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The Saints will attempt to buck some history and statistical trends on Sunday in Super Bowl XLIV. The old axiom is that “defenses win championships”. According to that theory, the Saints might be in a bit of a pickle on Sunday. Since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, a team that finished 10th or lower in scoring defense managed to win the Super Bowl just five times.
Here is a breakdown with the average number of points allowed with the league rank following:
| 1970 Colts | 16.7 | 7 |
| 1971 Cowboys | 15.8 | 7 |
| 1972 Dolphins | 12.2 | 1 |
| 1973 Dolphins | 10.7 | 1 |
| 1974 Steelers | 13.5 | 2 |
| 1975 Steelers | 11.5 | 2 |
| 1976 Raiders | 16.9 | 12 |
| 1977 Cowboys | 15.1 | 8 |
| 1978 Steelers | 12.1 | 1 |
| 1979 Steelers | 16.3 | 7 |
| 1980 Raiders | 19.1 | 10 |
| 1981 49ers | 15.6 | 2 |
| 1982 Redskins | 14.2 | 1 |
| 1983 Raiders | 21.1 | 13 |
| 1984 49ers | 14.1 | 1 |
| 1985 Bears | 12.3 | 1 |
| 1986 Giants | 14.7 | 2 |
| 1987 Redskins | 19 | 6 |
| 1988 49ers | 18.3 | 8 |
| 1989 49ers | 15.8 | 3 |
| 1990 Giants | 13.1 | 1 |
| 1991 Redskins | 14 | 2 |
| 1992 Cowboys | 15.1 | 5 |
| 1993 Cowboys | 14.3 | 2 |
| 1994 49ers | 18.5 | 6 |
| 1995 Cowboys | 18.1 | 3 |
| 1996 Packers | 13.1 | 1 |
| 1997 Broncos | 17.9 | 7 |
| 1998 Broncos | 19.3 | 9 |
| 1999 Rams | 15.1 | 4 |
| 2000 Ravens | 10.3 | 1 |
| 2001 Patriots | 17 | 6 |
| 2002 Bucs | 12.2 | 1 |
| 2003 Patriots | 14.8 | 1 |
| 2004 Patriots | 16.2 | 2 |
| 2005 Steelers | 16.1 | 4 |
| 2006 Colts | 22.5 | 23 |
| 2007 Giants | 21.9 | 17 |
| 2008 Steelers | 13.9 | 1 |
| Points Allowed | League Rank | |
| 1966 Packers | 11.6 | 1 |
| 1967 Packers | 14.9 | 3 |
| 1968 Jets | 20 | 4 |
| 1969 Chiefs | 12.6 | 1 |
| 1970 Colts | 16.7 | 7 |
| 1971 Cowboys | 15.8 | 7 |
| 1972 Dolphins | 12.2 | 1 |
| 1973 Dolphins | 10.7 | 1 |
| 1974 Steelers | 13.5 | 2 |
| 1975 Steelers | 11.5 | 2 |
| 1976 Raiders | 16.9 | 12 |
| 1977 Cowboys | 15.1 | 8 |
| 1978 Steelers | 12.1 | 1 |
| 1979 Steelers | 16.3 | 7 |
| 1980 Raiders | 19.1 | 10 |
| 1981 49ers | 15.6 | 2 |
| 1982 Redskins | 14.2 | 1 |
| 1983 Raiders | 21.1 | 13 |
| 1984 49ers | 14.1 | 1 |
| 1985 Bears | 12.3 | 1 |
| 1986 Giants | 14.7 | 2 |
| 1987 Redskins | 19 | 6 |
| 1988 49ers | 18.3 | 8 |
| 1989 49ers | 15.8 | 3 |
| 1990 Giants | 13.1 | 1 |
| 1991 Redskins | 14 | 2 |
| 1992 Cowboys | 15.1 | 5 |
| 1993 Cowboys | 14.3 | 2 |
| 1994 49ers | 18.5 | 6 |
| 1995 Cowboys | 18.1 | 3 |
| 1996 Packers | 13.1 | 1 |
| 1997 Broncos | 17.9 | 7 |
| 1998 Broncos | 19.3 | 9 |
| 1999 Rams | 15.1 | 4 |
| 2000 Ravens | 10.3 | 1 |
| 2001 Patriots | 17 | 6 |
| 2002 Bucs | 12.2 | 1 |
| 2003 Patriots | 14.8 | 1 |
| 2004 Patriots | 16.2 | 2 |
| 2005 Steelers | 16.1 | 4 |
| 2006 Colts | 22.5 | 23 |
| 2007 Giants | 21.9 | 17 |
| 2008 Steelers | 13.9 | 1 |
New Orleans would be the sixth and the third over the past four seasons. The Saints are 20th in scoring defense, allowing 21 points per game, while the Colts finished 8th by allowing 19 points per game. Without Freeney, this game could take on a dramatically different feel. If the Colts struggle to pressure Brees and stop the run, they are in trouble.
Conversely, New Orleans CANNOT allow the Colts to run the ball. In fact, if Indy outrushes the Saints, the Colts will win. Period. That means Peyton play-action and all kinds of trouble for the Saints secondary.
This is the best passing attack either team has seen all season long and in the case of Indianapolis, it is the best offense they have seen all year. With early reports of good weather in store for Sunday, points should be aplenty in Miami.
Categories: Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV
Joe Montana's Right Arm 
The Colts don’t have a running game and they DEFINITELY won’t win by rushing. The Colts only averaged 80 rushing yards per game in the regular season. And in the playoffs they only average 71. So yeah, if they think they can win by rushing then all I can say is GOOD LUCK lol. The saints average 120 this post season in rushing and 218 in passing. So who’s defense will have a tougher time stopping the offense? The Colts. Why? Because the Colts have to stop the RUN and the PASS. But the Saints just have to stop the PASS.