Five things FOX 8 Sports Director John Henry Smith thinks about the Saints vs. Vikings NFC Championship Game.
1.SEAN PAYTON OUTCOACHED BRAD CHILDRESS
A wise person once said "Fortune Favors the Bold." As a perfect gridiron testament to the truth of this truism, I present to you. Saints Coach Sean Payton and Vikings Coach Brad Childress. With 1:06 left and the game tied at 28, the Vikings had the ball 1st and 10 on the Saints 33. The Vikings also had 2 timeouts. In the same situation, I don’t think any WhoDat doubts that Payton would be throwing for the jugular; i.e. passing to turn a kind-of make-able 50 yard field into a very makeable 40-yard field goal. What does Childress do? He runs two clock killing off-tackle plays that gain 0 yards and run the clock down to :19 seconds. Playing not to lose winds up costing the Vikings a chance to win in regulation.
In overtime, Payton is faced with a 4th and 1 at the Vikings 43. Playing not to lose would have meant punting. But rather than taking the Childress way out, Payton knew "the time was now." He went for it. He made it. He won.
And, don’t even get me started on Childress allowing 12 men to get in the huddle and costing his team 5 yards. 5 yards that effectively took the Vikings out of field goal range in the final minute! Payton would have never let that happen!
Did Sean Payton "out-strategy" Brad Childress? Probably not much, given the Vikings huge yard advantage in the game. But, Payton did "out-courage" and "out-organize" Childress. And for that reason, I stand by the statement: Sean Payton out coached Brad Childress.
2.BUSHROD REALLY HELD UP WELL
Sure Jermon Bushrod had a lot of help against the Vikings Jared Allen. But, FOX’s frequent isolation shots of the battle between these two indicated that Bushrod was certainly holding his own. I didn’t think Bushrod would play so well. Hopefully, he keeps it up against the Colts Dwight Freeney.
3.PLAYER OF THE GAME… BOBBY MCCRAY?
Hear me out on this. McCray’s shot on Favre during a running play by Percy Harvin really shook up the 19-year vet. Later, McCray’s shot at Favre’s ankles temporarily knocked Favre out of the game.. It’s not a nice, pleasant reality..but it’s a reality none the less: intimidation and consistent battery are necessary elements of winning football. Was all of the punishment McCray and his mates dished out on Favre’s mind when he threw that interception on his last throw instead running for a sure 5 or 6 yards?
4. NICE TO SEE PAYTON LET HIS GUARD DOWN
Wise men have said that you’ve got to enjoy the journeys in life as well as the desitnations. As great as the Saints season has been, I didn’t always get the impression Coach Payton was enjoying the journey. He's too worried about what’s next to enjoy what was. But, after beating the Vikings, the Sean Payton I passed in the Superdome tunnel was a happy, ear-to-ear grin guy! After stopping to greet me, he ran on to the confetti littered field and played catch with his boy. It was nice to see Coach finally having some fun!
5. SUBSTITUTE THE COLTS FOR THE VIKINGS….
...and the Saints lose that game. Period. No way does Payton Manning self destruct the way Brett Favre did with the game on the line. The Saints offense did not play that well against Minnesota. Drew Brees and Co. will have to be at the absolute top of their game if the Saints are to beat the Colts and bring home the Lombardi trophy. The Colts lost the fewest fumbles and committed the 2nd fewest penalties in the entire National Football League. The Colts do not beat themselves.
