You want to know why no team had ever attempted an onsides kick before the fourth quarter of a Super Bowl? Because there’s never been a coach with the stones to do it! That kick was not only the turning point of the game, it was one of the “brassest” calls in Super Bowl history. Even more so when you consider Sean Payton had rolled the dice in the first half on fourth and goal and crapped out. Brass?! The guy asked a kicker, who had never even attempted an onsides kick before in a game, to do it start the second half of the Super Bowl. Fail to convert that, Peyton Manning goes down the short field and Sean Payton is the biggest bonehead ever.
Instead, they recover, and when you saw how amped his offense was when it hit the field, you realized Payton not only changed the complexion of that game, but the course of Super Bowl history. Payton was coaching to win! His counterpart, Jim Caldwell was coaching not to lose. And Payton knew his “ambush” call would work.
I don’t think anyone on the Colts’ coaching staff grabbed Hank Baskett during half-time and told him to be head’s up for an onside kick to start the second half. Did it look like he was ready for it?! It bounced off his face. Unbelievable call! And even better execution. And by execution, I mean winning that five minute eye-gouging and Indian burning competition that ensued. Best scrum ever!
What kind of unspeakable acts do you think were going on during that five minute melee? Huge ups to Chris Reis for being man enough to come out of it with the rock. Especially, with neither eye gouged. And none of his digits snapped!
