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Drew Brees lifts the Super Bowl trophy - Source: Getty -
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The New Orleans Saints completed their long-awaited
transformation from chumps to champions by defeating the
Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in the Super Bowl on Sunday to claim their
first NFL title.
New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees completed 32 of 39 passes for
288 yards and two touchdowns as he out-duelled the Colts' Peyton
Manning to help the Saints recover from a 10-point first-quarter
deficit.
"We just believed in ourselves," said Brees, who was named Most
Valuable Player (MVP).
"We knew we had an entire city, maybe an entire country behind us.
We're feeling it was all meant to be. It was destiny. Mardi Gras
may never end."
The Mardi Gras-style celebration in the chilly Dolphin Stadium
began when cornerback Tracy Porter picked off a Manning pass with
just over three minutes left and raced 74 yards for a score to give
the Saints a 31-17 lead.
"It's the kind of play we run a lot and Porter just made a great
play," said a dejected Manning, a former New Orleans resident who
finished with 31 completions in 45 attempts for 333 yards, one
touchdown and that one very costly interception.
"Just very disappointing."
The Saints have been a ray of hope for beleaguered New Orleans
since 2005 when Hurricane Katrina slammed the Gulf Coast, leaving
death and destruction in its wake.
"Coming to New Orleans and having that opportunity there was
definitely a calling," said Brees. "It was an opportunity that not
many get in their entire life, to come to a city that had just been
devastated by a natural disaster.
"Not only were we rebuilding an organization and a team, but also a
city and a region. It was a mentality that we've been through so
much yet we're going to come back stronger."
New Orleans had looked shellshocked to be in their first Super Bowl
as Indianapolis took a 10-0 lead at the end of the first
quarter.
Garrett Hartley, however, kicked two of his three field goals in
the second quarter and, although they trailed 10-6 at the half, the
Saints were back in business.
Colts stunned
The Saints stunned the Colts with successful onside kick to open
the second half and the dividends were immediate. A 16-yard scoring
pass from Brees to Pierre Thomas on the ensuing drive gave the
Saints their first lead at 13-10.
"It was a huge turning point in the game," said Colts defensive
back Melvin Bullitt. "They scored on that drive immediately and we
just couldn't stop them in the second half."
New Orleans still entered the final quarter trailing 17-16 but
Brees hit Jeremy Shockey on a two-yard scoring pass to give them a
22-17 lead with under six minutes remaining.
Brees found Lance Moore on a two-point conversion that was ruled
incomplete but the Saints successfully challenged the call.
Porter, who had a key pickoff against Minnesota in the NFC
championship, then effectively sealed the victory with his dramatic
interception, pointing to the Saints fans in the end zone during
the last 20 yards of his run-in.
Porter said he knew what Colts receiver Reggie Wayne was going to
do on the play.
"It was great film study, a great jump, and a great play," he said.
"This means so much. Words can't describe how much this means for
New Orleans. I am a Louisiana native and this is real big."
The Saints fans among the 75,000 in Dolphin Stadium erupted after
Porter's pickoff, knowing their first title was imminent. Thousands
stayed well after the game to savour the moment.
"The stadium atmosphere was a huge edge for us," said Saints coach
Sean Payton. "I felt like we took the lid off the Superdome and it
was outside. It was clearly a Saints crowd and we were happy about
that."
New Orleans scored the first time they touched the ball as a new
franchise back in 1967 but the team not only lost the game, the
city waited two decades before their first winning season.
"Hopefully, they're in the streets partying," said Saints receiver
Marques Colston. "These fans have come a long, long way."
