The moment that every football fan waits for finally arrives on Thursday night: The National Football league returns. And what a matchup the opener gives us: Peyton Manning and the defending Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts hosting Reggie Bush and the New Orleans Saints , one of the favored teams in the NFC this season."What it all boils down to is that this is a big game," Manning said. "I feel like it's going to be like the AFC Championship Game. The exposure and the excitement and stuff like that. We've definitely got to come out with our best performance." Expect offense, offense and more offense tonight. Last year the Saints led the NFL in total offense and passing offense and were fifth in scoring. Indianapolis was second in scoring, third in overall offense and second in passing offense. Both teams scored 30 or more points in six regular-season games. Both teams also allowed an average of more than 305 yards a game, with Indy's defense one of the worst in the NFL last season before coming in on the playoffs. Manning has led the Colts to 12 or more wins in each of the past four seasons before finally getting the Super Bowl monkey off his back in February against the Bears in Miami, earning game MVP honors. "It's uncharted territory for most of us," said Manning, who was 20-of-25 for 314 yards and a career-high six touchdowns in a 55-21 win over New Orleans on Sept. 28, 2003, in the teams' most recent meeting. "All we really know how to do is to work hard and get on the same page. That's all we've done, that's all I've ever known." However, defense again may be the Colts' Achilles' heel, as that unit has lost tackles Booger McFarland (season-ending injury), Corey Simon (free agency), linebacker Cato June (free agency) and cornerbacks Nick Harper and Jason David (who both also left as free agents, with David going to the Saints). Thus, many pundits have Indy the third favorite in the AFC behind New England and San Diego. New Orleans, meanwhile, is coming off an improbable NFC Championship Game appearance, just a season after going 3-13. Not to mention all the fallout from Hurricane Katrina.
Brees, the runner-up to Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson for NFL MVP honors, had a career season in leading New Orleans to a franchise-best 416 points. "I still feel like we've only scratched the surface as an offense," said Brees, who in his first year with the Saints led the league in passing with a career-high 4,418 yards. "We've got a lot of weapons and we've got a lot of balls to be spread around. I'm excited about the possibilities and the opportunity we have." So with offensive stars such as Manning, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Joseph Addai, Brees, Bush, Deuce McAllister and Marques Colston on the field tonight, go with the over (52.5 on WagerWeb.com), but also expect the Colts (-6) to cover at home in what should be an emotional night as they get their Super Bowl rings. Information from other news sources was used in this report Bet on NFL at WagerWeb Online Sportsbook
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