saintsfan1203

By DAVE GOLDBERG
AP football writer
Published: Sep 6, 2007

If not for a misstep in Chicago, the New Orleans Saints might have played Indianapolis in the Super Bowl last February. Instead, they get the “consolation prize,” going to Indy tonight for the season opener against the champions.

It’s also a reverse homecoming for Peyton Manning, who grew up in New Orleans, where his father played for the Saints. Manning still has a soft spot in his heart for both his hometown and the team for which he rooted as a boy.

But not too soft this week in what figures to be a royal shootout with Drew Brees. The over-under is a whopping 52 points, with the Colts favored by six.

One reason for the big number is an Indianapolis defense that’s never been the team’s strong point and goes into the season missing four starters from last season: two cornerbacks and linebacker Cato June, all gone as free agents, and run-stuffer Anthony McFarland, out for the season with a knee injury. That means Reggie Bush and his Saints cohorts could turn this into a track meet.


The Colts’ defenders think otherwise.

“We’re playing fast and playing smart, and I think we’re a lot farther along right now than we were this time last year,” middle linebacker Gary Brackett say. “We built some confidence last season in the playoffs, so we wanted to get some things established during the preseason, and I think we did that.”


Maybe.

And maybe Manning will be OK with rookie Tony Ugoh at left tackle in place of the retired Tarik Glenn, and no running back with an NFL carry behind Joseph Addai.

The Saints enter the season with the burden of expectations. Last year, coming off a 3-13 season and an exile forced by Hurricane Katrina, they were the NFL’s feel-good story. Now, a lot of folks, especially in New Orleans, expect them to go all the way.

Not here.
COLTS, 37-36

If that is the final score I'm pissed. I want a flip flop Saints 37-36!!

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