Manning, Colts will stomp Saints for second Lombardi

Since 1967, the Super Bowl has been the game each NFL season has culminated in. This year is no different as the Indianapolis Colts led by Peyton Manning face off against America's feel-good story, the New Orleans Saints.Every year, the Super Bowl is among the most-watched television programs. This year should be no different.

There are many intriguing storylines in this year's game:

?Manning playing against his hometown New Orleans Saints.

Manning's dad Archie was the Saints' quarterback for 12 years, and Peyton is from the New Orleans area.

?All-pro defensive end Dwight Freeney's ankle injury.

Freeney tore a ligament in his ankle attempting to sack Jets' quarterback Mark Sanchez in the AFC championship game. He is listed as probable for the game. Freeney is undertaking a wide variety of rehab in order to play in the Super Bowl. Some of the methods of rehab are walking barefoot on the beach, using a Russian machine used to reduce swelling and using a hyperbaric chamber.

 The New Orleans Saints playing in their first Super Bowl.

The Saints franchise has never been to the Super Bowl until this year. The franchise has had nine winning seasons in the last 43 years.

 The Coaches.

Both first-year head coach Jim Caldwell for the Colts and Sean Payton for the Saints have never coached in a Super Bowl. Caldwell was an assistant for the Colts' last Super Bowl win, but this is Payton's first experience coaching in the Super Bowl.

 The city of New Orleans.

Three short years ago, New Orleans was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. The city has rallied behind the Saints in an effort to rebuild the city's morale. A Super Bowl win would be the best thing to happen to this city in a long time.

 The Parade.

If the Saints win, the Super Bowl parade would make mardi gras look like the kiddie parade at Omaha Days. The Saints franchise has already planned a parade, win or lose, but the whole city would shut down along with half of the area schools if the Saints win on Sunday.

This year's game won't be short on stars, as in games past. Two of the most high-profile signal-callers in the game are at the helm in Manning and Saints quarterback Drew Brees.

This is not Manning's first rodeo in the Super Bowl. He already has one ring and will end his career with a slew of records. Although this year's Colts had the opportunity to go undefeated, yet opted to rest players for health reasons, this team always has a good chance of winning big games. Manning is arguably the most feared quarterback in the league. He has the experience and the killer instinct to will his team to victory.

As for Brees, he was once cast-off in San Diego after having shoulder surgery. He went to New Orleans and rejuvenated not only his own career but a franchise. The Saints have tailored this team to Brees' strengths. That has allowed Brees to flourish in a city that was in need of something to cheer about.

Super Bowl 43 does not have all of the hype that normally surrounds the biggest Sunday of the year. These teams let their play do the talking on the field rather than piling up bulletin board material for the opposite team. There has been no smack-talk leading up to the game, with the exception being Saints D-Coordinator Gregg Williams. During a radio interview, he stated that his defense was going to give Manning some "remember me" hits.

The Saints' defense has been flagged three times for late hits on the opposing quarterbacks this postseason. Based on experience, Manning will probably give the Saints some "remember me" plays of his own though.

The Saints' defense is ranked 26th against the pass. Williams likes to disguise blitz schemes, but Manning thrives against the blitz with his lightning fast release. Manning has been sacked a league-low 10 times this season. Every team game plans to get to Manning, but once he adjusts to the defense he is untouchable.

The Saints come in to the game as the five point underdog for the simple fact that the Colts have been here before and the Saints players have little to no experience in the Super Bowl. The Colts are the favorite because of Manning and their collective experience, but this game could rival last year's epic Super Bowl between the Cardinals and Steelers.

The best teams on the biggest stage should not disappoint. This could be a high-scoring affair where the team that has the ball last could ultimately decide the game.

Colts-35, Saints-28.