OFFICIAL NFL Week by Week Thread:

[AlteredDNA]

I hope the Saints thank the refs in their trophy acceptance speech.....

And KATRINA!!!

[Don]

Brees should send the San Diego Chargers a thank you note for that incentive laden contract they offered him four years ago. He figured they had no confidence in him and left town. Now, he's got his ring while the Bolts continue to under achieve in the playoffs. Poetic justice.

[Saint John]

I don't understand that 2 point call still, but it's a moot point regardless (though I'd still like a rule explanation).

As soon as the ball crossed the goal line with him having possession the second time it's an instant score because it's the endzone, unlike in the field of play or sideline, where you have to retain control to the the ground through the play.

[Michigan Girl]

I hope the Saints thank the refs in their trophy acceptance speech.....

And KATRINA!!!

Sorry, Bad ME!!! How 'bout those fireworks?!?!? Can you see them!?!?

[AlteredDNA]

I hope the Saints thank the refs in their trophy acceptance speech.....

And KATRINA!!!

Sorry, Bad ME!!! How 'bout those fireworks?!?!? Can you see them!?!?

I can...although I'm starting to think there's some gunfire mixed in as well...

[T-Bone]

I wonder if it's coincidence that the game is already being dubbed the Sympathy Bowl

[artist4perry]

I wonder if it's coincidence that the game is already being dubbed the Sympathy Bowl

Sounds like sour grape whine to me.............

[YoungJRNY]

ZZZzzZZzZZzz. What a snoozefest Super Bowl. Manning blew his chance to be the all time great and remains a choker in clutch situations. Give me Roethlisberger ANY DAY of the week. Congrats to Nawlin's, they deserve it.

[YoungJRNY]

I don't understand that 2 point call still, but it's a moot point regardless (though I'd still like a rule explanation).

As soon as the ball crossed the goal line with him having possession the second time it's an instant score because it's the endzone, unlike in the field of play or sideline, where you have to retain control to the the ground through the play.

That's exactly what I said and he even had control when the Colts player touched him, which would mean he would be down by contact, thus a TD since the plain was CLEARLY broken. At least they got it right, that's all that matters and that's why you have replay.

[Saint John]

ZZZzzZZzZZzz. What a snoozefest Super Bowl. Manning blew his chance to be the all time great and remains a choker in clutch situations. Give me Roethlisberger ANY DAY of the week. Congrats to Nawlin's, they deserve it.

There's no doubt in my mind that Roethlisberger is better in the clutch than Manning. He's made incredible passes and Manning really stunk it up tonight in the fourth quarter by throwing a pick six, getting charged with a timeout because of indecision and then by not taking a timeout on 4th and goal. They were totally out of sync when they got inside the 20 on that last possession and needed to score to prolong the game and attempt an onside kick. Glad they went home with 2 timeouts, though.

[YoungJRNY]

ZZZzzZZzZZzz. What a snoozefest Super Bowl. Manning blew his chance to be the all time great and remains a choker in clutch situations. Give me Roethlisberger ANY DAY of the week. Congrats to Nawlin's, they deserve it.

There's no doubt in my mind that Roethlisberger is better in the clutch than Manning. He's made incredible passes and Manning really stunk it up tonight in the fourth quarter by throwing a pick six, getting charged with a timeout because of indecision and then by not taking a timeout on 4th and goal. They were totally out of sync when they got inside the 20 on that last possession and needed to score to prolong the game and attempt an onside kick. Glad they went home with 2 timeouts, though.

You could actually feel how the game turned and how Manning and the Colts offense was starting to break and get completley out of sync like you said. On that drive I had that strange feeling the turnover was coming since it was mistake free all game, and it SHOULD have came earlier when Manning threw a TERRIBLE ball to Wayne over the right sideline, just out of reach for the Saints corner. I wasn't expecting a pick 6 but I can't say I'm not all surprised that Manning succumbed to that.

[Saint John]

ZZZzzZZzZZzz. What a snoozefest Super Bowl. Manning blew his chance to be the all time great and remains a choker in clutch situations. Give me Roethlisberger ANY DAY of the week. Congrats to Nawlin's, they deserve it.

There's no doubt in my mind that Roethlisberger is better in the clutch than Manning. He's made incredible passes and Manning really stunk it up tonight in the fourth quarter by throwing a pick six, getting charged with a timeout because of indecision and then by not taking a timeout on 4th and goal. They were totally out of sync when they got inside the 20 on that last possession and needed to score to prolong the game and attempt an onside kick. Glad they went home with 2 timeouts, though.

You could actually feel how the game turned and how Manning and the Colts offense was starting to break and get completley out of sync like you said. On that drive I had that strange feeling the turnover was coming since it was mistake free all game, and it SHOULD have came earlier when Manning threw a TERRIBLE ball to Wayne over the right sideline, just out of reach for the Saints corner. I wasn't expecting a pick 6 but I can't say I'm not all surprised that Manning succumbed to that.

I can only remember Manning throwing one deep ball all game, and it was a terribly underthrown ball to Wayne.

[Ehwmatt]

ZZZzzZZzZZzz. What a snoozefest Super Bowl. Manning blew his chance to be the all time great and remains a choker in clutch situations. Give me Roethlisberger ANY DAY of the week. Congrats to Nawlin's, they deserve it.

There's no doubt in my mind that Roethlisberger is better in the clutch than Manning. He's made incredible passes and Manning really stunk it up tonight in the fourth quarter by throwing a pick six, getting charged with a timeout because of indecision and then by not taking a timeout on 4th and goal. They were totally out of sync when they got inside the 20 on that last possession and needed to score to prolong the game and attempt an onside kick. Glad they went home with 2 timeouts, though.

You could actually feel how the game turned and how Manning and the Colts offense was starting to break and get completley out of sync like you said. On that drive I had that strange feeling the turnover was coming since it was mistake free all game, and it SHOULD have came earlier when Manning threw a TERRIBLE ball to Wayne over the right sideline, just out of reach for the Saints corner. I wasn't expecting a pick 6 but I can't say I'm not all surprised that Manning succumbed to that.

I can only remember Manning throwing one deep ball all game, and it was a terribly underthrown ball to Wayne.

Yeah, I don't know if the coverage was that good or what, but the offensive play calling was just downright bizarre and pedestrian for the Colts this game.

[YoungJRNY]

ZZZzzZZzZZzz. What a snoozefest Super Bowl. Manning blew his chance to be the all time great and remains a choker in clutch situations. Give me Roethlisberger ANY DAY of the week. Congrats to Nawlin's, they deserve it.

There's no doubt in my mind that Roethlisberger is better in the clutch than Manning. He's made incredible passes and Manning really stunk it up tonight in the fourth quarter by throwing a pick six, getting charged with a timeout because of indecision and then by not taking a timeout on 4th and goal. They were totally out of sync when they got inside the 20 on that last possession and needed to score to prolong the game and attempt an onside kick. Glad they went home with 2 timeouts, though.

You could actually feel how the game turned and how Manning and the Colts offense was starting to break and get completley out of sync like you said. On that drive I had that strange feeling the turnover was coming since it was mistake free all game, and it SHOULD have came earlier when Manning threw a TERRIBLE ball to Wayne over the right sideline, just out of reach for the Saints corner. I wasn't expecting a pick 6 but I can't say I'm not all surprised that Manning succumbed to that.

I can only remember Manning throwing one deep ball all game, and it was a terribly underthrown ball to Wayne.

Yeah, that was as bad as it gets, esp a burner like Wayne, who was NON EXISTENT all night. I noticed that on the Saints side also, they REALLY wanted the deep ball all night but the Colts never gave them the deep ball. The Saints receivers did an excellent job at coming back to the ball and took what the Colts gave them and Bree's was REALLY smooth.

Joseph Addai was an animal. The Saints defenders CLEARLY couldn't wrap him up. If they would of kept feeding him, the Colts would of been well balanced and the Saints would of been in major trouble. Instead they forced Manning into tough 3rd downs and more importantly, stopping him.

[Don]

I'm glad it's over. All the Who Dat ghetto ebonics was wearing thin. Almost makes me want to watch soccer.

[Saint John]

Yeah, I don't know if the coverage was that good or what, but the offensive play calling was just downright bizarre and pedestrian for the Colts this game.

And was it just me or did Reggie Wayne seem like he was just going through the motions? He almost looked indifferent. He didn't run routes with conviction and was running at half speed the majority of the time. I just looked at the pick six again and that might not have even been Manning's fault! Wayne ran a slow route and then stopped when I don't think he was supposed to. That route looked very awkward.

[Don]

Maybe Peyton threw the game to finally give Archie some bragging rights around the dinner table.

[YoungJRNY]

Footing was def a concern. I noticed that out of the Saints receivers too. They seemed VERY hesitant and looked like they weren't confident in their breaks. When the Saints went for it on 4th and Goal, Bell's cleats kicked out from underneath him pretty good. The Field seemed slippy. Maybe the field wasn't hard enough for the spikes to dig deep or something.

[YoungJRNY]

Maybe Peyton threw the game to finally give Archie some bragging rights around the dinner table.

We'll soon have a full blown report from Malone & 7 Wishes on how the refs blew this one.

[7 Wishes]

I hope the Saints thank the refs in their trophy acceptance speech.....

WTF are you talking about? There wasn't ONE bad call in this game on either side? WTF?

[7 Wishes]

If Peyton only winds up with one (tainted) Super Bowl title when he retires, will be still be regarded as superior to Elway, Brady, and Montana?

[Ehwmatt]

If Peyton only winds up with one (tainted) Super Bowl title when he retires, will be still be regarded as superior to Elway, Brady, and Montana?

Huge Peyton fanboy here, but I gotta answer no, not quite.

I think one of the key things was the Saints had a BATTLE with the Vikings whereas the Colts coasted to the Super Bowl, not being pushed at all along the way. You could easily see who was the sharper of the two teams.

[YoungJRNY]

If Peyton only winds up with one (tainted) Super Bowl title when he retires, will be still be regarded as superior to Elway, Brady, and Montana?

Huge Peyton fanboy here, but I gotta answer no, not quite.

I think one of the key things was the Saints had a BATTLE with the Vikings whereas the Colts coasted to the Super Bowl, not being pushed at all along the way. You could easily see who was the sharper of the two teams.

Eh, I wouldn't sell that to the full extent. The Colts, for mostly all season, played tight games and had like 8 comeback victories this season to get to their 13-0 mark, and the Jets gave them one helluva game, even though towards the end it broke open, it was closer than the initial final score. Manning & the Colts, in my mind now, are like San Diego, they are just built to win in the regular season and can't give that extra "it" to finish it off in the post season. At one point, the Colts dominated the Saints, for mostly ALL of the first quarter, but that quickly turned the 2nd quarter. 10-6 at half and 17-13 at one point, so both teams played well to the point of the mistake of Manning and that LATE 4th quarter collapse.

[Ehwmatt]

If Peyton only winds up with one (tainted) Super Bowl title when he retires, will be still be regarded as superior to Elway, Brady, and Montana?

Huge Peyton fanboy here, but I gotta answer no, not quite.

I think one of the key things was the Saints had a BATTLE with the Vikings whereas the Colts coasted to the Super Bowl, not being pushed at all along the way. You could easily see who was the sharper of the two teams.

Eh, I wouldn't sell that to the full extent. The Colts, for mostly all season, played tight games and had like 8 comeback victories this season to get to their 13-0 mark, and the Jets gave them one helluva game, even though towards the end it broke open, it was closer than the initial final score. Manning & the Colts, in my mind now, are like San Diego, they are just built to win in the regular season and can't give that extra "it" to finish it off in the post season. At one point, the Colts dominated the Saints, for mostly ALL of the first quarter, but that quickly turned the 2nd quarter. 10-6 at half and 17-13 at one point, so both teams played well to the point of the mistake of Manning and that LATE 4th quarter collapse.

Even though the score was close until the Saints broke it up, the game was not close at all after the first quarter. It was really total domination from that point on.

Playing a tight game 7 weeks ago in the regular season doesn't matter. The Saints were clearly the more game-tough of the two teams. They learned a lot about themselves against the Vikings. The Colts had nary a challenge the whole postseason. That Jets game was never anywhere near in doubt and the Ravens game was a kill.

[artist4perry]

Dedication for the colts fans...........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7vaYOIKWYY

[Red13JoePa]

If Peyton only winds up with one (tainted) Super Bowl title when he retires, will be still be regarded as superior to Elway, Brady, and Montana?

No he'll be Favre.
A Hall Of Famer but less than Montana and Elway.
And I love Brady don;t get me wrong but I can;t put him up there with the NFL's version of Tapegate hanging over Foxboro.

[lights1961]

If Peyton only winds up with one (tainted) Super Bowl title when he retires, will be still be regarded as superior to Elway, Brady, and Montana?

No he'll be Favre.
A Hall Of Famer but less than Montana and Elway.
And I love Brady don;t get me wrong but I can;t put him up there with the NFL's version of Tapegate hanging over Foxboro.

dont forget the tuck rule...

ELWAY and MONTANA are the two best QB in modern football. Manning is 9-9 in playoff games now.
Elway as the DRIVE and Montana has the CATCH...

[YoungJRNY]

If Peyton only winds up with one (tainted) Super Bowl title when he retires, will be still be regarded as superior to Elway, Brady, and Montana?

No he'll be Favre.
A Hall Of Famer but less than Montana and Elway.
And I love Brady don;t get me wrong but I can;t put him up there with the NFL's version of Tapegate hanging over Foxboro.

dont forget the tuck rule...

ELWAY and MONTANA are the two best QB in modern football. Manning is 9-9 in playoff games now.
Elway as the DRIVE and Montana has the CATCH...

Can't argue that. Ben is 9-2 in playoff action, 2-0 in the Super Bowl. There HAS to be a place for Manning/Tyree and Roethlisberger/Holmes's spectacular catches.

[lights1961]

If Peyton only winds up with one (tainted) Super Bowl title when he retires, will be still be regarded as superior to Elway, Brady, and Montana?

No he'll be Favre.
A Hall Of Famer but less than Montana and Elway.
And I love Brady don;t get me wrong but I can;t put him up there with the NFL's version of Tapegate hanging over Foxboro.

dont forget the tuck rule...

ELWAY and MONTANA are the two best QB in modern football. Manning is 9-9 in playoff games now.
Elway as the DRIVE and Montana has the CATCH...

Can't argue that. Ben is 9-2 in playoff action, 2-0 in the Super Bowl. There HAS to be a place for Manning/Tyree and Roethlisberger/Holmes's spectacular catches.

just depends when he retires... and who is in his class...

2010 HOF class... LOVE that RICE and SMITH made it together.. and Floyd Little making it after 30 years... great!! RUSS GRIMM too...cant think of the other folks that made it.

[Ehwmatt]

Dungy: Garcon's drop was the turning point of the game.

I couldn't agree more and Dan (Saint John) called it via text message right after it happened last night before the actual score turned. Truly the turning point.

"The biggest play of the game for me was in the second quarter when the Colts had the lead, they were up 10-3, and Pierre Garcon dropped a third down pass," "I think if Pierre had caught that ball they would probably go ahead, move on, and maybe be up 13-3 or possibly 17-3. That's the one, I think, that really allowed New Orleans back in it."