Saints claim historic Super Bowl win
New Orleans Saints win first Super Bowl title in their 43-year history
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By Matt Hallam. |  |
Monday, 08, Feb 2010 02:44
By Alistair Potter.
This season's NFL fairytale was completed after the New Orleans Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in the Super Bowl.
An interception from Tracy Porter, when he jumped in front of receiver Reggie Wayne and returned it for a touchdown, all but ended Peyton Manning's hopes of a second championship ring.
Earlier, Saints quarterback Drew Brees enjoyed another stellar day after a slow start - passing for 288 yards and two scores.
The NFC champions began in a tentative fashion very unlike the fun and gun style they'd showed throughout the rest of the season, allowing Manning to dictate play with short passes.
His side dominated the first quarter, opening with a Matt Stover field goal before Pierre Garcon hauled in a perfect pass to open out a 10-0 lead.
The second quarter was all about the Saints though as they dominated time of possession and kept Manning off the field for all but six plays.
However, after Garrett Hartley had kicked the first points for the Saints with a field goal from 46 yards a long drive was stopped short one yard outside the end zone in what looked a big stop for the Colts defence.
Nevertheless, the Saints defence held their opponents deep in their own territory and got the ball back, allowing Hartley to kick another three as time expired on the first half.
After The Who's half-time performance had thrilled the crowd, the Saints did just the same when a surprise onside kick maintained possession for the start of the second period.
The result was a fantastic screen pass that Pierre Thomas ran in for a score - putting his side ahead for the first time in the game, 13-10.
Running back Joseph Addai completed the perfect response when he ran in from four yards to move the Colts ahead once more.
But after Hartley had slotted another long-range field goal going into the fourth quarter the Saints began to gain the upper hand.
First their defence held Manning's offence to a long field goal try which was missed by Stover, leading to good field position for Brees. The Saints QB, praised from all quarters this year, led his side 59 yards culminating in Jeremy Shockey's two-yard reception for a 22-17 lead - stretching the advantage to seven points when Lance Moore completed a bobbling catch for the two-point conversion.
Manning looked to have got his side back in it by leading a drive deep into New Orleans territory but he was picked off by Porter on the 26-yard-line and the cornerback ran it back for another score and a clear lead.
The Colts had one last shot at a remarkable comeback when their star QB led his offence down inside the Saints five-yard-line but when Wayne failed to pull in a catch on the goal-line the ball was turned over and the celebrations began.