Imagine a Super Bowl where both the competitors were undefeated.
That could have happened if both the Colts and Saints, who started 14-0 and 13-0, respectively, would have run the table, but both teams are still within reach of their original goal — to win the Super Bowl.
Colts coach Jim Caldwell made that point clear after he chose to rest his starters after the Colts built a five-point lead in their eventual 29-15 loss to the Jets during the regular season.
Miami will be flooded with black, gold, blue and white in two weeks for a matchup of arguably two of the best teams in the NFL.
The Colts earned their trip after taking over the AFC Championship Game in the second half. The Colts were down, 17-13, at halftime to a Jets team that had the most momentum going heading into the conference championship week.
Indianapolis held New York scoreless in the second half, but more importantly, held the NFL’s top rushing team to just 86 yards on the ground.
They looked like a title contender. They are balanced on offense, and their defense is playing very well.
The Colts chose not to pursue an undefeated season and sat their starters, ironically,against the Jets.
New York would have been eliminated from playoff contention if it had lost the game, but instead the Jets came from behind and won the game. The following week the Jets defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, who they later eliminated from the playoffs.
It would have been interesting and fitting to see an NFL team punished for resting its starters by losing to the team it let into the playoffs.
But that was not the case, and the Colts, the best team in the AFC, will face the Saints who have consistently played the best football in the NFC. The Vikings were the best team, but at times didn’t play up to their potential.
The Saints were just meant to be in the Super Bowl. Their season was filled with plays happening at key moments having no explanation other than destiny.
From Redskins kicker Shaun Suisham’s missed 23-yard field goal in Washington to Sunday’s interception by Tracy Porter that prevented the Vikings from moving into field-goal range and attempting a game-winning field goal, everything the Saints needed to happen this season happened.
One of the keys to a Saints’ victory Sunday was to force turnovers.
They got five — the most important being the interception by Porter.
The Saints were outplayed by the Vikings. Adrian Peterson had his first 100-yard game in eight games with 122 yards on 25 carries, three of them scoring touchdowns. Brett Favre threw for more than 300 yards, and the Vikings’ defense made it hard for the Saints to establish any sort of running game.
The Vikings seemed on their way to punching a ticket to the Super Bowl as they drove down the field and were a play away from field-goal range.
But then destiny reared its head, and the Saints were able to get the biggest turnover in franchise history.
With all this said, it’s hard to argue the Saints don’t belong in the Super Bowl. When it mattered most, they were the best team in the NFC.
This year’s Super Bowl matchup should be an offensive showcase for the ages.
Both teams have great receivers and feature a quarterback whose name is in the recordbooks. Both teams’ defenses are fast and force turnovers. Both teams had a chance at going undefeated, but both teams only want to win their last game — the Super Bowl. 
 
—-Amos Morale is a 22-year-old history major from Houston, Texas. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_AmosMorale3 or contact him at [email protected]