Did Peyton Manning and the Colts Choke, Or Did the Saints Rise Up?

The failures of Peyton Manning have been few over his career, but this one has to hurt. 

With the game still in the balance, Manning, on a pass intended for Reggie Wayne, got picked for a TD.

Not used to seeing that, I thought.

Then again, not sure Wayne ran the route the way Manning wanted it, or the way it was supposed to go.  As evidence by Manning's reluctance to address the subject during post game press, Manning clearly was playing the politically correct role on this one by giving all the credit to Porter for the Pick Six.

So now that the game is done, and it ranks as the all-time most-watched Super Bowl in history, Did the Colts give this game away?  Or, was there really no denying the Saints after all was said and done?

I think if you were to play this game five times, the Colts would win four out of five. I believe that the Colts came in a little on the cocky side and perhaps thought that this could be a walk-through.

All week long prior to the game we heard the likes of Tony Dungy claiming that the Colts would win in impressive format.  No one from the Saints was talking.  I know Dungy is not the coach, but he is associated heavily with the team. 

The Colts in my opinion were outcoached and once they gave up the lead, it seemed like panic mode set in as if they finally realized they were in a game. 

Perhaps too late at that point?

I think this game boiled down to essentially 3 factors: 

1. Sean Payton : He outcoached his counterpart and had the stones to pull off an improable onside kick after a long halftime. If this play doesnt work, Payton is getting roasted today, but it worked to perfection. If Indy gets the ball they most likely go down and score and it would have put the Saints in a huge hole with the momentum belonging to Indy.

2. Drew Brees : Brees never got rattled and after completing only three passes on the first three Saints drives, he settled in and torched the Colts with precision passing unlike the deep home runs we are used to seeing from Brees. He knew where his receivers should be and delivered the ball. Once Brees got locked in, he was in victory formation.

3. Critical Colts' mistakes : From Garcon dropping what would have been a sure-fire first-down catch to what appeared like a broken route from Reggie Wayne, costly mistakes caught up with Indy and in the end were too much to overcome.

I dont think the Colts choked; I just the Saints wanted it more. There is always the skepticism about intangibles and motivation. However, exactly what the Colts were lacking in the second half, the Saints clearly found. 

Brees, Coach Payton, and the City of New Orleans weren't going to let them give that up.  No, not on this night.

So it ends a magic night in the magic city as they call Miami.  Magic for one team, frustration and "what-ifs" for the other. 

Dont know if any Saints fans will even read this article: They're Still Partying!