Monday, February 8, 2010

Saints take Superbowl XLIV

The New Orleans Saints win Superbowl XLIV with a 31-17 upset over 4-time MVP Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. This is the Saints' debut in the league championships and the first ever Superbowl title for the 43 year old NFL franchise.

Indianapolis led the Saints 10-0 in the first quarter highlighted by a Peyton Manning touchdown pass to Colts receiver Pierre Garcon. By the second quarter Saints quarterback Drew Brees led the offense twice to within 30 yards of the Colts end zone, allowing kicker Garrett Hartley to score on 40+ yard field goals. The Colts still led 10-6 at the end of the first half.

The Saints began the third quarter with a well executed onside kick that culminated in a scoring drive sealed by a Drew Brees to Pierre Thomas 16-yard TD pass. The Colts showed composure as they also scored on their next offense bringing the tally to 13-17. The subsequent Saints field goal tore down the Colts lead to just 1 point at 16-17 by the end of the 3rd quarter.

The final quarter was all Saints as the Colts' started to succumb to the opponents' marching momentum. On Indianapolis' initial drive on the fourth, Colts kicker Matt Stover tried to salvage a botched deep pass at New Orleans' 33 yard line with a 51-yard field goal attempt. However, the kick sailed wide to the left. The following offensive drive by the Saints ended in a 2-yard touchdown pass to veteran tight end Jeremy Shockey and a 2-point conversion that was awarded to the Saints after review.

Approaching the last two minutes of the game, all hopes for the Colts were extinguished as the no-huddle offense characteristic of Peyton Manning was trounced by a perfectly-timed Tracy Porter steal that resulted in a 74-yard interception touchdown return. The Colts' final attempt at redemption fizzled out with a fourth down incomplete pass resulting in a turnover at New Orleans' 5-yard line with 44 seconds left in the game. Brees ended Superbowl XLIV a true saint kneeling down for the final ticks. Final score Saints 31, Colts 17.

I had earlier predicted a 14-point victory for the Saints. (See my Facebook post, a full 13 hours prior to the kickoff). US President Barrack Obama also made a prediction for the Colts in an AP story (read it here). With all due respect... in your face Mr. Obama! :p

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