Even before the day is over, today is the biggest days in Saints’ history. The ‘Aints are history, and no longer the laughing stock of professional sports, a place currently held by the Detroit Lions. Win or lose, reaching the Super Bowl shows the world that New Orleans has recovered from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The Saints did not make it all the way to the Super Bowl by wondering whether the game would be won or lost, but with conviction of victory. Here are the keys to a Saints victory.

Pass rush
The Saints’ front four came into its own in the NFC Championship against the Vikings. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams crafted a scheme to disrupt Brett Favre’s timing, and it worked. The Saints will need a repeat performance from its pass rushers against the usual unflappable Peyton Manning. If the Saints defenders can win the matchup with the Colts’ offensive line, it will cause Manning to hurry his throws and lose his rhythm. This will be no easy task, as the Colts’ offensive line is very experienced and center Jeff Saturday has done an excellent job of making line calls to protect Manning.

Avoid turnovers
New Orleans protected the ball well against Minnesota, with only one turnover. However, that turnover nearly broke the Saints’ back. Had it not been for one of Adrian Peterson’s fumbles, Minnesota likely would have scored a touchdown before halftime, sending New Orleans into a hole coming out in the second half. Manning and company are excellent at capitalizing on opponent’s turnovers, so Brees and company need to protect the ball as much as possible.

Control the ball before halftime
Like a well-oiled machine, the Colts’ offense capitalizes on getting the ball back with less than two minutes to go in the opening half. With such a wide array of weapons, the Colts offense can move the ball quickly. Scoring right before the half not only puts the opponent behind on the scoreboard, but has a psychological factor as well. In the AFC Championship, the Colts scored a touchdown just before the half, which swung the momentum of the game. The Saints need to get the ball before the half and run the clock out

Capitalize on turnovers
The Saints failed to capitalize on the Vikings’ five turnovers and let them stick around too long. If the Colts turn the ball over, the Saints have to convert those turnovers into points.

Run the ball at Dwight Freeney
It has been well published that Freeney has a high sprain on his right ankle. If Freeney plays, as it appears, the Saints need to run Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush directly at Freeney. Freeney is an exceptional athlete, but could be forced out of the game early if his body cannot keep up with the pace. To add variety, expect to see the Saints throw screen passes to Jeremy Shockey and Reggie Bush to keep Freeney at bay.

Use Reggie Bush
Bush had the game-changing punt return against the Cardinals, and a heads-up touchdown against the Vikings to help lead the Saints to the Super Bowl. Bush is in the middle of a post-season redemption ala Alex Rodriguez. Although he fumbled the punt right before halftime against the Vikings, he showed tremendous mental resiliency by staying in the game and protecting the ball. Reggie needs to get involved early and often in both the return and receiving games. The Colts’ special teams coverage units ranked 16th in punt return coverage and 31st in kickoff return average.

The Saints are hitting on all cylinders. Riding the emotional wave and playing inspired football, I predict the Saints will emerge victorious 42-35. Geuax Saints!

This week’s Super Bowl is chock-full of headlines ripped right from a Disney Super Bowl movie. Will Archie Manning, patriarch of the Saints quarterbacks and the first family of NFL quarterbacks, root against son Peyton in the game of Peyton’s life? Will New Orleans’ rebirth come full-circle with the city’s first professional sports championship? How will Dwight Freeney’s leg hold up during the game? Is today’s practice injury to Reggie Wayne going to keep him out of the game?

Before conquering the plethora of intriguing subplots, I think it is time we resolve a more pressing question. Who is the hotter Ms. Super Bowl: Kendra Wilkinson, or Kim Kardashian? According to People Magazine’s website, both Kendra and Kim were talking trash before the game: http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20342033,00.html There’s nothing like a good trash talk between reality starlets who have made their living overinflating their self-importance to the world through your TV. If only Hef were in Miami to decide.

There is no contest between Hank Baskett and Reggie Bush as to who will have a greater impact on the game, since Baskett’s contributions were limited to five catches for a whopping 34 yards, the Ms. Super Bowl title is much more interesting. Saints fans, who should win the Ms. Super Bowl Title: Kendra or Kim (and why)?

Christmas may have been a month ago, but try telling that to any New Orleans native, regardless of whether that person is a Saints fan. To believe such victory and triumph from such a moribund franchise seemed unfathomable before Hurricane Katrina. If you are a fan of humanity, regardless of your sports interest, you are pulling for the Saints as if your grandmother’s life depended on it (assuming you like your grandmother). There is also the Archie Manning exception; how can you root for your own child to lose? The answer is easy: root for the team that no one in a million years thought would even be able to buy Super Bowl tickets, let alone play in the game. Disclaimer: the Browns, Lions, Jaguars and Texans do not enter this conversation, because no truly sane NFL fan thinks any of these teams will appear in a Super Bowl. To maintain his number in the Saints’ ring of fame, Archie Manning should denounce his child for one week, and root for the team he never took the playoffs, the one and only New Orleans Saints. Put it this way: if the Colts and Giants were playing each other in the Super Bowl, would Archie really root for both teams to win? Hardly. Archie would root for one to win more than for the other; it is inevitable. Saints fans, what do you think? Should Archie be forced to forfeit his spot in the Saints ring of fame if he does not openly and whole-heartedly support the Saints on Sunday?