The New Orleans Saints played and won their first Super Bowl title last night, as they shocked Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts 31 to 17 in a game most thought they wouldn't win. Quite possibly this thinking was due to the fact that it was "Peyton Manning and Dwight Freeney Week" the entire week before the game. No one could go anywhere or turn on their TV without hearing about how Dwight Freeney had a torn ligament in his ankle and was "QUESTIONABLE" to play. In addition, even with Dwight Freeney's injury being the forefront of all discussions, and with the Saints just beating the likes of the Cardinals and Vikings, the Saints remained 5 point underdogs. Furthermore, there was so much love and admiration for Peyton Manning and his play calling ability that I felt like he was going to run for President. Nonetheless, I must say that the New Orleans Saints must have benefited, at least a little bit, from this lack of press, as the Colts stole the show when it came to press leading up to gametime. However, all this talk didn't have a thing to do with the overall outcome of the game. Led by Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees, who went 32 of 39 for 288 yards, 2 touchdowns, and no INT's, the Saints made history and took control of their destiny to take chances and make gutsy calls that ultimately brought them their first World Championship. Nonetheless, even with those huge numbers, the Saints trailed 17-16 with under 6 minutes left in the 4th quarter. The game soon changed, as the Saints marched right down the field and capped it off with a 3 yard TD pass to Tight End Jeremy Shockey, as Shockey could now back up all that trash talk we're used to hearing from him. His ring during the Giants Super Bowl run he could never justify due to the injury, but this win by the Saints he can definitely take to the bank...and maybe get another tattoo also .
Think about this...The Saints, who lost their final three regular-season games, are the first team to take a three-game losing streak into the playoffs and win the Super Bowl. Some interesting stats: With the loss by the Colts, the last five regular-season MVPs to reach the Super Bowl have lost the game. The Saints' Garrett Hartley became the first kicker in Super Bowl history to make three field goals from 40-plus yards (46, 44 and 47). Saints Running Back Pierre Thomas, who had 85 total yards, is the third running back in NFL history to have a receiving touchdown in both a conference title game and the Super Bowl....surprising. Colts Kicker Matt Stover, who was 1-for-2 on field goal attempts, became the oldest player in a Super Bowl at 42 years, 11 days. Indianapolis' 96-yard touchdown drive in the first quarter tied the 1985 Bears (Super Bowl XX) for the longest in Super Bowl history. We all knew the game was over, even for Peyton Manning, when Saints Cornerback Tracy Porter ran in front of Reggie Wayne, intercepted Peyton Manning's pass and returned it 74 yards for a touchdown to give New Orleans a 31-17 lead with 3:12 remaining in the game. To the surprise of many, the Colts were completely unable to rally in the final minutes, giving the Saints their first Super Bowl championship. The interesting fact being that Porter also had a huge interception against Brett Favre in the NFC championship game that ultimately led his team to victory....twice this postseason. Watch it again:
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