The week before the Superbowl, I experienced quite a bit of internal conflict. Which team do you root for? The one who represents a city torn apart by disaster and pieced together by the love of a team? Or do you go for the golden boy of football whose intensity has translated into an infamous look that has the power to bring grown men to tears. At the end of the day it didn’t just come down to the city or its prodigal son. This game was decided by what some may considered a lost art in an era over glamorized and glorified players-- this game came down to good solid coaching.
Two words come to mind when I think of Sean Payton’s performance yesterday- relentless pursuit. In essence it was a mix of tenacity, courage, and an unceasing drive that made theses underdogs Superbowl Champions.
The highlight reel of the game is full of several eyebrow raising plays that paint a picture of a coaching staff that has a thorough understanding of big risks leading to big rewards. At the start of many plays, I found myself thinking A) did they actually just do that and B) that is something that I would only attempt in the safety of a Madden video game. Not each of them turned out to be immediately fruitful (read going for it on 4th and goal) but others had the power to turn the tide, and change the momentum of the game. The confidence that Payton had in his players was captured fully with the surprise onside kick to start the 2nd half, something that has never been attempted in Superbowl history. And then there was the boldness of going for the two point conversion despite the power of the Colts defensive line and their success in stopping your running game just a few drives before. And more importantly was the faith in your team to go for the Challenge after the call. In the Superbowl every point counts and relentless pursuit is that unwavering ability to play that way for the full 60 minutes of the game.
Play of the game- Without a doubt, and no matter the team that you were rooting, you were overwhelmed with shock and disbelief when the pass intended for Reggie Wayne was intercepted by Tracy Porter for a Saints TD. Take a moment and think a few plays back when Manning drilled the ball to Dallas Clark despite the coverage of 5 defenders, it is no secret that Manning is known of his accuracy and getting the ball exactly where it needs to be. And in the play to Wade, Manning threw with the same precision. After reviewing the play, I can see no error in Wade or Manning, but rather, a foresight in the moves of Porter. He knew exactly where the ball was coming something that can be attributed to countless hours of pregame studying. It goes back to that relentless pursuit by Sean Payton, that unquenchable desire he has instilled in his players and their purposeful execution.
An evaluation of Payton’s performance in this game cannot be complete without speaking on what he has done for this city and its players. Brees said it best, to come in to New Orleans at the time that he did took a certain amount of character. Before Peyton brought Brees from San Diego, the guy we know as one of the greatest QB of this decade may have been on the Dolphins who believed that he only had a 25% chance of recovering from his shoulder injury. The Saints were a team full of essential college football nobodies barely somebodies and a headliner in Reggie Bush. The journey that he brought those players on is the difference between him and Caldwell.
Caldwell, will go down as the most successful first year coach with 14 wins this season. But in comparison to the journey Payton and the Saints, Caldwell had a rather easy job. Much of the cultivation of athletic character was already done at the hands of Tony Dungy, the leadership and command on the field was already established by Manning. For these two coaches it’s the difference between being a good coach and coaching a good team.
Payton showed no interest in playing it safe. To be honest if they had played it safe the result of the game may have been very different. In traditional, predictable football, Manning has you beat as seen in the 10-0 start to the game. But in a game where you put you play with both your heart and your head the Saints become the victor.
In the words of everyone's favorite commentator, Micheal Irvin
“Today the Saints are America’s Team”
