Super Bowl Diary: Colts-Saints Halftime and Second Half

Once upon a time, The Who were my favorite band. I had all of the albums, saw "Tommy" on Broadway when it was new, and got way too much into "Quadrophenia." I played their songs on acoustic guitar while I was learning how to play, and was bitterly disappointed that Pete Townshend's solo work didn't outpace the band.

That was 25 years ago, when Roger Daltry and Townshend weren't old, old men, limping through a denuded 12-minute medley that was about 12 minutes too long, with neither man able to sing at all. And especially not in HD. (A note to the NFL; you aren't allowed to show senior citizen rockers in he new technology.)

I'm just glad that (original bassist) John Entwhistle and (original drummer) Keith Moon didn't live to do this, and I'm ready to, well, not listen to the band ever again. No truth to the rumor that their next album will be called "Who's Left." Though, to be fair, Townshend can still play guitar, and they kept their nipples covered, which is especially important given Pete's child porn issues. Please, next year, go with a stand-up comedian instead. I'm pretty sure Don Rickles is available, and old enough to get the gig...

The Colts can, if Manning is sharp enough and gets support, take a hammer lock on this thing with an opening drive touchdown drive... but Payton goes Maximum Balls with an onside kick. A huge melee opens up, with fist fights all over the field for a minute or more, and the Saints eventually wind up with the ball. Huge Balls, Sir. Huge Balls. Wow. First onside kick outside of the fourth quarter in Super History.

Brees to RB Thomas, who spins and gets the first, and Mr. Mo Mentum is now chanting Who Dat. On a rollout, Brees sticks it to Henderson for nine, and the WR makes the play despite a tip. From the gun on second, Brees finds Henderson for a first as Freeney gets re-taped. Brees to Colston for nine as the Saints continue to be patient with the underneath routes. RB Thomas to the 15 and the red zone on a nice counter run, and the Colts defense is on their heels. Then it's RB Thomas again on a well-executed screen, and the RB takes it against the grain and to the house. It's ruined a little by Shockey taunting like a goober, but only a little. Saints 13, Colts 10.

With the Saint players dancing on the sidelines, Morstead kicks away, and Simpson gets it back to the 24. Manning alone against the tide now, and from the gun, he rolls right and finds Clark for 8 yards. Addai runs through an arm tackle on a bubble screen for the first. Addai runs through trash and bad tackling for 11 to the right and the first. From the gun on first, Collie gets a couple on a bubble screen. Manning in hurry up on second adjusts, then gives to Addai for four as the Colts cross midfield. Massive play here is no huddle from the gun, and Manning rolls right and throws an amazing strike to Clark to the Saints 20. Unreal throw.

On first, Manning to Clark could have drawn a flag, but doesn't, and it's incomplete. A draw to Brown gets five, and third down hurry up has Manning coaching the team into position, then taking it from the gun. The throw to Clark in cross traffic is surgical, and brings the Colts to the four. On first and goal, it's Addai spinning and sliding into the end zone, and that's a go-ahead touchdown. Wow. With the Stover extra point, the Colts go back up, 17-13, as the nation's over gamblers have hope.

I'd like to take this time to share the following line from FTT Contributor Dirty Davey: Who knew Archie Manning would destroy the hope of the people of New Orleans using his dick? He'll be here all week, folks. Try the veal.

Roby brings back the kick to the 33. RB Thomas for six, then Bush out of the backfield from Brees with a quickness as the game starts looking like Cardinals-Packers, especially with Freeney looking off. An odd screen to Bush is missed and dangerous. From the gun on second, Brees to Henderson on an out for the first, and the Saint QB is pretty good, too. A throw to Mecham in the flat gets just a yard as Brees continues to avoid the deep ball, while still threatening with it. Thomas gets a couple and third and seven is a field goal down in a game that doesn't look like field goals anymore. From the gun, Brees has time, but takes the checkdown to Shockey, who gets hammered with an elbow in the face. Can't say I didn't enjoy that in slo-mo. Hartley from 47 sets a Super record with his third make from distance (wow, the SB has seen terrible field goal kicking), and it's 17-16 Colts.

Simpson takes a ball out of the end zone from five yards deep and regrets it, as the Colts will start from their own 11. Manning is perfect to Collie for nine to start the drive. Brown up the gut converts the first down as the Indy OL continues to get good yardage in the running game. With the crowd still solid behind the underdogs, Collie takes a curl for four yards, and the quarter ends before Manning can take the snap from the gun. At the end of three, it's a pretty great game, and the Colts with a one point lead.

Manning starts the fourth with an easy cross to Garcon for 17, and the WR ends the play with violence. Nice. A sprint draw to Addai is pretty terrible, and Vilma ends it for a two yard loss. From the gun and hurrying, Manning throws his worst pass of the day, short to Wayne, but the CB never sees it, and it falls short. Pressure might have been an issue there. Third and 12 is an out to Wayne for 10, crossing midfield, and the Colts stay on the field to go for it. On fourth and two, huge play, and Manning shifts pre-snap, then hits Wayne on a cross. The WR bobbles but holds on for the first. Wow. Caldwell sees Payton's balls and raises. There's a reason this game is a great one, folks. Kudos to the coaches, too.

Addai for two to the left to the Saint 30. Collie gets snowed under on an odd quick screen for a loss. Suddenly, it's 3rd and 11 from the 33 with the field goal in doubt. From the gun with the crowd making noise, Manning pumps and tries Collie in the end zone, but Vilma knocks it down. Caldwell tries Stover from 51 yards, which seems a lot for an old kicker, and the try misses by just a little on a hook. Had the Colts gotten a short gain on third, I think the figgie hits. That Could Be Telling.

The Saints start at their 41, and Bush goes for 13 on a big hole to the left. Mr. Mo Mentum singing the WhoDat again, and your over bet looks toasted, too. With all day to throw, Brees finds Thomas for five. From the gun on second, the out to Henderson is perfectly timed for six yards, no RAC, and a first. Crisp on both sides. Another quick out to Bush gets eight as the Colts just can't get to the QB or a holding call. Inside the 30, Brees to Colston is a hand fight all the way out of bounds, but another first. The coverage is fine, but the QB is finer, and the protection is great.

Mecham on a bubble screen for six yards when he could have had none. Freeney back for second and four, but he can't stop TE David Thomas from catching and spinning to the Colt 5. Every pass is out in two seconds, and every pass is on the numbers; surgery is happening on both sides, really. RB Thomas shakes a tackle to the two, and there are less than six minutes left in the game. A quick screen to Shockey goes for a touchdown, and CBS fellates him as I try not to sigh too loudly. The Saints go for two and a big deal lead, and Moore makes a tremendous effort, but can't come up with it. The Saints take the lead, 22-17, and more or less end the dreams of anyone for a Colt cover. Payton challenges, and the replay makes things much more in doubt, if for no other reason than the NFL would love overtime more than anything. The challenge is a good one, and it's 24-17, Saints. Massive.

Everything on Manning and the Indy offense now. Simpson takes a low kick back to the Colt 30, and the Colts start there with 5:35 left. From the gun on first, the Colts make things hard on themselves with a false start. Again from the gun, Manning has all day, then throws across the grain to Garcon for 17 and the first. An out to Wayne is nearly picked. Wow. On second from the gun, Maning to Garcon on a slant despite a corner blitz and that's another first. A bubble to Wayne has the WR weave for 12 and the first, and they are already at the Saint 36.Wayne on a cross for five as the clock goes to 3:30. From the gun on first, Manning just misses Collie as the WR falls. Third and five is a huge play, and before it happens, DE Anthony Hargrove goes off. After the commerce, from the gun, the Saints blitz, Manning throws a TAInt to CB Tracy Porter, and the Saints are going to be the champions of the NFL. Un Bee Leave A Bull. Saints 31, Colts 17, and in one throw in crunch time, Manning just had the entire conversation about his career change.

With 3:12 left, Simpson needs to take it to the house to give the Colts a real shot, and he gets a hole, but the return is just OK, and it comes back on a hold. Manning to Clark for five and that doesn't help much now, with the clock running. The Saints call time to get set and make the game run long. Clark gets the first on second down, but can't get out of bounds. A nice deep ball to Collie gets it to the Saints 30 for a 41-yard gain, and that's the two minute warning. Addai to the 13 on a middle throw, then to the seven, and the Saints make a mistake with a late hit that adds yards and stops the clock; Hargrove with a spear. Dumb. From the four, Manning throws an unconscionable pick, but the DB is ruled out of bounds, so it just costs 10 yards, rather than a total disaster. From the gun, Addai to the 3, and Manning calls timeout with 76 seconds left. Phil Simms just realized than an onside kick will now be necessary. Thanks, Phil!

Manning tries a slant, but it pinballs up, then bounces off the upright before it hits the ground. On third down, the Colts try Addai on a running play for a two yard loss, and wow, that was telling. Fourth and five is incomplete to Wayne through his hands, and that is that. Hell of a game for a 14-point win, really.

The best QB in the NFL this year stopped being that way in the last five minutes of the game, when his team needed him most. The Saints are the champions of the NFL, and Drew Brees is a Super Bowl winner. Congratulations to them, and more later, I suspect.