Key Super Bowl matchup: Manning vs. Sharper

As the ramrod and brain center of the Colts' offense, four-time MVP quarterback Peyton Manning has rarely seen a defense he couldn't exploit.

His 4,500 passing yards, 33 TD tosses and 98.8 passer rating this season would qualify as a career year for almost anyone else. For Manning, it was typical, because it seems he's been putting up similar numbers forever, even though it's only been since 1998.

But Saints safety Darren Sharper has been doing what he does best, intercepting quarterbacks, since 1997. Sharper tied for the NFL lead with 9 interceptions this season, a rare achievement for almost anyone else, but the third time Sharper has done it.

The game within the game between the two venerable veterans will be one of Sunday's most interesting chess matches.

Sharper has returned his 63 career interceptions for 1,412 yards, an average of more than 22 yards per pick, and he's scored 11 touchdowns. As the Saints' center-fielder Sharper can get into the head of almost any quarterback, and Saints defensive coordinator Greg Williams has talked about delivering some "remember me shots" to Manning. But Sharper knows the Colts QB presents a unique test.

"He is probably one of the toughest (to rattle)," Sharper said. "He's been around so long and played in so many big games. He is very mentally tough and has seen it all. He prepares harder than anyone prepares in this league. He is tough. You can't go into a game expecting to knock a guy like that out because no one has been able to do it. That's what makes him so tough, he prepares himself so well. He's a tough football player. He knows we're coming a lot of the times and has the ability to get rid of the football, so you can't really get those sacks or shots on him."

Manning will almost always get the ball out before the rush gets to him. It's one of the things he does best. But he knows he can't leave it up in the air over the middle for long because someone in a Saints uniform will be in the vicinity.

"We're going to have to score points in this game if we're going to have a chance to win," Manning said. "But it's a tough task because their defense is unbelievably active. If there is a tipped ball, the ball is going to go in their hands; it's not going to hit the ground. They are around the ball."

No defensive player is around the ball more than Sharper.

As far as the comments from Williams on getting after him, they're not likely to faze Manning who, when asked for a reaction said: "I don't have one. I didn't hear it. I guess I have been playing long enough that I don't have any reaction to a comment like that."