Two weeks ago, it was New Orleans cornerback Tracy Porter who intercepted Minnesota’s Brett Favre to seal the Saints place in Super Bowl 44.
Tonight, Porter was up to his old tricks again – this time his victim was 4-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning.
Porter’s late fourth quarter interception return for a touchdown provided the final margin in Super Bowl 44, as the New Orleans Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 31-17.
In a game between two teams noted for their extraordinary offenses and top-notch quarterbacks, neither failed to live up to the hype. After a slow start to the game, both signal callers combined to complete 63 passes.
The Colts led the game 10-6 at the half, as neither team could sustain any momentum. So, coming out of halftime, the Saints went with an unconventional onside kick. Indianapolis just missed recovering the ball, but it went under the hands of a Colts player and the Saints were able to recover it. This controversial choice paid off for New Orleans. Drew Brees got on a roll and led his team on touchdown drive by completing a 16-yard screen pass to Pierre Thomas.
Drew Brees celebrates his new Super Bowl trophy with his son, Baylen.
Indianapolis responded with a 76-yard drive. The drive ended with Joseph Addai scoring on a 4-yard TD run which put the Colts ahead 17-13.
But that would be the last time that the Colts would score in the contest. First, the Saints Garrett Hartley answered with a 46-yard field goal. After keeping the Colts at bay, the Saints scored with 4:57 left in the game to put them ahead 24-17.
Colts quarterback Peyton Manning began to lead his troops on a drive to tie the game, moving the ball into Saints’ territory. A key 3rd and 5 pass was intercepted by Tracy Porter, providing the game with its biggest play.
Manning tried to quickly get another score for Indy, but the drive stalled when the Colts couldn’t push the ball in the end zone on a 4th and goal with slightly over a minute left in the contest.
Drew Brees, who was named the Super Bowl MVP, downed the ball to seal the New Orleans’ victory in their first trip to the big game. Here’s the quarterback’s take on their journey this season:
”We just believed in ourselves and we knew that we had an entire city and maybe an entire country behind us. What can I say? I tried to imagine what this moment would be like for a long time and it’s better than expected.”
Now, Brees, the Saints and the city of New Orleans no longer have to imagine.
T Lamont is an administator and author covering all sports for Ball or Nuthin'. Send T Lamont a question or comment for future discussion (tlamont@ballornuthin.com). 
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I'm glad the Colts lost. The quit in the regular season and Reggie Wayne quit on that curl route.
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TLamont Reply:
February 8th, 2010 at 3:47 pm
It was good to see the Saints win. They were the team whose defense had the ability to make a big play…so to me they had the advantage. The Saints play defense kinda like the Hokies. With almost every tackle there was a slap down at the football. Tracy Porter having the guts to jump that last route was typical of New Orleans style of play throughout the season.
Most of the time, the "Cinderella" team only makes it so far before the glass slipper falls off. This year, it was good to see Cinderella go to the ball, have a good time, marry her Prince Charming and live happily ever after.
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From GBailey:
Although I was rooting for the Colts, I think this places Peyton Manning in
a more humbling position such as may have been the case two weeks ago with
Brett Favre. Like Tony, I'm happy for the Saints victory but from a
different perspective. I'm happy because this is an opportunity for a much
devasted region to boost its revitalization and morale. We can truly say
that the best records – and significant accomplishment for both teams –
were at the Superbowl and not just a fairy tale Cinderella team. Still as
the game proved last night, offense brings the show but defense brings home
the trophy.
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Defense what defense!! Except for Freeny I didn't see anybody play
defense. Manning showed he could move the ball on the Colts anytime he had
the ball. Only problem is that the Saints never let him have the ball.
I'm telling you Reggie Wayne lost that game for the Colts. He had a mental
breakdown and didn't complete his route. That was 6 points the other way.
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I agree…also he dropped that pass to end the game…but I will not blame
him completely. Pierre Garcon dropped an easy pass that would have
definitely got a first down and maybe more, but it would have at least kept
the drive going. Seemed like Reggie Wayne was afraid of getting hit.
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TLamont Reply:
February 8th, 2010 at 8:43 pm
He got smacked on a slant earlier in the game. He bobbled the ball and by the time he secured it he got drilled by a Saints defender.
He held on to the ball and the play gave the Colts a first down, but best believe dude was shook after that.
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Ok…taking into consideration all the comments, do you think that if the things we pointed out hadn't happened that the Colts would have won the game? Just wondering.
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TLamont Reply:
February 8th, 2010 at 8:40 pm
The Colts still wouldn't have won. In my mind, Indianapolis is kinda like Cleveland in the NBA. LeBron has to have a monster game with no mistakes for them to win a playoff game against a top notch opponent.
Since Peyton is not going to get any help from his defense (especially with Bob Sanders out all year), he has to play the perfect game. Any mistakes that he makes are even more critical because of that. After that Tracy Porter interception, everybody knew the game was over.
Minnesota was, without question, the most well-rounded team in the NFL this year. Look at how they dominated the game against the Saints – - in the Superdome. But even they fell victim to the scrappy, opportunistic New Orleans defense.
Some teams have good things happen to them, but not the Saints. They went out and scrapped for their title.
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Tony Reply:
February 9th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
All I know is the Colts have quit in the regular season twice thus far. Once with Dungy and once with Caldwell and their number of Super Bowl wins is 0. And as far as I know the teams that have actually won the Super Bowl 100% of them have tried to win in the regular season. So I guess you will never know if the Colts would have won or not. I just know quitting doesn't work, so hey let's try winning next time.
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TLamont Reply:
February 9th, 2010 at 3:26 pm
The Colts won Super Bowl 41 (2007). They beat the Bears, 29-17.
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I'll give the coach some blame. He pulled too many starters out those last regular season games. Maybe if they played those minutes there minds would have been sharper. Still they will always be quitters in my mind.
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That's my point man. Peyton Manning planned every minute of those last two games trying to win. Dungy didn't pull him out in the third quarter like they did this year.
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