Super Bowl XLV: Reasons of Interest for Saints Fans; Root For Packers

You've heard the expression, "opinions are like a**holes, everyone's got one"?

Well needless to say, I have an opinion about Super Bowl XLV. But mine is likely much different than most. 

This opinion is centered less on the game itself, and more on how it relates to the New Orleans Saints. Following are ten points of intrigue that relate to the Saints in "The Big Game". 

10. The Unis

To many, this seems like such a trivial matter that to discuss it is to give credence to a trend that does not exist.

But we cannot truly view the recent Super Bowl phenomenon in such terms. As ESPN’s Page Two Uniform Super Bowl column noted, the last six Super Bowl winners have worn the white jersey, including the Saints a season ago.

The Packers had the option to retain the white tradition, but passed, allowing the Steelers who have won their past two Super Bowls, both in their white and yellow digs, to wear them again.

The Packers would have essentially been sporting the same colors as last year’s champs, keeping the symmetry between the two—to be discussed further in depth as we move along.

9.  Passing Teams Win Super Bowls

You have to go all the way back to 2005, and Roethlisberger’s initial try at winning the Super Bowl, to find a team who didn’t win as a result of throwing the football efficiently.

In reality, this trend started to take shape in 1998 when Kurt Warner brilliantly quarterbacked the original 'Greatest Show on Turf'. Since then, the Colts, Saints, and now interestingly enough the Packers, have been mentioned in similar breaths.

Green Bay’s receivers, backs, and tight ends seem to gain that extra bit of burst when playing on turf, just as the Rams, Colts, and Saints skill guys did in their Super Bowl runs.

Much has been made of this, but the surface and conditions lead me to believe a high-scoring Super Bowl is in order.

8.  Innovative Defensive Coordinators

One cannot write an article or column on this matter and not mention Dick LeBeau. But Dom Capers fits that bill as well. Interestingly enough, so does Gregg Williams.

Last season it was Williams’ changing defensive schemes midway through the game to throw off Peyton Manning that helped the Saints stay close in the Super Bowl into the fourth quarter.

Similarly, Capers is going to throw a lot of different looks at Big Ben. I don’t expect the Packers to stop the Steelers, but I do expect them to at least keep their team in the game late.

7. Malcolm Jenkins is a Clone of Charles Woodson

Here’s where I really see the similarities and much of the interest from Saints fans to begin. Since the moment I put on the tape of Malcolm at Ohio State this time two years ago, I was awed at the similarities between he and Woodson.

Both are wonderful man-to-man coverage guys and can excel in zone schemes as well. But what separates them from others is their versatility.

Both are excellent tacklers and run defenders. Both can and will play the slot in nickel situations. Both can and have played safety. And both are excellent blitzers.

Each is really the wild card of his respective defense. Going forward I expect Gregg Williams more and more to allow Jenkins to do many of the same things Woodson does.

In fact, because “this league is a copycat league” I expect Williams to be watching Sunday looking for ways he can use Jenkins similar to Woodson. And in doing so, I expect Jenkins to become an all-pro in the next few years.

6.  Matthews Brothers

Clay has become an instant star, an All-Pro, and in my opinion should have been named NFL Defensive Player of the Year. And he also has a younger brother who is eligible for the draft this upcoming draft season.

Casey is an outside linebacker from Oregon. He sports long locks just like his brother. Similarly he is a bit of a late-bloomer whose upside seems to be ahead of him.

He may not be the pass rusher that Clay is, but will provide solid linebacker play and special teams play. Because of this, just like Clay he will make his team better. And guess who is looking for such a player. That’s right, your New Orleans Saints.

5.  Running Back Quandary

If there is any team in the NFL can truly sympathize with the Packers and the injury issues they’ve had at the running back position, or any other, it would be the Saints.

The Saints were literally on an eighth string running back at the end of the playoff game versus Seattle. Even the Packers’ issues haven’t been that great.

But I like to root for teams similar to the Saints. And the Packers and their injury issues make them more like the Saints.

4.   Sean Payton and Mike McCarthy

By now, most people know Sean Payton was dangerously close to becoming the Green Bay Packers Head Coach the same year he actually did become the Saints Head Coach. And some may not want to remember, but McCarthy was the Saints Offensive Coordinator under Jim Haslett.

Both had their successes as coordinators, but ultimately have been more successful as head coaches. Both are offensive-minded (to say the least). The two are probably the most involved in the offensive game plan of any head coaches (Norv Turner could be the other).

Both love to throw the football. Both stress the running game, but know ultimately whether it’s Drew Brees or Aaron Rodgers, they’re going to win because of their ability to score through the air. And these two men are the best in the game at employing multiple personnel groupings and formations to their advantage. 

And they both win. Since each was hired in the winter of 2006, they have both been to two NFC Championship games. Interestingly, both lost their first and won their second. No matter how you break it, these are two of the top five coaches in the NFL, and certainly among the top two or three offensive innovators.

3.  Home Town Loyalty

It isn’t that Pittsburgh cannot relate to this, but few franchises are as close to their fans as is the case in Green Bay. You might say the only city with a similar relationship is the city of New Orleans with the Saints.

Green Bay is known for its streets being named after Packer greats. The players ride their bikes out in the open during training camp and actually talk to fans. In Green Bay, the Packers are actually a part of the community.

It is similar in New Orleans, as most people would know better than I would. For me it’s hard not to root for a team like that.

2.  Counting, and Remembering, the Losses

Call me bitter. Call me mindful. Call me whatever, but I don’t forget when a team beats my team. I hate the Bears, not because of anything about that team specifically. Heck, I live with Bears fans, and love the city of Chicago, but I hate that team. Why?

Because they beat the New Orleans Saints all three times they’ve played them since Sean Payton took over (and if you remember correctly all three were Saints season-enders).

I hate the Redskins because they beat the Saints the only time I’ve ever been to the Superdome. But I also hate the Browns, the Rams, and now the Seahawks, because they’ve all beaten the Saints while Sean Payton has been head coach.

And guess what? The Steelers have too. In fact, that game on November 12, 2006 was a game the Saints had many opportunities to win. If they could have overcome that obstacle, and a few others, they would’ve likely hosted that first NFC Championship versus the Bears and probably would’ve won the game as a result.

And here’s the kicker ultimately, the Saints have not lost to the Packers in the Sean Payton era. Week Two of 2006, the Saints went into Lambeau Field and came out with a 34-20 win. On Monday Night Football in 2008, the Saints throttled the Packers’ secondary in a high-scoring affair for both sides, but the Saints won.

Those are the only two times the teams have played each other in five seasons. Both Saints wins. And as a result, I have absolutely no angst toward that franchise.

1.  Packers Win

I am not only rooting for the Packers, but I truly believe they will win this game. Like the Saints a year ago, they have an edge to them. They have a desire to win, different from the type that the Steelers hold.

The Packers haven’t been here and the Steelers have. That seemed to work to the Saints advantage a year ago against Indianapolis.

Charles Woodson will be a factor in this game. Aaron Rodgers on the turf is going to shred the Steelers secondary. And the somewhat underdog, somewhat favored Packers will arise victorious Sunday evening after a thrilling 36-35 victory.

If the Saints are no longer going to be defending champs (which obviously is the case), then at least it will be a team that Saints fans can identify with.

And next year we get to play them again, this time looking to take their crown from them.