Super Bowl XLIV: New Orleans 31, Indianapolis 17: Brees-ing to victory; Saints top Colts in Super Bowl

By Matt Serocki

The Colts had Super Bowl 44’s top rusher (Joseph Addai, 77 yards), top receiver (Dallas Clark, 86 yards) and top passer (Peyton Manning, 333 yards), but the Saints were ahead where it counts the most - on the scoreboard.

New Orleans ‘ quarterback and Super Bowl XLIV MVP Drew Brees went 32-of-39 for 288 yards and two touchdowns to help lead the Saints to the 31-17 upset-victory over the AFC Champion Indianapolis Colts.

Down 10-0 after the first quarter on the strength of a 19-yard touchdown connection between Manning and Pierre Garcon, things looked bleak for the New Orleans.

But two Garrett Hartley field goals later, the Colts only led 10-6 heading into halftime.

And then, the tide turned in favor of the Saints.

New Orleans ‘ head coach Sean Payton opted for an onside kick to open the second half, a gutsy decision that ultimately paid off when the Saints recovered the kick and then scored six plays later on a 16-yard pass from Brees to running back Pierre Thomas (85 total yards, touchdown) to put the New Orleans ahead 13-10.

The Colts answered the Saints’ score, marching 76 yards on 10 plays culminating with a four-yard score by Addai. The Colts then led 17-13.

Hartley added his third 40+ yard field goal of the night to push the Saints within a point at 17-16.

After that field goal, it was all Saints.

Brees drove his squad 59 yards on nine plays and then put his team on top for good with a two-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jeremy Shockey.

Leading 22-17, Payton, the victorious one, opted to go for two so his team would have a seven-point lead.

While ruled an unsuccessful attempt at first sight, the two-point conversion pass hauled in by Lance Moore was overturned, giving the Saints a 24-17 lead with 5:42 remaining in the game.

Knowing that Manning had over five minutes left to score and take the lead was something that made my stomach rumble.

This is the type of situation he thrives under and this would be just another feather in his cap, right?

How could the four-time NFL MVP not cap off his MVP season with another Super Bowl title?

No one told the Saints to lie down, and they showed why they and the city of New Orleans truly were worthy of a Super Bowl title.

Saints’ linebacker Jonathan Vilma made key tackles on both of the Colts’ drive in the fourth quarter. Cornerback Tracy Porter virtually sealed the Super Bowl victory when he picked off Manning and returned it 74 yards for a 31-17 lead with 3:12 left to play.

The Saints defense finally made plays when it mattered most, something the Colts’ offense had done all season.

New Orleans then stuffed the Colts as Indianapolis drove to the Saints’ five-yard line.

Indy was certain to score, right?

Wrong.

On fourth-and-goal, Manning’s pass to wide receiver Reggie Wayne fell incomplete, and the Saints were less than a minute away from their first Super Bowl title in franchise history.

With that, a season where two teams started 13-0 and then faced each other in the Super Bowl was over.

The showdown between the Colts and Saints was just another title game in a decade full of close match-ups that kept every viewer in his or her seat.

And now, all the questions and what ifs can start for Manning, Colts’ rookie head coach Jim Caldwell and owner Bill Polian.

They will not be able to answer those questions with the swagger of a team having just won the Super Bowl, but will have to answer the questions nonetheless.

Congratulations to the Saints and the city of New Orleans. A trying decade full of heartache, shock, faith and hope is now soothed just a little bit by a Lombardi Trophy.

Matt Serocki is a Blogger for Boston Sports U18. He is also a Sports Correspondent for The MetroWest Daily News. He can be reached at mattser82@yahoo.com.