3. Manning the great
Giving Manning two weeks to dissect the Saints’ defense is like giving the Colts a 3-point lead before kickoff.
Nobody, absolutely nobody, puts in more film work than No. 18. By the time Manning is done breaking down New Orleans’ defense, he’ll know what kind of gum Saints safety Darren Sharper chews on game day.
If 40-year-old Brett Favre threw for 310 yards against the Saints, what sort of numbers will Manning, a former Super Bowl MVP and four-time league MVP, put up with an extra week’s worth of preparation? Manning gashed the Jets and their No. 1-ranked defense for 377 yards and three TDs. The Saints ended the regular season ranked 25th in total defense and 26th in pass defense.
(Saints rebuttal: Peyton, I’d like you to meet defensive end Bobby McCray — the No. 1 cause of happy feet, rushed throws and MRIs. Kurt Warner and Favre can tell you all about him. … Our man Brees has faced three former Super Bowl MVPs this season: Eli Manning, Tom Brady and Warner. All he did was go 3-0 against them, throw 12 TDs and zero INTs, complete 75.3 percent of his passes and average 329 passing yards. So yeah, he’s terrified of facing Oreo-licker Peyton.)
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