The Hawkeye

Issue date: 2/8/10 Section: Campus News

Media Credit: MCTCampus Drew Brees and Sean Payton hold the Super Bowl trophy

After 44 years, the state of Louisiana finally has a professional championship as the New Orleans Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV in Miami, 31-17.

Behind a record-tying performance by Drew Brees, New Orleans (16-3) became the second champion in Super Bowl history from a ten-point deficit in order to erase the years of frustration and turmoil that long plagued the Saints franchise.

Brees tied Tom Brady's Super Bowl record for completions after he completed 32-of-39 passes to go along with 288 yards and two touchdowns. Brees' performance gave him the Most Valuable Player award for the game.
Brees outdueled the Colts (16-3) and Peyton Manning, whose father, Archie, used to have a stellar career with the Saints from 1971 to 1982. Manning threw for 333 yards and a touchdown on 31-of-45 passing, but it was his costly fourth-quarter interception to Tracy Porter that all but sealed the fate for Indianapolis.

In the first quarter, New Orleans stumbled out of the gate, while Indianapolis scored a field goal and a touchdown in their first two drives to jump out into a 10-0 lead.
Undeterred, the Saints crept back into the game on the next drive with a field goal to cap an 11-play, 60-yard drive to give the Saints their first points of the game.
The defense held the Colts in check to a three-and-out and it allowed New Orleans the chance to do even further damage.

As they got ever closer to the goal line, it became tougher to score and Saints head coach Sean Payton decided to go for the touchdown on fourth down. The Saints were denied that privilege, but after another defensive stand, New Orleans kicked a field goal as the Saints trailed at halftime, 10-6.
After halftime, Payton decided to roll the dice once more as he elected to let his team kick an onside kick rather than kicking it to Indianapolis. The move paid off as New Orleans successfully recovered the kick and essentially took the momentum.

Six plays and 58 yards later, the Saints had their first lead at 13-10 when Brees connected with Pierre Thomas on a 16-yard pass. Not to be outdone, Manning engineered a ten-play, 76-yard drive as the Colts reestablished the lead at 17-13. New Orleans added a field goal as they trailed, 17-16, heading into the final quarter.

Continued...

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