Brees, Saints outplayed Colts to claim franchise’s first Super Bowl title

Monday, 08 February 2010 00:00

Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints rallied to upset Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 Sunday night in one of pro football’s most thrilling title game.

Put away those paper bags forever! THE SAINTS ARE SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS NOW!!

Celebrations started in the French Quarter, the Mardi Gras festivities beginning three days earlier than planned.

“We just believed in ourselves and we knew that we had an entire city and maybe an entrire country behind us,” said Brees, the game’s MVP. “What can I say? I tried to imagine what this moment would be like for a long time, and it’s better than expected.”

The Saints (16-3) won three postseason games this season after winning only two in the previous 42 years. They beat Arizona, Minnesota and Indianapolis (16-3) – all division winners – for their first title, scoring 107 points and allowing only 59.

Brees outdueled three future Hall of Fame quarterbacks in Kurt Warner, Brett Favre and 2009 MVP Peyton Manning on the way to the title.

Brees tied a Super Bowl record with 32 completions, the last a 2-yard slant to tight end Jeremy Shockey for the winning points with 5:42 left. He was 32 of 39 for 288 yds, 2 TDs and no interception. He was on incredible 16 completions of 17 passes in the second half.

The Saints weren’t thrilled to fall behind 10-0 after Manning directed an early 96-yd TD drive that tied a Super Bowl record. New Orleans converted just one first down on its first two possessions, and things looked pretty grim as a possible blowout loomed over the Aints.

Instead, the Saints mounted a comeback to match the largest in Super Bowl history, turning the tide with the opening kick of the second half.

A surprise onside kick to start the second half sparked the Saints’ comeback. They recovered, and 11 plays and 6 minutes later Brees hooked up with Pierre Thomas on a 16-yd pass to give New Orleans their first lead of the game 13-10.

“I was terrified and excited at the same time,because I knew we could it if I executed it.” Said kicker Thomas Morstead.

“That really becomes like a turnover,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. “We knew we were going to call it at some point. At halftime I told them, “We’re going to open the second half with this. Let’s go make a play.””

Manning answered on the Colts’ next possession, a 76-yd 10-play drive in 5:26 capped by Joseph Addai 4-yd run. Indianapolis 17, New Orleans 13.

After the Saints reduced the deficit with Garrett Hartley’s 47-yd field goal (his third, previous two from 46 and 44) to 17-16, Brees put the Saints in front 24-17 on a 2-yd pass to Shockey.

Manning had 5:12 remaining to score, but his pass to Reggie Wayne was picked off by Tracy Porter who returned it 74 yds for touchdown, putting the game out of reach for the Colts at 31-17.

“We weren’t the Aints,” Porter said. “We were a team of destiny, a team that can make big plays.”

Manning’s interception was the only turnover of the game, but was enough to seal New Orleans’ victory. The four-time MVP forlornly walked to the sideline as the Big Easy celebrations began.

“It’s time for the Saints to celebrate,” Manning said. “It’s their field and it’s their championship.”

The much-anticipated shootout between the NFL’s two highest-scoring offenses never materialized. Manning finished 31 of 45 for 333 yds and the Colts outgained the Saints by 100 yds, but Indy scored on only one of its final six possessions against a New Orleans’ defense that ranked 25th during the regular season.

“We probably never got into a great rhythm,” said Manning.

The buzz about Manning being the greatest quarterback of all times, had he won his second Super Bowl Sunday, will probably die quickly on the aftermath of Super Bowl XLIV.

Drew Brees, Sean Payton and the Saints team have reversed the franchise embarrassing past, carrying an entire city to the top with them.

“Four years ago who ever thought this would be happening when 85 percent of the city was under water from Hurricane Katrina,” Brees said. “Most people not knowing if New Orleans would ever come back… This is the culmination of that belief and that faith.

Sean Payton came into the game with an aggressive plan, not just to play, BUT TO WIN. That was some of the best coaching ever seen in a game of that magnitude.

Payton held the Vince Lombardi Trophy high over his head and ran into the end zone toward several hundred fans chanting the Saints’ rally cry: “Who dat, who dat, who dat gonna beat dem Saints?”

Nobody can say it know, at least for the NFL’s 2009 season.

“Everybody back in New Orleans gets a piece of this trophy.” Payton said.

“I think I could kiss him.” Owner Tom Benson said.

A fairy tale ending to a great season for the Saints, but it was well deserved. They believed they could do it, their fans believed, and they were the best team on the field in Miami in Super Bowl XLIV.

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Brees, Saints outplayed Colts to claim franchise’s first Super Bowl title

Brees, Saints outplayed Colts to claim franchise’s first Super Bowl title

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