Amalgamblog

Part 2 of our Super Bowl XLIV survey. You can read Part 1 here.

8. What or who is going to be the X Factor in the game?
TJ: I’ll start by saying that each team has an X-Factor player, and both of them are directly related.
INDIANAPOLIS … DE Dwight Freeney
This one’s a gimmie. Freeney is a question mark with a high ankle sprain, one of the toughest non-season-ending injuries to overcome. He leads the Colts with 13.5 sacks from the end position, and if the Colts hope to slow down Drew Brees, Freeney will be the key. Colts HC Jim Caldwell says he’s getting better, but is yet to indicate whether or not he will play on Sunday.

NEW ORLEANS … QB Drew Brees
It might look a little funny to put Drew Brees as an X-Factor player since he’s become such a consistently great player. But this is the biggest stage he’s ever played on. Come Sunday, you can expect both defensive coordinators to send everybody but the punter after the quarterback on defense. New Orleans can’t win without a big day from Brees. Can he make it happen under pressure?

Kat: The Who Dat Nation is crazy loud.  Even without being contained in a dome, I think their volume will have a huge impact on play calling.

Randy: Me. I am the X factor. Chris and Kat you know why.  Kevin, I will fill you in later. Check my “tweets” during the game. Seriously, I think it is Manning. His level of understanding of the game and how to make adjustments is uncanny. The Saints have to beat Manning to get the trophy and he knows what it takes to walk away with the hardware.

Kevin: The obvious answer for both teams is their respective quarterbacks. So I’ll go a little deeper. For the Saints, the X factor will be their defensive line getting consistent pressure on Manning without help from the blitz. If they can do that, then they will have a chance. If they have to blitz to apply pressure, Peyton will pick them apart (just ask the Jets). For the Colts, I’m gonna go with the safeties, Melvin Bullit and Antoine Bethea. These two young db’s can lay the wood, but are also pretty good in pass coverage. If they can keep everything in front of them, and in so doing eliminate the big plays that the Saints thrive on, the Colts will get the W.

9. What are the ingredients for a great Super Bowl commercial?
Kevin: Be original.

Randy: Quirky humor, the unexpected, and animals are all good ingredients.

Kat: Humor, and a clear display of the product.  It’s really only an effective ad if I not only remember the funny tagline, but I also remember what exactly was being advertised.

10. What is your favorite Super Bowl commercial of all time?
Kat: Reebok — “Terry Tate Office Linebacker”

Kevin: Career Builder “It might be time” commercial from last year. I like the part about “you dream of punching small animals.”

Randy: Apple 1984. ’nuff said.

11. Peyton Manning, greatest athletic pitchman of all time?
Randy: I don’t know about all time, but he is great in front of the camera.  His hosting of SNL is still one of the best opening monologues I have heard.  I love it when he called out his mom for being such a disappointment to the family for not playing football.

Kevin: “If you like 6’5”, 230 pound quarterbacks, laser rocket arm,” then yes.

Kat: Thanks to him, I got a coupon for a free package of Double Stuf Golden Oreos, so I’ll at least give him props for that.

12. Greatest Super Bowl of all time?
Randy: Panthers/Patriots, even though the Panthers lost.

Kat: This one.  Because it’s the first time the Saints have made it to the big game.

Kevin: Super Bowl 41, when the Colts beat the bears 29-17. Duh. No I’m kidding. In all seriousness, it was probably Super Bowl 38, when the Patriots’ Adam Vinatieri kicked a 48 yarder with 4 seconds left to lift his team to a 32-29 win over the Carolina Panthers.

13. Who do you think will be the MVP?
Kat: Drew Brees, which is only right since he was completely robbed of the NFL MVP title.

Randy: Drew Brees.

TJ: QB PEYTON MANNING – COLTS.
This gives away my prediction, but you’d be a fool to bet against Peyton Manning. Peyton reads through defenses like they were written in crayon, and throws with the accuracy that most quarterbacks can only dream of. He has established himself as one of the most dominant athletes in sports, and he will not be denied his moment on Sunday.

Kevin: Peyton Manning.

14. What’s your prediction for the game?
TJ: COLTS 45, SAINTS 31
If you were hoping for a defensive slug-out, you’ll be disappointed. However, I suspect that no one was, anyway. This one is going to be a battle of the Saint’s “Shock and Awe” attack versus the Colt’s methodical offensive machine. In the end, Peyton Manning’s steady hand will guide the Colts to victory.

Randy: 27-24 Saints

Kevin: Colts 35, Saints 21

Kat: Saints 45 – Colts 42.  Not in overtime.  And then kickers everywhere will get to have a moment of glory.

Tags: Super Bowl XLIV

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