[picappgallerysingle id="7804498"]
The Super Bowl is almost here and it’s time to start breaking down the game. To do that I’m looking at some key matchups that I’ll be watching closely on Sunday that will help determine who will raise the Lombardi Trophy.
Robert Mathis vs. Jon Stinchcomb
With Dwight Freeney looking unlikely to play, or at least not a full compliment on snaps, the attention shifts to other side of the line where Jon Stinchcomb will battle with Robert Mathis. Mathis may play second fiddle to Freeney, but he is a man to be reckon with. He was a Pro Bowler this year and has recorded 20 sacks over the past two years. Stinchcomb was a Pro Bowler this year as well and this should be a great battle to watch. The Saints may even decide to double Mathis because of the absence of Freneey. Or if Stinchcomb can handle Mathis himself, they can send an extra receiver out on a pass and have four or five guys running routes instead of three or four.
Marques Colston vs Jacob Lacey
Expect the Saints to try and exploit this matchup as much as they can on Sunday. Colston will look to rebound after coming off a poor NFC Championship Game, which saw him catch only one pass for 22 yards. Lucky for him, he will be lining up against the undrafted Lacey. Lacey has played admirably for an undrafted free agent, but this task is a tall order. Colston will have a huge height advantage, 6-4 over Lacey’s 5-10 stature. Playing against Braylon Edwards in the AFC Championship game Lacey was beaten for a 80 yard touchdown.Dallas Clark vs. Jonathan Vilma and Darren Sharper
I put Vilma and Sharper because Sharper will be spending a lot of his time shadowing Peyton Manning. The Saints have better corner depth than the Jets so Manning will have to rely on Clark. Clark is Manning’s safety valve and while he didn’t have a big game against the Jets, the Colts will need him to have a big game here. The Saints have been great against the tight end all year only allowing one touchdown against them, but haven’t faced a tight end with Clark ‘s skill set and struggled to defend Visanthe Shiancoe last week.
Greg Williams vs. Peyton Manning
While Williams won’t be taking the field on Sunday, he is still an integral part of the Saints’ success. Manning is the ultimate student of the game has certainly used the extra week of preparation to get ready for anything Williams will throw at him. In the AFC Championship Game, Manning figured out exactly what defensive guru Rex Ryan was doing after struggling early on and put on a clinic in the second half. Williams needs to have multiple wrinkles ready to employ and can’t whip out everything early on in the game and save some of his blitz packages for the second half.
