Read the opposing arguments from Sports Geek and Loyal Homer about which teams they believe would create the best possible matchup for the 2010 Super Bowl.
What is the secret to a Super Bowl Championship? The age-old adage is that defense wins championships, but what if that defense is pitted against one of the most explosive and dynamic offenses in the league?
A Super Bowl between the New Orleans Saints and the New York Jets would answer that question. In a classic matchup of vastly different styles, this potential pairing would go a very long way to salvaging one of the most BORING playoff seasons in NFL history!
The New Orleans Saints are led this season by the NFL’s top rated passer, Drew Brees. In 2009, Brees threw for 4,388 yards and a league-leading 34 touchdowns. Most impressive is that Brees can spread the ball around the field to many different receivers. Where most of the quarterbacks who top the passing charts have a teammate who tops the receiving charts (Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson, Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne, Tom Brady and Wes Welker), the Saints’ top receiver (Marques Colston) BARELY cracks the top 20 in receiving yards.
With the ability to share the offensive love with so many weapons on offense, Brees and the Saints would present a very unique problem that the Jets may not have an answer for on defense.
The Jets have clearly been the most dominant defense in the league all season, which is the primary reason for their postseason success. The Jets have been able to shut down some of the best offenses in the league, including the San Diego Chargers last weekend.
Their formula is a simple one – they play fundamentally sound defense, and force opponents to play perfect football. When combined with the amount of pressure they exert on opposing offenses through an endless barrage of blitzes, playing perfect football becomes very difficult. Philip Rivers found that out the hard way, when he threw an interception to Darrelle Revis late in the last weekend’s game. With that interception, the Jets had all the opportunity they needed, capitalizing on that mistake (like they have done all season), and finishing off the Chargers.
Revis has been the clear leader on the Jets defensively, and has been such a dangerous playmaker in the secondary that he has been able to eliminate the top receiving threats for any opponent. But, the Saints do not really have a top receiving threat. If Revis covers Colston, then Devery Henderson is available, or Robert Meachem.
I mean no disrespect to the rest of the Jets defense, which also features outstanding players like Bart Scott and Lito Sheppard, but Revis is only one guy. As much as he can be a game changer for the Jets, he cannot be everywhere. The Saints might, MIGHT, have enough options to overcome the combined onslaught of blitzing and Darrelle Revis’ secondary presence.
I would LOVE to see the Saints and Jets face off against each other in Miami two weeks from Sunday, because it would truly be pitting the league’s best offense against its best defense.
