The New Orleans Saints, trailing after the half, 10-6, pulled a trick play at the opening of the second half and never looked back. While the Colts battled back, the Saints took advantage of an onside kick, plenty of offense, and a Peyton Manning interception to take the Super Bowl trophy back to New Orleans.
The Saints trailed after the half, 10-6, and had to kick off to the Colts. However, head coach Sean Payton, probably mulling the idea over for the entire halftime show, gambled with an onside kick that they recovered. They then took the ball and scored on a Drew Brees pass for 16 yards and a TD to Pierre Thomas. The lead for the Saints was 13-10.
It was then the Colts immediately marched down the field for a TD of their own. Joseph Addai ran in for a score with a 4 yard TD run. 17-13 Colts.
However, then the Saints scored 11 straight points. They also did what no one expected: shut down the Colts offense. At that point, it was 24-17, including a two point conversion that was first denied and then confirmed via a replay.
Trailing 24-17, it looked like Peyton Manning was driving the Colts for a tying score, when an errant pass was intercepted at the New Orleans 26, and returned 74 yards for a game-sealing TD by Tracy Porter.
With only 3+ minutes left, it seemed it was over, and indeed it was. Although the Colts made a fast dash down the field. However, with 44 seconds left, at fourth-and-goal, the Colts drive failed, and that was the final score, 31-17 New Orleans.
Heart beat Head. Logically, the Colts were expected to win.
Pyeton Manning finished the game 31/45 for 333 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. He had an 88.5 QB rating. Drew Brees was 32/39, 288 yards, 2 TDs, no INTs and a 114.5 QB rating.
This is the first title in New Orleans' history. In failing to win, Peyton Manning failed to cap off a season in which he won the AP Player of the Year award. Meanwhile, those who have called him the greatest QB of all time will have to rethink that: Manning is still stuck at one Super Bowl win, while Joe Montana had 4.
According to ESPN, Drew Brees was named the game's MVP.
Written by Michael Santo
HULIQ.com
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