When the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints were on winning streaks that had the `72 Dolphins sweating bullets, experts labeled both teams as Super Bowl favorites. It's official; the dream match up is here. Now let's look at which team will live the dream, which won't and why.

Payton Manning's presence is enough to like the Colts' offense against New Orleans. The hard facts solidify that position. Indy boasts the NFL's 9th best overall offense even without a semblance of a running game. Indy ranks first in 3rd down efficiency, commits few penalties and limits turnovers.

Look for Manning to challenge the Super Bowl record for passing yardage (414 yards, Kurt Warner, Super Bowl XXXIV). That's not an exaggeration. Payton leads a potent passing game (282 ypg) against the 26th rated pass defense. Don't look for the Saints to pressure Manning much, either. Indy's offensive line allowed the fewest sacks in the NFL. If the Saints can manage to get to Payton, Dallas Clark (100 rec.) and Joseph Addai (51 rec.) provide more than adequate safety valves.

There is one upside for the New Orleans pass defense and it's one they must utilize. Only two teams intercepted more passes than the Saints. Darren Sharper had nine picks himself, returning three for touchdowns. All told the Saints defense produced eight touchdowns in 2009. In an offensive shootout, and this promises to be one, a defensive score will amount to a 14-point swing.

About the best that can be said for the Colts' running game (32) is they're facing the Saints rush defense. New Orleans allowed 122 yards per game (21) and 4.5 yards per carry (24-T). Indy's running game is too weak to take full advantage. However, Colts runners can make a difference in a couple of areas. Only Green Bay and San Diego lost fewer fumbles than Indianapolis and the Saints were dead last in forcing fumbles.

Just three teams allowed more rushing touchdowns than the Saints this season while Indianapolis' offense ranked 12th in that department. This gives the Colts runners a chance to relieve pressure from the passing game. New Orleans must respect the run to some degree inside the red zone, meaning they can't pack the secondary to cut off the passing lanes.

The story doesn't change much when New Orleans has the ball. Drew Breese should find passing opportunities aplenty. Look for receivers Marques Colston and Robert Meachem to have big games. The Saints have the NFL's best offense (403.8 ypg) and a plus-11 turnover differential. What's more, they convert 45-percent of their third downs while Indy's defense was abysmal in that area (31).

The Saints explosive passing game is about as secret as a John Edwards sex tape. But the key to the passing game lies in the Saints completion percentage (1), interceptions (6) and sacks allowed (4). The Colts defense ranked 26th, 15th and 16th in those categories respectively. Combine those stats with Indy's third down defense and the Saints should sustain drives.

The wildcard is Dwight Freeney (13.5 sacks). His ankle is a question. He isn't practicing and was listed as “questionable” on Saturday morning. If he can't go, or is ineffective, the Saints can double Robert Mathis (9.5 sacks) and effectively eliminate Indy's pass rush.

If the Colts have an advantage on defense it's that no team surrendered fewer long pass plays. Being forced into a dink and dunk passing attack could frustrate the Saints, who like to stretch the field. Breese averaged 8.5 yards per attempt (3) this year while both Colston and Meachem averaged more than 15 yards per catch.

What's often overlooked is that New Orleans can run the football. They average 131 yards per game (6) while Indy is 24th against the run and yields 4.3 yards per carry. Just as the Saints don't throw interceptions they don't fumble, either. And the Colts ranked 27th in forced fumbles. A solid rushing day from the Saints could make Sunday night seem endless for Colts fans.

Special teams offers no decisive advantage for either club. Both ranked in the bottom third of the league in field goal percentage, even with both kickers working predominantly in domed stadiums. That could be worth remembering if the game hinges on a kick, or if the weather turns sour.

There's only one distinct special teams advantage and it belongs to New Orleans. Their kickoff return team was the NFL's fourth best, averaging 24.4 yards per return. They were also fourth in returns of over 40 yards. The return game should keep the Saints in control of field position, forcing Manning and Co. to take the long route to the end zone.

With neither team counting a dependable advantage on defense and the Saints' special teams edge slight at best this game comes down to offense.

Look for the Saints to run the ball when they need to, which will make life much easier for Drew Breese. New Orleans must remain patient and work the underneath passing routes. A little ball control will loosen and tire the Colts defense. New Orleans should move the ball with relative ease, especially in the fourth quarter.

On defense the Saints opportunistic secondary must capitalize on any Manning mistake. There aren't likely to be many. A defensive touchdown is a distinct possibility and a welcome bonus.

Indy's defense must find a way to get off the field. They don't force turnovers and are woeful on third down. Drew Breese will get his yards. Fine, the Colts need to stop the run. As the old saying goes, there are three possible results in the passing game and two of them are bad. A little rest would be an unexpected blessing. The Colts offense was 31st in time of possession, an overrated stat but useful in this case.

Offensively the Colts simply need to do what they do. The lack of a running game leaves them one dimensional. But so what? It's worked all year. Plus, Manning can dissect and exploit any blitz or stunt package the Saints care to run. Protect Payton and allow him to read. If he can decipher the Jets top-ranked defense he should have little trouble exposing the Saints. Payton, Wayne, Collie and Clark stay on the same page. They know what each looks for in nearly all situations. The result Sunday evening should be key third down conversions and a few big plays downfield.

Most statistical categories where there is a clear-cut advantage lean toward the New Orleans Saints. But this game promises to be the Gunfight at the Sun Life Corral. No offense to Drew Breese, but he's playing a Clanton to Payton Manning's Wyatt Earp.

Each Super Bowl has its drama and underlying themes. This year's game is no exception. In fact, it may have more than the normal share.

Kurt Warner's comeback kid season is a compelling storyline. So is the perennial NFL doormat Arizona Cardinals' first appearance in the Super Bowl. Pittsburgh's attempt to become the first franchise to win the Lombardi Trophy six times is another angle. You can bet the folks in Dallas and San Francisco are backing the Cardinals.

But all these potential happy endings must eventually give way to the game itself. That's where the champion is crowned and all of these debate topics become meaningless. That's where weaknesses and strengths are compared and exposed on football's grandest stage.

The Steelers' offense has been suspect all season. Their running game suffered, ranking only 23rd in the NFL, and the passing game rated only 17th. But Ben Roethlisberger, Hines Ward, and Santonio Holmes are a big play trio, and they'll face an Arizona defense that surrendered 50 pass plays of 20 yards or more and 36 touchdown passes during the season. Furthermore, the Cardinals defense had trouble getting off of the field on third down.

Defensively, Pittsburgh ranked first or second in nearly all pertinent categories. Their immovable object will face the irresistible force in Arizona's offence.

It's pass, pass, and more pass for the Cardinals. Arizona brings the league's second best aerial attack to Tampa, under the capable direction of the tested and experienced Kurt Warner. He's not likely to be intimidated by the hard-hitting Steelers defense. But the key for Arizona isn't Warner, Fitzgerald, or Boldin. It's Edgerrin James.

Arizona's running game was AWOL all year, ranking dead last in the NFL at only 73 yards per game and 3.5 yards per carry. It's true that they picked up the pace in the playoffs, but their yards per carry actually decreased.

However, the Cardinals must establish the run in some capacity. It doesn't have to be a Timmy Smith, 200-yard Super Bowl performance. It just needs to keep the Steelers' honest. If Arizona can't make Pittsburgh honor the run, or they get behind and are forced to pass, the Steelers pass rush (51 sacks) can concentrate on the immobile Warner.

It's really not a matter of sacking Warner. The lack of a Cardinals' running threat will allow the Steelers to focus on pressure, forcing Warner to throw before Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston can complete their routes, disrupting the high-octane passing game.

Roethlisberger was sacked plenty this season. But he's big, strong and young enough to take some pounding. He may get hit, but the Steelers' lived with that all year and still managed to produce big plays through the air. Combine that with Hines Ward's improving status and it's good news for Pittsburgh.

The ultimate key to this game is the Pittsburgh defense. They surrendered only 19 touchdowns all year (7 rushing, 12 passing) and were the NFL's top defense on third down (big surprise). They don't have to throttle the Arizona passing game. They only need disrupt it.

Look for the Steelers to pressure Kurt Warner intensely, hit him often and force a couple of turnovers. Roethlisberger will need only to manage the game and protect the football, not win a shootout with the gun slinging Warner. But, if a game-winning drive is required Big Ben is more than capable.

Arizona must provide Warner some time in the pocket, a tall order against the league's second best pass rush. James must run the ball efficiently if not authoritatively. Otherwise, Warner may as well paint a target on his jersey.

The last 9-7 team to reach the Super Bowl was the Rams in 1980. Ironically, they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Look for this year's 9-7 team to follow suit. As hokey as the old adage sounds, defense does win championships. And defense will make Pittsburgh the first team to win six Super Bowls.

On paper this game has the makings of a rout. However, don't expect a repeat of San Francisco's dismantling of Denver in Super Bowl XXIV. The Giants have a chance, if they capitalize on two of their strengths. Against New England that's easier said than done.

New York's defense isn't bad; but they are facing the league's best offense, especially in the passing game. That could be the Giants' demise. While New York does bring the NFL's 7th rated defense into the game, they were only 17th in scoring defense. Furthermore, they were vulnerable to big plays in the passing game, bad news when facing Tom Brady and an air attack that topped the league in nearly every category.

On the plus side the Giants sacked more quarterbacks than anyone this season. There's a key. Osi Umenyiora, Michael Strahan, and Justin Tuck must get pressure on Brady. Even if they don't sack him, they must make him throw before he's ready. If they don't, Brady will torch a secondary that ranked 21st in surrendering pass plays of greater than 20 yards. As good as the Giants' line has been they face a formidable task. Only four offensive lines allowed fewer sacks than did New England's.

A second key for New York rides on the performance of their fourth ranked running game. They must use that ground game to keep the Patriot offense off the field, stay within one score going to the fourth quarter and, hopefully, wear down New England's defense. It's a tall order, but if New York can pull if off they might pull off the upset with it.

For New England, they must simply do what they've done 18 times this year. And the Patriots will be well-prepared. You can bet the farm that Bill Belichick has analyzed every frame of tape from the earlier game with New York, as well as the Giants' three playoff games (and possibly a practice or two). He's corrected the faults that allowed New York to hang 35 points on the Patriots, nearly ending the dream of perfection. Given the two weeks of preparation, Belichick's staff may know the Giants' tendencies even better than Tom Coughlin does.

With all eyes focused on New England's high-powered offense it may be the underrated Patriot defense that makes the difference. They ranked fourth in overall defense and they're good enough against the run to slow the New York ground game. New England doesn't allow big plays on the ground or through the air and was second only to the Giants in sacks. New York might bend New England's defense, but they're unlikely to break it.

The big key to this game is taking advantage of scoring opportunities. New England scored eight times in their two playoff victories. Seven of those scores were touchdowns. Their opponents also scored eight times, but only two were touchdowns. Had it not been for the Patriot defense's ability to keep Jacksonville and San Diego out of the end zone, the `72 Dolphins may have drunk their toast by now. When the Giants have a chance to score they must get six. Field goals won't keep them close enough to utilize their running game.

Somewhere around 10 PM, the Patriots will become the latest in a string of dynasties dating back to Lombardi's Packers, through the Steel Curtain and the 49ers to the Cowboys of the early `90s. Tom Brady will join the ranks of championship legends, breathing the rarified air of Bart Starr, Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana. Csonka, Kiick and Buoniconti should get their welcoming committee together; there's a new resident on Perfection Drive.

This year's Super Bowl is a case study in contrasting style. The irresistible force verses the immovable object. The Colt's prolific offense verses the Bear's stingy defense.

No question the Bear defense is good, but it's not the `85 Bear defense. It may be immovable, but it isn't insurmountable. The Colts have faced a similar statistical defense twice this year and a superior defense once, posting a 3-0 record in those games. Baltimore ranked first in the NFL in total defense, yet couldn't beat the Colts. New England ranked directly behind the Bears in total defense. The Colt offense owned the Patriots this year.

Payton Manning's offense faced New England twice this season. In those two games the Colts passed for 650 yards with only two interceptions and scored 65 points. And there's no doubt that New England built their defensive statistics against overall tougher competition than did the Bears.

For Chicago, they must keep the score low, force turnovers, and overcome Rex Grossman's inconsistency, which may be accentuated by the Super Bowl stage. The Grossman critics should remember that Rex is a virtual rookie, due to games missed by injury.

It wouldn't hurt for the Bear defense, or return man Devin Hester, to put points on the board. Ball control will be at a premium for the Bears. The better they can run the ball the less Payton and company will be on the field. If they fail at this, a tired Bear defense will be easy pickings for Manning late in the game.

It is said that offense wins games and defense wins championships. Normally that is a sound formula. But in this case, I'll go with the offense. Indianapolis racked up their offensive numbers against better overall competition than did the Bear defense. They should be able to move the ball against Chicago much the same as they did in the second half of the New England game, a half in which they were unstoppable. Look for the Colts to bring home the franchises first NFL Championship since 1971.