Key matchup Super Bowl XLIV

Saints QB Drew Brees vs. Colts defense

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning won his NFL-record fourth MVP award this season, but Saints quarterback Drew Brees had better numbers.

Brees completed an NFL-record 70.6 percent of his passes to Manning's 68.8. Brees threw 34 TD passes, 1 more than Manning, and Brees was picked off just 11 times, 5 fewer than Manning. Brees led the NFL with a 109.6 passer rating, almost 10 points higher than Manning's 99.8.

Colts defenders know what type of challenge they'll be facing Sunday.

"He throws to everyone," Indy middle linebacker Gary Brackett said. "He's very accurate. He loves all of his receivers. There isn't one guy who you can pinpoint that the ball is going to, so I think you just have to be conscious of it, read his eyes, get a good break on the ball, and hopefully you can steal one."

Good luck with that.

Counting the playoffs, Brees has been picked off about once every 55 passes and not at all in a postseason in which he has thrown 6 TD passes and has a passer rating of 116.1.

And as Brackett mentioned, Brees in an equal-opportunity distributor. Five Saints caught at least 45 passes this season, and seven caught at least 35. The Saints' success running the ball - they were No. 6 in rushing yards - makes Brees even more effective. But the Purdue product isn't taking anything for granted against an overlooked Colts defense that was 18th in yards allowed but an impressive No. 8 in points allowed.

"I don't think there are any holes," Brees said, "but you hope that you can catch them from time to time and be able to get a big play. You rely on the ability to catch the ball, break a tackle and get yards after the catch, run the ball efficiently and be balanced; to never be predictable.

"You always want to feel like you have the upper hand and that you are setting the tempo for the game."

As potent as the Saints' offense is, the Colts know they can disrupt its precision by getting to Brees.

"He's a good quarterback in the pocket," said Colts defensive end Raheem Brock, who will play a major role if Dwight Freeney is hindered by a severe ankle sprain. "He has a good presence when there's pressure coming, but we have some fast guys, and our four linemen know how to get to the quarterback. We have a nice challenge ahead of us and we're excited. We're up for the challenge.

"Any quarterback, if you can get to him and hit him a couple times, it'll affect him. That's what you want to do."

- Bob LeGere, rlegere@dailyherald.com