Super Bowl Loyalties: Manning now vs 1970′s Manning

Despite the Saints less-than-stellar history, Archie Manning felt strongly that New Orleans would one day reach the Super Bowl but he never thought it was going to be against his own son’s team.

Super Bowl Odds:

New Orleans Saints +5.5
Indianapolis Colts -5.5
O/U 56.5

“I am proud of what the Saints have accomplished. I’ve lived here for 39 years. I played for the Saints for 12 years and I was around them for the next 21 years as a broadcaster for the team on radio and television. I’m just extremely proud of the players, coaches and the front office. They deserve to be where they are. I could not be happier for them. The Saints earned it,” said Manning senior.

Archie was picked by the Saints as second overall in 1971.  During his years as the Saints starting QB and despite his talent the Saints were never a winning team mostly because he wasn’t surrounded by any talent and never had a decent protection from his offensive line.  This eventually stopped him from achieving greatness even though he was a part of two Pro-Bowls.

Archie still calls New Orleans home and his 3 sons Cooper, Peyton and Eli were raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, obviously rooting for the Saints and their father.

“Peyton loves his hometown and has given back to New Orleans. He enjoyed going to Saints games when he was young and with his brothers back when he was in high school at Newman. They have great memories of going to the Saints games. He has a deep-rooted feeling for the city and has done his part to support it, he continues to do so through his foundation and he always will,” said the elder Manning.

Peyton won’t have any feelings of nostalgia going up against his favorite childhood team.  He will be going all out to get his end Super Bowl ring in 4 years.

Archie has come out and said that he will be rooting for his son Peyton in Super Bowl 44.  But I don’t think if there would be any other team besides Indy or the NY Giants (his youngest son Eli’s team) that he would rather win the Super Bowl than New Orleans.

 “I’m friends with Drew (Brees), Sean (Payton) and the Saints folks but they know I will be pulling for my son. That is easy. I believe anyone would pull for their own son in the same situation. Wouldn’t you?”

Super Bowl Betting Tip: Peyton is 2-2 against the Saints.  The first time they met Manning was a rookie and New Orleans took advantage of an interception thrown in overtime to win 19-13.  Peyton was 19 of 32 for 309 yards with one touchdown pass but three interceptions in the game.

The second match was in 2001 at the Superdome with another Saints’ victory 34-20.  Manning played well completing 18 of 28 for 262 yards and a score with an interception, but, the difference in the game was Ricky Williams who ran 120 yards and a TD for New Orleans.

The last two meeting Peyton had his revenge and basically performed a butt whipping in both victories.  The first one was in 2003 with a 55-21 win with Manning throwing 314 yards and a record six touchdowns for a quarterback rating of 158.3.

The last one was in 2007; the Colts scored 31 points in the second half to win 41-10. Manning was 18 of 30 for 288 yards and three touchdowns.

I think all the Manning family won’t forget how much New Orleans gave them. But on February 7th things will be different as they will dress blue, no question about it.

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