Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian says the New Orleans Saints won Super Bowl XLIV for a very simple reason: They were better.
“Today, they were the better team,” Polian told Peter King of SI.com. “They deserved to win.”
But in addition to that simple analysis, Polian went a little bit deeper, saying that there were two plays in particular that cost the Colts the game: The failure to pick up a first down late in the second quarter, ending a Colts drive and setting up a Saints field goal, and the inability to recover the Saints’ onside kick at the start of the second half.
“That was the difference in the game,” Polian told King. “The onside kick was the turning point, and along with that, not being able to get a yard on third-and-one is what really cost us. Those were two plays in our control, and we didn’t make them.”
King writes (and, as I mentioned during our Super Bowl live chat, I agree) that Pierre Garcon dropping a pass from Peyton Manning in the second quarter also ought to be included among the costly mistakes by the Colts, but Polian defended Garcon, saying he got “jacked” at the line of scrimmage.
But whatever we identify as the handful of plays that cost the Colts the Super Bowl, Polian is right about one thing: The Saints were the better team on Sunday.
“but Polian defended Garcon, saying he got “jacked” at the line of scrimmage.”
Hey Napolian, it is legal to hit the receivers coming off the line. You already pussified the way the secondary can play so quit your whining.
I think the majority would agree with “on Sunday”…….overall, the Cowboys, Packers, Colts and Vikings are much better teams than the Saints, but not “on Sunday”.
“Congrats New Orleans, you were better today. Now we need to make a rule that teams cant onside kick it prior to the 4th quarter……”
-Bill Polian
Don’t worry Bill. Just change the rules so WRs can’t be jammed at the line. Maybe change them so everytime peyton manning throws a pick the colts get a do over.
Yesterday’s SuperBowl broadcast was one of the best I remember, for a novel and unique reason: the focus was actually on the game.
Two good, well coached teams, no trash talking or subterfuge. Well done Colts and Saints!
Bill, did you behave yourself during the game??? I would have loved to be sitting near you to watch all your tantrums.
I wonder what rule changes Polian is gonna force through this time – maybe outlawing the onside kick !
and congrats to them.
I think the teams were equal, but the difference was the Colts were out coached buy the Saint’s
Yeah, Polian is sick today!
Hank Baskett will be the first Colt cut this year, book it!
the Saints were a better team pretty much all year. yesterday, today and tomorrow. the Saints pounded some pretty good teams with pretty good QB’s this year.
the Colts were smoke and mirrors all year long. they are good but squeaked by or lucked out in a lot of their games making them appear to be a dynamo based on their 2 loss season.
I still can’t understand why everyone is so shocked this happened.
The Saints had a better team top to bottom, played a harder schedule, had the #1 O (3 of the past 4 yrs) had a better QB statistically (in virtually every category), had the #5 rushing attack, had better special teams all year long and had the #3 red zone D in the NFL, not to mention a D that forced the most turnovers in the NFL 9and converted 10 of those into scores).
I could go on and on but the fact is that the media overlooked any and all qualities that the Saints had because they are in love with the “superstar” Manning (and FavRay). To them, a single person wins in football but anyone who has ever played the game knows that there are a whole bunch of other people on the field that matter as well.
Why they didn’t latch on to Brees as a superstar is anyone’s guess. Perhaps now they will be forced to notice him.
I guess that late interception returned for a touchdown didn’t have much of an impact on the game. Polian should reward Manning by making him the highest paid player in the NFL. Especially if it may come at the expense of the team’s ability to afford the players that can make the team more balanced. After all…, Mannning’s crucial mistake didn’t have any impact on the game at all..,
On the bright side, the Colts players can celebrate their “blow out victory” with all of the fans that are off school and work today in Indy…….
saints and vikes had the easiest schedules in the league.
Once again the Colts choke in the postseason.
That ends the team of the decade conversation.
Peyton Manning’s postseason record 9-9.
What does his holiness Tony Dumbgy has to say today?
Does anyone know if Jim Caldwell has woken up yet? The guy is a stiff and frankly the Saints were better prepared and more aggressive on the field and with their Coaching! Caldwell appears to be a quiet version of Barry Switzer. The GM and QB run that team while Caldwell appears along for the ride. For all the talk about greatest ever manning sure puked on himself throwing such a predictable pick six! For a second I thought he had on Orange T on his helmet!
Say what you will but in my opinion they got just what they did by tanking it in week 16!
Yeah, those were definitely 2 big plays, but Colts STILL had the lead mid-3Q. Biggest difference was that Saints D totally outplayed Colts soft D. Wide open receivers, missed tackles, minimal pressure on Brees=Saints win. Never heard Robert Mathis’ name mentioned all night.
Hey footbaloney – the saints are the best team in the NFL. Sunday, last Sunday or any other day.
I told you saints by 14. Suck it and quit whining.
Who dat!
Not to worry, I’m sure Mr. Polian will spend the off season thinking up rule changes to negate these problems and see that his under sized receivers don’t get “jacked” at the line ever again.
Best officiating I’ve seen all year. Kudos to Scott Green and his crew.
From a Vikes fan – congrats Saints fans! Of course I’m still bitter that we fumbled away the game to you but your team came out and played great last night. Party it up!
Tv – yep, I’ve been trying to tell folks that all week. The saints have been the best team in the NFL pretty much all year. Better than the vikes, packers, or any other NFC team, and better than an overrated afc champion. The colts have been barely scraping by mediocre teams all year, they found out what a good team can do last night
The Turning point in the game was weeks ago when this Idiot BENCHED his team that were set to go for a Perfect Season UNDEFEATED SEASON…….
This idiot makes the colts into pussies and that is what pussies do, they lose when it matters……
The score could have easily been 34 or even 38 to 17, if not for the 4th down play.
I wouldn’t say that it was 2 plays that made the difference. I would say that it was the fact that NO colt D lineman even sniffed Brees in the second half. It was a GD 7 on 7 drill and Brees smoked em. Colts D couldn’t get off the field, meaning Manning couldn’t get on the field. Great game though all the way around. Shitty commercials though. Worst in memory.
@Nobe … very good point
nice to see two teams concentrate on the football instead of trash talk
hey polyann, it’s called JAMMING a receiver. On the bright side at least he won’t have to worry about people calling about how the colts could have gone 18-0
I’ve often said, they are overated. Manning is a good QB but not great despite the “experts” opinions. The only SB they’ve won was against a QB who has a passer rating of 70 and won’t play in 2010.
If I’m not mistaken, didn’t Manning throw his line under the bus a few years back after a post season defeat? This year he skates off the field before a handshake. He’s a soar loser and doesn’t live up to the hype.
The NFL make him look like a god or something, yet he has a piss poor attitude, chokes in the post season and he’s not that great under pressure situations. Oh but he is better than Brady! Yeah right!
Brady 3…..Manning 1!
I’ve found myself disagreeing with Polian repeatedly this season. So why stop now?
After those two plays Polian identified the Colts still had the lead and the ball at the start of the 4th quarter.
Clearly the reason the Colts lost MUST have been found in the 4th quarter.
That reason, we Colts fans can clearly see, was that the Saints were better than the Colts at everything for the entire fourth quarter. There was not one thing the Colts did better than the Saints in that quarter.
So without any qualifications I can say as a Colt fanboy. The Saints are a better team than the Colts and have been all season.
Congratulations New Orleans. Well earned.
“Polian: Saints were the better team”
They sure whipped your ass.
It is amazing how a game goes when Polian does not have a direct line to the back judge.
Payton is a Disgrace to the family my Archie almost had a heart attack and died all because PayTon blew it. I hope your happy now Payton!!!
Eli, (1 Super Bowl,tied with you GOAT)
Their secondary play is what got them. They just hung back and made a tackle after the Saint recievers caught the ball. Worst coverage I’ve seen in a long time.
Jim Caldwell was seen walking around and around the lobby mumblin, “what do I do now, where do I go, what happened to everyone, Payton, where are you, I’m so scared, please hold me, comfort me, Payton, please can someone tell me where the GOAT is,,,,, Archie, is that you, please help, someone, anyone, Payon, I’m so cold.
Polian was seen cleaning himself, he sheet his pants.He can’t believe Payton blew the game.
Tony Dungy will be back soon, stay tuned.
So, since resting your players instead of going for undefeated didn’t work, do you try something different next year?
Peyton Manning is a great QB, but NO has again shown that mixing up the defense calls will give him fits. I wonder if everyone will figure that out for next year.
Congrats to the Saints. they played a terrific game with some gutsy calls.
Oh Bill Polian, you’re so silly.
Enjoy the next few years until your “semi-legendary” QB retires to enjoy his millions, and you, your piss-poor attitude, and your half-ass team can return to being the St Louis Rams of Indiana.
Perhaps the Colts lost the game because Bill Polian didnt view 17-2 with a Lombardi as an historic achievement………
I think hes forgetting about the real play that changed the game.
In the 3rd quarter the Colts were at their own 34 leading 17-16 and on 3rd and 11 they decide instead of trying to gain 6 or 7 yards and make the field goal attempt more mangeable to go for it all and throw a bomb to the endzone.
The pass went incomplete making it 4th and 11 and setting up a far 51 yard field goal. The Colts missed the field goal giving the Saints great field position. The Saints drove the short field and scored a td and a 2pt coversion.
So instead of the Colts taking a 20-16 lead it turned into and an 11 point swing in the Saints favor making the game 24-17 Saints. That right there put the pressure on the Colts and Manning forced a ball and the Saints took advantage of it for a pick 6.
IMO that was the biggest game changing play of the Super Bowl.
On a side note the Eagles did dumb plays like that all year and thats why they wont win a Superbowl either until they change it.
Polian defended Garcon, saying he got “jacked” at the line of scrimmage.
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There’s the tell -
I guarantee Polian uses that during the next competition commitee meeting to try and change the rules. His new rule will read:
“An outside defender must be 2 yards away from a reciever prior to the snap and no contact may be made.”
He can call it the “Peyton pooped his pants” rule. Pathetic.
I said all game that Peyton Manning would eventually have some of Arhie’s genes shine on through. They did and he threw a pick six.
Archie was, and is, a class guy, I think all of his sons are also, but it was nice to see a little bit of Arhie shinning through when it counted the most.
Go Saints.
See you in the Superdome in September when the Saints unfurl the Super Bowl Champions Banner.
you know how every men’s porno magazine has 3 or 4 pages of 1-900 number ads in the back with all the pictures of the girls? call this for bored housewife, call this for coeds, call this for dominatrix….but there’s always one ad in every magazine that has a dude in it and says “curious? call me, bud.”
peyton manning looks like that dude.
thats what this game was all about.
I know this is late, but Polian’s a liar. Garcon didn’t get touched on the pass he dropped. Greer was playing 5 or 6 yards off him and started backpedaling as soon as Garcon released.