Mardi Gras comes early - After 43 years in the making, the New Orleans Saints win their first Superbowl in franchise history by not only defeating, but by upsetting the highly favored Indianapolis Colts by a final score of 31 to 17. Looking at the final score, one would think the Saints dominated the entire game, but that couldn't have been any further from the truth. As the Saints looked a bit sluggish on both offense and defense to start the game, it was the Colts who drew first blood. After a field-goal on their first drive of the game, Peyton Manning would then lead his offense on a 96-yard touchdown drive, tying the 1985 Chicago Bears for the longest in Superbowl history. With an early ten point deficit heading into the second quarter, the Saints would finish the half by scoring 6 of their own, inching closer to a 10-6 score.
The second half would tell a different story as a huge momentum changer would shift the tone of the game in New Orleans' favor. On the opening kick-off of the second half, the Saints showed a bit of trickery by risking an on-side kick. Fortunately after the minute-long dog pile of players fighting for the ball, it was a success as the Saints would recover and score on a Pierre Thomas catch-and-run touchdown 16-yards out, just six plays later, giving them their first lead of the game. The risky kick was also the first ever on-side kick in a Superbowl, prior to the fourth quarter. It also proved to be one of the biggest plays of the game. The only show of life the Colts would have in the second half, would come in Indianapolis' next drive. With a 4-yard touchdown run by RB Joseph Addai, the Colts would regain the lead, but not for long.
The Saints would bounce back with a 47-yard field-goal on their next drive to trail within one. With the field-goal, the Saints' Garrett Hartley became the first kicker in Superbowl history to make three FG's from 40+ yards(46, 44 and 47). Colts kicker Matt Stover who set a feat of his own by becoming the oldest player in a Superbowl at 42 years of age, would try to one-up Hartley in the fourth quarter by kicking a 51-yarder that swung wide left, keeping it a one-point game. The rest of the game would be all Brees who overcame a slow start and tied a Superbowl record of 32 completions, also held by New England's Tom Brady. Brees' last completion would be a 2-yard touchdown pass to WR Jeremy Shockey, giving them a lead they would maintain for the remainder of the game. After the touchdown, the Saints would convert on a reviewed 2-point conversion that was first called no good before being overturned. With the extra two-points, their lead would improve to seven.
With all the pressure in the world now on Peyton Manning, the future Hall of Famer would have just a little over five minutes to march his team down the field to tie the game and possibly win his second Superbowl ring in four years. However, the Saints defense never got that memo. With 3:12 remaining in the game, Saints CB Tracy Porter read Manning perfectly and stepped in front of WR Reggie Wayne, intercepting the ball and returning it 74-yards for a touchdown. The pick-six put New Orleans up by 14 and in route to the city's first ever Superbowl title. Manning would then get one last chance to cut the deficit, but a very catch-able short pass that was dropped in the end-zone by Reggie Wayne sealed the deal as the Colts turned the ball over on downs, resulting in Drew Brees kneeling for the final play of the game with the final seconds ticking away.
After confetti and photographers covered the field, Saints head coach Sean Payton received a Gatorade bath before being lifted on the team's shoulders like a true hero. & For the city of New Orleans, he is a hero with Drew Brees as his sidekick. Combined the two have helped resurrect a city that was once upon a time underwater and in dire need of salvation. & Just four years later, the Saints help reunite those that decided to leave the city with those who stayed by bringing back something the city had missed and lost, their pride. Saints free safety Darren Sharper said it best, "This thing belongs to the people, we're just bringing it back to them." & With the team's parade scheduled to be held tomorrow afternoon and Mardi Gras right around the corner, you better believe the city of New Orleans will be restless and Bourbon street will be bumping for what looks to be a month-long celebration.
One of the more touching moments in recent Superbowl history happened to be after the game, when Saints QB & Superbowl MVP Drew Brees was seen holding and kissing his son during the team's celebration, creating a priceless father-son moment for the ages. Congratulations to the New Orleans Saints on becoming Superbowl Champions. With that being said, Let the party begin!
Noteworthy: The Saints overcame a 10-point deficit to tie the largest comeback win in Superbowl history. The Colts running game was held to under 100 yards, finishing with 99 total rushing yards. With the win, the Saints became the 8th team in NFL history to win it all in their first ever Superbowl appearance. With 106.5 million viewers tuned in around the country to watch the Saints win their first Superbowl in franchise history, Superbowl XLIV became the most watched event in tv history, surpassing the final episode of M*A*S*H back in 1983.
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