Well, I have noticed my own NFL trend.  It has nothing to do with stats and nothing that involves breaking down matchups.  It has everything to do with Hurricane Katrina.  What I have noticed is that certain teams just seem to make it to the big show following a major occurrence or disaster in this country.

Back in 1990, America invaded Iraq in what became the first Gulf War.  This was a huge moment for the U.S., as it was the first major conflict for this country since the last helicopter lifted away from Saigon in 1974.  The Vietnam conflict ended with less than stellar results and American self-confidence sank to unforeseen depths shortly thereafter.

The Gulf invasion prompted a huge conflict in this country as to why we were once again sending our boys overseas to fight a war.  After more than a decade of relative peace, Americans would have to once again feel what it was like to live in war-like conditions.

Shortly thereafter in Tampa, Super Bowl XXV took place between the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants. While many viewers remember Whitney Houston's stirring rendition of the National Anthem, I noticed something special on the field.  In this particular Super Bowl, the one that took place directly after we went to war again, both teams competing wore the colors of red, white, and blue.  I was amazed at how that worked out, but dismissed it a coincidence.

In 1995, Oklahoma City was rocked by a blast to its Federal Building in what was the deadliest domestic terrorist attack at the time. We had to endure lasting images of Oklahoma City residents covered in dirt and rubble wandering aimlessly as they tried to find loved ones who may or may not even be in one piece.

The Super Bowl victory that really made a statement was the Patriots victory over the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI.  The Patriots were picked by many experts to finish last in the AFC East that year.  The season started out disastrously when starting QB, Drew Bledsoe, was lost for most of the season when he was hit on a scramble (yes, Drew Bledsoe was scrambling) against the New York Jets.

No one outside of the Patriots organization, however, put much thought into the Bledsoe injury at the time.  They were more concerned with the deadliest attack on American soil in history.  9/11 was such a horrid disaster that it shut down the NFL for a week, the first event to do that since the Kennedy assassination nearly 40 years before.

Sporting events simultaneously seemed insignificant yet took on an added importance as a diversion from the vast wave of insecurity that swept through Americans who were accustomed to feeling safe.

Was it once again a simple coincidence that a team called the Patriots grabbed an upset victory in the Super Bowl that year, or were there higher powers at work?  After all, many people believe that the Patriots shouldn't have even been in the Super Bowl to begin with.  That was the year of the famous "tuck rule" play that gave New England a controversial playoff victory against the Oakland Raiders.

The Colts will win because of Peyton Manning.Not because of his ability on the field, but because he comes from New Orleans.  The Manning family is as much of a New Orleans staple as crawfish these days.  When Katrina destroyed the region, they led the charge to rebuild the city from the watery ashes.  It would only be fitting that Peyton finally broke his New England jinx this year much to the delight of his fellow New Orleans residents.

So there you have it, the Colts and Saints will meet in the Super Bowl this year because it is what the battered New Orleans citizens need.  It's not a very scientific prediction, but under these circumstances, logic isn't the only thing that can be used to predict a football game.  Sometimes people just need sports to make their lives a little better for a short time.