The Saints and the Colts, the two teams that spent most of the season undefeated have survived to host the conference championship games which will decide the participants of Super Sunday.
In New Orleans the Saints are the team that has united a city that was torn apart by Hurricane Katrina. The city of nostalgia, mystery and intrigue has stood behind a team that has harnessed the personality of the city.
“Everybody’s just trying to get their lives back together” said quarterback Drew Brees. “What we were able to do as a team, as an organization — along with the fans and the people of this city — was we were able to form a bond and come together, and that bond is what carried us all through and it’s given everyone hope.”
But in order for the Saints to march into the Super Bowl they must get past the legendary Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings. Favre, the 40-year-old phenom, retired and returned twice, this time to post the best numbers of his career. Also affected by Hurricane Katrina with his home in Mississippi, Favre and the Vikings had the second best record in the NFC after the Saints.
While the NFC has the top two seeds left to battle it out, the AFC has the top seeded Indianapolis Colts hosting the surprising New York Jets, the fifth seed in the conference.
Many say the Jets are the team of destiny. They only made it into the playoffs because the Colts pulled the plug and sacrificed a perfect season to preserve their star players when the two teams played in December. The controversial move by Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell sent shockwaves across the NFL. The Jets went on to knockoff the number two seed San Diego Chargers 17-14 in the divisional round.
Now the Colts are in a position where they have to destroy the monster they created. Jim Caldwell, the only black coach remaining, needs to beat the Jets to thwart widespread criticism for what many viewed as a rookie coaching mistake. Only a win will silence the critics and at the same time help validate quarterback Peyton Manning as the greatest quarterback of all time.
Who will win Super Bowl XLIV? Clearly, the team with the most points at the end of the game on Feb. 7 in Miami. –lenn durant
