7
Feb
2010
ReadAndReact’s Super Bowl XLIV Picks & Live Game Blog
The big day is upon us. The most holy day of the NFL season: Super Bowl Sunday.
As we proved with our horrendous 2009-2010 playoff pick performance, game prognostication is not exactly our forte here at ReadAndReact. But when you fall off the horse, you get right back on and try again … and we would be remiss if we didn’t at least join the rest of the blogosphere and make our picks for Super Bowl XLIV. Sadly, only one member of our staff – steverodgers – has a chance for his original SB pick to come through, if the Colts end up winning tonight in Miami.
The overwhelming emotional favorite in today’s game is the Saints, with most of the country rallying behind the “Who Dat Nation” and the city of New Orleans. But the Indianapolis Colts – with their far superior defense and Peyton Manning at the helm – remains the rational favorite to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. And everyone loves themselves a Pierre!
We’ll be checking in throughout the day, and posting our thoughts in the comments section. Feel free to join in, and enjoy your Super Bowl Sunday!
Watching ESPN’s report on Pierre Garcon and his homeland of Haiti … the earthquake hit 4 days before the Colts’ first playoff game this year. He’s dedicated his playoff performance to Haiti, waving the flag at games, and providing some inspiration to his relatives and countrymen during this time. Seems like a great kid.
That’s why Garcon is my emotional favorite to win the MVP tonight.
Final hour of pre-game coverage … at this point, the hype has reached a static-like level. It’s just noise. Let’s get to it already
Bill Cowher interviews Plaxico Burress from prison …
Talking about his new daughter, born last month. says he’s going to be a better husband and father because of this.
On the gun, Plaxico says he had his home broken into twice, and saw what happened to other athletes, and felt “scared”. But says he made a bad situation worse, and that he made a selfish decision. He handed the Giants owners a letter apologizing for bringing such negative attention to the organization. Being in Jail, all you have is time to think.
Wants to be a better husband, father, brother, friend and THEN a football player.
“I will play in the NFL again. And it’ll be like I never left.”
Lessons learned: “don’t take anything for granted.”
Plaxico said a lot of the right things here, but Cowher – obviously a friend/supporter of Plaxico, gave him a creampuff interview.
Looking to place a few last-minute bets on the big game?
Check out this list of the most ridiculous Super Bowl XLIV prop bets:
http://vegaswatch.net/2010/02/most-ridiculous-super-bowl-xliv-props.html
You can bet on everything from the length of the national anthem to the color of gatorade dumped on the head coach and how many times Archie Manning will be shown on TV during the game (over/under is 4 … the over is a stone cold LOCK)
Here we go … only about 30 minutes until kickoff.
I gotta admit, the Jay-Z/Rhianna “Run This Town” open has me fired up.
As much as I’d love to see the Saints win this game for the city of New Orleans, I gotta believe the Colts are gonna take it.
I just think it comes down to defense, and I don’t see the Saints defense stopping Peyton Manning when it matters.
These team intros are lame.
steverodgers tells me his MVP pick is Peyton Manning.
risky pick, steve.
here’s the lebron vs dwight howard horse mcdonald’s commercial … reprising the bird vs jordan commercial of yore.
meh
okay, i just discovered the bodog has a live game betting feature, where you can literally win/lose a bet on every play of the game (or close to it).
this could be dangerous.
Does the NFL Network even have anyone left to cover the game at this point?
Am I a loser for thinking that the Hyundai Sonata looks like a nice car?
Dallas Clark has a porn star look to him. Bit of a ’stache, post-mullet generation haircut.
Manning is showing in the early going why he is the best player of our generation.
Saints two jittery possessions on offense. Need to settle down.
Pierre Garcon!!!
I threw down $10 on him for MVP at 10/1 odds … what a great story that would be!
that bud light autotune commercial makes me want to fight somebody
COURTNEY!!!
I can’t do the hyphens every time … sorry, I just can’t
Freeney comes up with the huge sack. I honestly didn’t think he’d be able to be much of a factor with his ankle today.
He must be be playing on pure adrenaline … well, that and a truckload of painkillers.
How on earth did Letterman pull that off????
Big drive by the Saints. It’s early, but they need a stop and some good field position.
4th and goal play: Sean Payton will go down in infamy . . . .
says a lot about the confidence he doesn’t have in his defense to go for it there.
BAD decision to go for it by Sean Payton. At this point in the game, you take the 3 points when you can get them.
a 10-6 defensive struggle at the half. who’da thunk it?
crap. I bet $10 that Pete Townshend would smash his guitar at the end of the halftime show. Shoulda taken the over on the rock windmills instead.
Onside kick to start the 2nd half … SAINTS RECOVER!!!
Wow
Payton’s got serious balls. Onside kick to start the second half. Holy balls.
at least he’s consistent … 1st time ever attempted prior to the 4th quarter in a SB.
When Vilma comes off the edge, Manning checks to an inside run to Addai. Almost every time.
Manning is insanely efficient. He’s on another level.
A lot of prognosticators picked the Colts to run away with it in the second half. That drive by the Colts was very impressive. Now we know why the Saints are taking chances– their defense really can’t match up.
Big FG by Hartley there … if nothing else, this is turning into a great game.
But yeah, the Saints need to show they can stop Manning, or at least create a turnover, if they have any chance
best commercial so far is the Snickers one with Bettie White. Worst: all the stupid Doritos ads.
agreed on the snickers ad. good to see Abe Vigoda out there.
big 4th down try here for the Colts… and they convert. Manning to Wayne.
That missed field goal is as good as a turnover for the Saints. They get pretty good field position and an opportunity to take the lead. They have been trying for the home run ball all night– they are one play from putting the pressure squarely on Manning.
If the Colts win: Manning is the MVP. If the Saints win: who is the MVP? Brees?
Based on this drive so far, if the Saints somehow pull this out, it’s Brees for MVP. Unless Pierre Thomas scores again.
Shockey must be feeling pretty good about himself right now. After pouting his way out of NY after their SB run, at least he’s contributing to this one.
He’s still a loser.
tough call on this 2-pt conversion. could go either way … I think he had it over the plane with control before it came out.
that’s huge. now Manning has to score a TD just to tie.
great finish to this one.
Huge third down for the Colts. Is it Garcon, Wayne, or Clark. I say look for Clark over the middle.
Tracy Porter for MVP!!!
Wow. I just got done saying that Peyton NEVER throws those kind of picks. Crazy.
Not sure if it was Manning’s fault, but that is a legacy changer. He is hardly someone that chokes, but it may well have cost them the game.
So, what does he do, starts building anew. Manning takes them right down the field. Very impressive.
And the Saints defense comes up with another HUGE stop.
New Orleans is gonna have the best party ever tonight.
Great game!
SAINTS WIN! SAINTS WIN!
Good for New Orleans– a fitting end to the season.
Fufkin-
Great work tonight and this season. The only bigger news than the Saints winning is your recent engagement– congratulations again.
Thanks bud … good watching the game with you. It’s been a big week, indeed!