesota territory amounted to just three points.

Favre finished the day 15/24 for 234 yards and 4 TDs and no INTs. Viking’s wide receiver Sidney Rice was targeted seven times pulling in six catches for 141 yards and 3 TDs.

We’ve got Bush
The re-emergence of Reggie Bush and the Saints physical defense overwhelmed the defending NFC champion Arizona Cardinals 45-14 Saturday night in New Orleans. Bush scored on a 46-yard run that left the Cardinals headed to the sidelines shaking their heads and looking for their manhood.

Bush and the Saints shook off the notion that rust may have settled in on the team that hadn’t played a good game in over a month. The Saints out-physicaled and out-everythinged Arizona.

Too close for Drew's comfort?

Too close for Drew's comfort?

Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner was knocked out of the game in the second quarter after a crushing hit by Saints DE Bobby McCray. Warner returned in the second half but was unable to get his team on the board in the final 30 minutes and when Bush returned a punt 83 yards for a touchdown and a 45-14 Saints lead in the 3rd, the game was over.

On the day Bush finished with only 5 rushes but amassed 84 yards and was both punishing and quick. After surrendering a 70-yard touchdown run by Arizona running back Tim Hightower on the game’s initial play, the Saints’ D shut down the high-flying Cardinals offense, allowing only 280 yards the rest of the day.

Not trying to be the sexiest man alive anymore

Brad Pitt's goatee

Brad Pitt's goatee

Brad Pitt sported this janky-ass looking goatee while watching the game at the Super Dome. I know he’s done a lot for the hurricane Katrina relief effort but how about a little relief from that unkempt chin bush?

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NFL Divisional Playoffs Preview

14th January 2010 by SportsFags under NFL     

I can hardly believe there’s only three more weekends of ‘real’ football left, notice I’m not counting the Pro Bowl as actual football.

Preseason predictions: For the record my preseason Super Bowl picks, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, are done. Also for the record, SI’s Peter King predicted the Patriots and Bears. Ha! What an idiot.

Divisional diversity: It rarely works out this way but one team from each of the NFL’s eight divisions fill out the remaining eight-team field.

A word about momentum: Who has momentum? Who cares? Tell me who’s playing well and how the teams match up and I’ll tell you who’s gonna win. Talking about who has momentum is such a beat down.

The NFL’s Divisional Playoffs Schedule

Arizona Cardinals @ New Orleans Saints (-7)
Saturday 4:30 PM ET – Fox

Is Kurt Warner the best playoff quarterback in the history of the NFL? I wouldn’t argue against it.

Last week Arizona eliminated the Packers, who most experts agreed was the best team in the NFC during the second half of the season.

Saints receiver Marques Colston

Saints receiver Marques Colston

New Orleans isn’t playing well, and I’m not just talking about their 3-game losing streak when things may or may not have been of the utmost importance at the end of the season, but also struggling against Atlanta and Washington prior to the losing streak. The Saints haven’t played well since facing the Patriots on that Monday night game in November.

Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin, who sat out last week’s game to nurse a left ankle and knee injury, is expected to return, giving Warner another offensive weapon against a defense that has given up more points than any other team remaining in the playoffs.

Prediction: Arizona 38, New Orleans 34

Baltimore Ravens @ Indianapolis Colts (-6.5)
Saturday 8:15 PM ET – CBS

Ok, so he hasn't played but Colts WR Samuel Giguere is huge.

Ok, so he hasn't played but Colts WR Samuel Giguere is huge.

The Colts chose to rest their starters down the stretch so it’s hard to get a feel on how they’re playing. The Ravens, winners of 6 postseason road games since 2000, will present a formidable challenge with a power running game and a bruising defense that held the Colts to just 17 points in a loss at Lucas Oil stadium in November.

It’s strength vs strength and weakness vs weakness, so I’ll take the guy who threw for over 4,500 yards and 33 touchdowns, and the organization who has a lot to prove after giving up on a perfect season in favor of a better shot at playoff success.

Prediction: Indianapolis 24, Baltimore 13

Dallas Cowboys @ Minnesota Vikings (-3)
Sunday 1 PM ET – Fox

Vikings running back Adrian Peterson

Vikings running back Adrian Peterson

This games got the story lines; Tony Romo vs Brett Favre, Adrian Peterson vs the Cowboys defense and America’s team vs America’s Mall.

The Vikings run defense suffered a huge blow when they lost middle linebacker E.J. Henderson, their leading tackler and signal-caller, to a broken leg in November, forcing Minnesota to rely on their All-Pro defensive lineman Jared Allen and Kevin Williams to create stops and put pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

The Cowboys counter with two Pro Bowl blockers and a healthy stable of diverse running backs that average a playoff-best 4.8 yards per rush.

Dallas’ defense appears to be coming together nicely under the direction of head coach Wade Phillips but shutting down sub-par running backs like Clinton Portis, LeSean McCoy and Leonard Weaver in consecutive weeks doesn’t mean much when the assignment is Vikings’ running back Adrian Peterson.

As strange as it sounds to say, I think Favre will struggle against the Cowboys secondary.

Prediction: Dallas 28, Minnesota 27

New York Jets @ San Diego Chargers (-7)
Sunday 4:40 PM ET – CBS

This is the week we will be reminded of how the Jets backed into the playoffs as the beneficiaries of fortuitous scheduling. The Chargers, winners of 11 straight, will be in control of this game before the sun sets.

Prediction: San Diego 34, NY 10

NFC Championship – Cardinals @ Cowboys
AFC Championship – Chargers @ Colts

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Brees-y in the Big Easy

1st December 2009 by thesportsfag under NFL     

tom-bradyWith pinpiont precision Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints took apart a young New England Patriots defense on Monday night for a 38-17 victory at the Superdome. Monday night’s game was definitely a statement game and the Saints declared ‘Dats Who’ on offensive, defensive and special teams.

Brees’ five TD passes were the most ever against a Belichick coached team and Tom Brady and the Patriots looked as confused as they did earlier in the year when Brady was returning from a knee injury.

The Patriots at 7-4 have a 2-game lead over the Dolphins and Jets in the AFC East so there’s no need to panic. However, after 11 games in 2009 it’s clear that the Patriots are on the downside of their championship years, the offense has been good at times but the defense hasn’t been able to come up with big stops.

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Saints Make a Statement

18th October 2009 by SportsFags under Blog, NFL     

Coming into Sundays marquee match up between the NY Giants and New Orleans Saints there were some skeptics of the Saints undefeated start. By the time mid afternoon rolled around the Saints had not only easily dispatched of the Giants and silenced their critics but they took a big step towards solidifying themselves — along with Minnesota — as the team to beat in the NFC.

Marques-Colston-Drew-BreesDrew Bress was well, Drew Brees. He connected with four different receivers for four TDs. On the day he was 23-30 for 369 yards and no interceptions. Behind Brees the Saints aren’t just beating teams they are beating up on them. They’ve already faced two of the best defenses in the NFC (Giants and Eagles) and hung 48 points on both of them.

What’s really strange is that five games into the season and the Saints haven’t played a game against a divisional foe. With only three teams left on the schedule with a winning record the road ahead seems less troubling than they gauntlet they just went through. Two tough road contests (Miami next week and Atlanta Dec.13) remain and the Saints defense isn’t going to scare anyone. Yet New Orleans has answered their critics and proven they belong amongst the group of contenders for the NFC crown.

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