Super Bowl Notes: First Quarter

One of these days, I am going to activate the function that lets you blog from your mobile device. I had to settle for the old fashioned pen and paper to take notes on the Super Bowl last night, and now have to translate, I mean transcribe, my chicken scratch. There will be edits for clarity and I will use the play by play chart to add time and play cues. There is an advantage: I can post in the right order--I'll actually do the forth quarter first, and end with the first quarter, with this being the last post, so when you read it, it will read correctly from the first quarter through to the forth quarter.

Start of game: I am tardy leaving church and so hear coin flip on the radio. New Orleans wins and elects to receive. I think this is the right call, start out on offense and set the tone.

13:31: Still in the car! It's snowing!

Saints punting from the NO 31, after only 3 plays. Not a good way to start.

Now I am inside, in front of a nice High Def TV. A good number of folks here with me. The field, a natural grass turf, looks emerald green...

13:22 Colts ball, at the IN 27.

7:34: Colts kick FG, Matt Stover 38 yards. False start penalty during drive hindered Colts quest for TD. Score NO 0 IND 3

7:22: Cannot go three and out again, NO ball at NO 26

5:35: Terrible drop by Marcus Colston. Ball went through his hands and hit him in the head!

5:22 Punt from the 50. At least changed field position.

5:12. Nice punt. Downed by Saints at the IN 4. But Colts good at 90+ yard drives.

:42: Colts TD, Garcon out runs coverage. Uh-oh, even 96 yards not long enough field! Score NO 0 IND 10

:30: NO ball on NO 11 after Saints holding penalty on kick off. Pressure on Saints offense now.

00:00 End of first quarter.

Note: Even though field looks in great shape, and weather is fine, players are slipping. Need the grass cleats guys, not the Field Turf cleats.

So far, Dwight Freeney looks plenty quick and tough, beats blocking if not doubled or chipped.

Chili's has brought back the Carribean Salad; it's not quite the same recipe but it's not bad!

Super Bowl Notes--Second Quarter

15:00: Saints ball on NO 15. Need to move ball and score.

10:09: Brees sacked--one handed by Freeney. The DE looks good right now.

9:40: FG good from 46. Sack led to getting only 3 point opportunity but good to get on the board.

Score NO 3 IND 10

9:34: Colts ball on the IN 22.

8:30: A bad drop by Pierre Garcon--like Colston, through his hands and hit him in the head!

results in a three and out--ball to Saints.

8:14: Saints start at NO 28

4:28: Bad blown coverage on pass to Colston. Colts Defensive Coordinator, up in booth, threw pen. Wonderful camera shot, CBS! Saints on IND 3.

2:00: Two minute warning. Saints have had the ball over 6 minutes. Several camera shots of Payton Manning on bench, scowling under his baseball cap. No one near him.

1:55: Forth and one--going for it!

Pierre Thomas stuffed no gain

Like the gamble, but not the play call. Would have passed the ball.

1:49: Colts with ball on IND 1. Pinned back but bad field position doesn't bother Colts much.

:51: Colts third and one--they run and are stopped! Saints will get the ball back. Very conservative series for Colts.

:35 Saints ball on the NO 48. Great three and out for D, now time to score!

:05: Great late half score! Hartley kicking well too--advantage Saints.

00:00 End of first half. Score NO 6 IND 10

kick off to IND to start second half.

Only 6 offensive plays for Indy in second quarter. Lots of camera shots of Manning scowling on sideline--good, he can't score from there. We need more points for us though.

Super Bowl Notes--Third Quarter

Question for beginning of third quarter: Long half time--does Dwight Freeney's ankle tighten up rendering him less effective?

15:00: Saints kick off to Colts. Score NO 6 IN 10

Onside kick! Onside kick! Hit a #80s guy for Indy...

What is going on inside that pile? [Note: probably a lot more balls then the football were getting squeezed ;-0]

OMG! OMG! We have the ball!

1459: Saints have the ball at the NO 42.

13:10: Colston has been money since that bad drop--9 yard catch for him here.

11:50: Took advantage--right down the field! Sweet screen for the TD.

Score after the kick, NO 13 IN 10

11:33: Colts with ball on IN 24. Can they be stopped?

6:24: Not this time! Addai in--nice cut for the score. God, they are scary when they are in rhythm. Score with kick: NO 13 IN 17

6:08: Saints ball. Got to keep up.

2:06: FG good. 3rd FG for Hartley. Wish we got a TD, cannot have enough points against the Colts. Score: NO 16 IN 17

1:55: Colts staring at IN 11--bad field position just doesn't phase them.

00:00: End of third quarter. Colts on IN 29.

Moment to breathe.

Super Bowl Notes--The Forth Quarter

Start of forth quarter:

Answer to question about Dwight Freeney: No not as effective. Ankle probably stiffened up during half time, and unexpected turn at defense at the beginning didn't help. He has been struggling with his ankle taping since the break too.

15:00 Colts have ball. Can Saints stop them?

10:44 Colts on NO 33, forth down. A field goal. Stover cannot kick it that far. It's 51 yards!

NO GOOD! Score still NO 16, IN 17

10:39: NO ball on NO 41 (where ball spotted for kick attempt) Short field.

5:46: TD pass to Shockey. Good for him! I have always liked him--was delighted when Giants got him. He missed out two years ago due to injury. I'd be glad to have Shockey 88 NO jersey.

5:46: They are going for two.

Called incomplete! Replay--challenge that! Challenge that! He had possession! You only need possession for a second and break the plane for a score.

They challenged it, and the call is reversed! Two points for Saints. Kudos to CBS for excellent replays and camera work. Score NO 24-IN 17

5:35: Game has moved fast. Plenty of time left for Manning--he scares me. I keep thinking about the Patriots game. Colts on the IN 30.

3:29: Injury timeout for NO lineman. Colts already at NO 31.

3:24: Pick 6! Pick 6! I want to run around in the street! About the play: watched the blitzing NO doing (Sims blabbing about it)--NO sent 5 guys--then followed the ball out of Manning's hand. Saw Tracy Porter break on the pass, and thought "INT possible" Outstanding downfield block by lineman--#91? Will have to watch replay tomorrow on line. Score with extra point NO 31 IN 17

3:05: Colts ball at the IN 14. Even down two scores, Manning still scares me. Still keep thinking about Patriot game. Saints D: Make them take up lots of time to score, using their precious time outs!

1:42: Argh, horrible roughing penalty against Saints! Ball on NO 3 after penalty.

1: 33: Garcon had to mug Saint's DB to prevent INT, Indy back to NO 13.

1:10: Addai left for loss--Saints defended run much better in second half, esp 4th quarter.

Sideline shots of Drew Brees with backups Brunnel and Mizzou product Chase Daniel.

I could see Chase Daniel as Drew Brees someday...

:50: Ball through Wayne's hands--had to wait for replay on that--falls incomplete. Ball to Saints--just need a kneel down to win. The French Quarter must be NUTS now.

00:00: Saints win the Super Bowl!!!!!!!!!!

Post Game notes:

Cute camera shots of Scott Fujita and Drew Brees toting their kids. Brees' kiddo wearing ear muffs for noise!

Len Dawson looks great toting the Lombardi trophy. (Reader education moment: In 1970, the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl. It was played in New Orleans--nice bit of going around there.)

Saints players touching trophy as he goes through--careful guys, don't break Lenny--he's a Kansas City treasure!

Nice presentation, well done by Jim Nance.

French Quarter IS nuts!!!

Good game, now out into the snow...