NFL Highlights

US sportsbook odds (US sportsbook review) didn’t give New Orleans much of a chance in their Super Bowl showdown with Indianapolis on Sunday, and neither did many in the sports betting industry who give NFL picks, and it didn’t look good for a while. But one play changed the look of the game, and the Saints are now celebrating their first Super Bowl win.

Peyton Manning was 31-of-45 for 333 yards and a touchdown, but it was his pick to Tracy Porter that was run back for a touchdown in the fourth quarter which sealed the Colts’ fate.  The Colts even ran the ball more than usual, and Joseph Addai had 77 yards and a score on 19 carries. Indy gained 432 yards to the Saints’ 332 yards, but the Colts made a couple of critical mistakes, and while the Porter pick was huge, the second half started the comeback.

Sean Payton made the gutsiest call in Super Bowl history, as his onside kick threw everyone in Sun Life Stadium off guard. The Saints went on to outscore the Colts 22-7 in the second half of the game, and they stuck with the gameplan they created going into the game. The Colts refused to let the Saints beat them with their crew of deep threats, but like Manning did against the New York Jets in the AFC championship game, Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees did the same against the Colts. Brees took his check-down throws and moved the ball, and he ended up going 32-of-39 for 288 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The 32 completions by Brees tied a Super Bowl record, and Marques Colston and Devery Henderson caught seven passes apiece for the Saints.

NFL lines…

Tough break for those who took the Pack.  If somebody at the beginning of the season would have said Eli and not Peyton Manning would be in the Super Bowl this year, I would have said they should get checked for psychosis because ELI SUCKS (Reference: Hitler’s rant about the Cowboys loss).  What a shocker and what a disappointment for those dreaming of a Brady-Favre Super Bowl.  I don’t want to chear for the Pats in this one, but I’m forced to do so by default even though I HATE the Pats: if the Giants somehow win this thing, as an Eagles fan, it’s going to suck — a lot.

If you missed any of the NFC or AFC Championship games or just want another look at the highlights, here are the quick links to those at NFL.com:

AFC Championship Highlights: Patriots 21 – Chargers 12

NFC Championship Highlights: Giants 23 – Packers 20

I came across this at Sportaphile: AFC/NFC Championship Thoughts.  He kind of calls out LaDanian Tomlinson for not playing.  Here is what he had to say:

Why did Ladainian Tomlinson spend the biggest game of his career sulking on the bench? Deion Sanders expressed my thoughts PERFECTLY during the post game show. L.T. BETTER need surgery on his knee, because if the injury isn’t serious enough to warrant an operation he should have been on the damned field. I have no proof for this claim, but I almost bet he was sitting on the bench crying, thats why he never took his helmet off.

I’m not going to knock L.T. for not playing because he’s L.T.: if he’s able to go, you know he’s going to play.  Here is a …

If you missed any of the playoff games this week, or just want to revisit the action, here are the links to the highlights of the games.  Each game came down to the wire, except the Packers routing of the Seahawks after they dug themselves out of a 14-point hole and then dominated the game.

Highlights: Packers 42 – Seahawks 20

Highlights: Patriots 31 – Jaguars 20

Highlights: Chargers 28 – Colts 24

Highlights: Giants 21 – Cowboys 17…