The taboo of being labeled "Unbeatable"

This morning I listened to the first ten minutes of "The Herd" with host Colin Cowherd on ESPN Radio. His first topic was the stigma surrounding being labeled as "unbeatable" or "the greatest ever." This label has been given to Peyton Manning in recent weeks, and (according to Colin) may cost the Colts the Super Bowl. Cowherd claims that New Orleans will be extra motivated to win on Sunday thanks to the fact that many are already crowning Manning as unbeatable and the greatest quarterback of all-time.

At first, I found this claim to be somewhat absurd. It's the SUPER BOWL, and no team needs extra motivation to go leave everything on the field. But upon further review, history has shown that Colin may be on to something...

Super Bowl III - Jets vs. Colts

- The Colts were heavily favored to beat the miniscule American Football League Champions, and the talk leading up to the big game was that the Jets didn't have a chance. Obviously, the Jets heard the hype, and Broadway Joe's bunch shocked the world and upset the NFL champs.

Super Bowl XXXVI (36) - Rams vs. Patriots

- The Rams were "the greatest show on turf." The game was to be played inside the Louisiana Superdome, further cementing the fact that the Rams would win. They were 14 point favorites. No defense could contain Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, Issac Bruce, and Tory Holt. Sure, the Rams had superstars on offense, but the two things they didn't have: Tom Brady and Adam Vinatieri.

Rose Bowl 2005 - Texas Longhorns vs. USC Trojans

- The Longhorns were the defending Rose Bowl champs, but mighty USC was considered one of the best teams of all-time. Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart, LenDale White, and Steve Smith headlined a stacked Trojan offense. Texas was #2, and heard all of the props being given to USC. So what did the 'Horns do about it? They gave the ball to Vince Young and emerged victorious in one of the most exciting National Championship games of all-time.

Super Bowl XLII (42) - Giants vs. Patriots

- The Patriots were in search of 19-0, and were also two-touchdown favorites. Tom Brady had thrown 50 touchdown passes in the regular season, and no one had been able to stop the freight train that was New England. The Giants heard the hype - they had no chance. But Michael Strahan and an inspired bunch of Giant defenders sacked and pressured Brady time and time again, and Eli Manning hit Plaxico Burress with :35 seconds left to secure the monumental upset.

So if these examples are any indication, the Saints have more than a decent chance of winning on Sunday. Drew Brees is probably fed up with all of the "Peyton Manning is the Zeus of football" talk, and can't wait to get on the field to show what HE can do. Will it be enough to win? That remains to be seen, but don't be so shocked if the Saints take home the Lombardi Trophy.