Breaking Down Super Bowl XLIV - Special Teams

Indianapolis Colts:
First of all, congratulations to Matt Stover for being the oldest player ever to play in the Super Bowl. With Adam Vinatieri being held out after injuring his leg during the season, Stover came in and did an excellent job as his replacement. He was perfect on extra points and made 9 of 11 field goals in the regular season, which isn't great, but is good enough considering the Colts don't kick many field goals. In the playoffs, he is a perfect 5 for 5 so far. Punting has been fairly strong, as well. Rookie Pat McAfee is averaging a third of his punts burying opponents inside their own 20, in both the playoffs and regular season. One thing they won't have going for them this week is playing in a dome. With Sun Life Stadium being open air, they'll have to adjust for wind instead of the stillness indoors. One of Stover's two missed field goals this year came outdoors against Houston, His one other outdoor attempt, of course, was good. The return game needs to improve though. Punt returner TJ Rushing was forced to fair catch half of the punts he fielded, and averaged less than 6 yards per return. If the Saints can get moving but have to kick, not being able to get off a good return could hurt. Kick returner Chad Simpson hasn't always been great, but he does have one return for a TD this season.

New Orleans Saints:
Like Stover, Garrett Hartley replaced another player, John Carney, who was cut for missing too many kicks. Hartley has done well, but he has two misses of his own, and his only attempt longer than 40 yards was one of them. Punter Thomas Morstead attempted less punts than McAfee, and has a lower percentage of punts inside the 20, but he averages only about half a yard per punt less, and both have a long of 60 yards. Like the Colts, the Saints kickers will also have to face playing away from a dome. In two games played outdoors, though, Hartley is 5 for 6, with his only miss coming on five attempts against the Redskins in his first game. He also missed one extra point, but is perfect in the playoffs. On punt returns, Reggie Bush had a fairly poor season, averaging less than 5 yards per return while fair catching only a quarter of punts fielded. He has come on strong in the playoffs, though, with a return for a touchdown. Take away that 83 yarder, and he's averaging 8.7 yards per. Not great, but almost double his regular season output. On kick returns, Courtney Roby had a strong 27.5 yards per during the season, which has gone down to 25,7 in the postseason. Like Simpson, he also has a return for a score. Across from him, Pierre Thomas is almost as dangerous, with one return for 40 yards in the playoffs.

Edge: New Orleans Saints