Colts Beat Down Saints in NFL Season Opener, 41-10

At first glance, the score gives the impression that the game was totally one-sided in favor of Peyton Manning and the Colts, but that wasn't quite how it happened.

The Indianapolis Colts really payed attention to whatever Head Coach Tony Dungy was telling them, because three long drives later (and an interception return for a touchdown near the end of the game) Indianapolis showed New Orleans how they were able to win Super Bowl XLI last season.

Peyton Manning was just 8-of-17 for 101 yards in the first half, 66 of those yards on two completions: the 27-yard TD to Harrison, plus 39 on a throw to tight end Dallas Clark that set up Adam Vinatieri's 33-yard field goal that tied the game at 10.

The game was tied 10-10 after a sloppy first half.

But Peyton Manning led two quick TD drives in the first 8:49 of the second half as the Colts put up 24 points in 20 minutes after intermission. On the first drive, Manning hit Harrison for 42 yards to set up a 2-yard TD run by Addai. Then the Super Bowl MVP came right back to throw a 28-yard TD pass to Wayne.

The Manning-Wayne 45-yarder made it 34-10 five minutes into the fourth quarter and Matt Giordano's 83-yard interception return sealed the deal.

Indianpolis was superb defensively. They were constantly in the Dime Prevent defense and the Cover Two Defense. That's why they gave up a lot of yards on the run, but did not get burned against the pass.

One guy you really have to feel sorry for is cornerback Jason David. Here's a guy who wins the Super Bowl with the Colts, the team that drafted him, and then he leaves them to get a big payday from the New Orleans Saints. I was expecting Davud to rough up Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, just like I'm sure he used to do in practice when he was a Colt, but, it turned out that he was the guy getting burned. You do have to give David some credit though, as he stripped the football loose and ended up taking the fumble all the way back for the game tying touchdown.

It will be tough for Indianapolis as they attempt to become the first team since the Patriots to win two consecutive Super Bowls in the 21st Century, but Indy will be tough to beat if they play all season like they did last night.