Super Bowl XLIV - A Saints Super Sunday!

By Dean Michaels, NFL Writer

Super Bowl XLIV Amen After 43 Years Saints Prayers Are Answered
Saints Prayers Are Answered

"AIN'T DAT SOMETHING!" screamed the headline on the Miami Herald's front page the morning after the New Orleans Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in yet another exciting Super Bowl. For the third consecutive season, the Super Bowl came down to the final minutes with the trailing team within a touchdown of the lead and in possession of the ball.

And for the third consecutive year, a signature play sealed the game. Two years ago, it was DAVID TYREE's "helmet catch" for the New York Giants (See Super Bowl XLII). Last year, Pittsburgh's SANTONIO HOLMES made a toe-tapping touchdown reception while surrounded by defenders (See Super Bowl XLIII.

And this year, with the Colts driving to tie the game, Saints cornerback TRACY PORTER raced 74 yards for the game-sealing interception-return touchdown.

Super Bowl XLIV - The Game

The New Orleans Saints displayed the resiliency of the city and region they represent as the franchise won its first Super Bowl. The Saints overcame a Super Bowl-record tying 10-point deficit and became the first team in a season to win three playoff games in which they trailed by at least seven points.

Trailing 10-0 in the first quarter, the Saints responded with two GARRETT HARTLEY field goals to cut the lead to 10-6 at the half. Heading into the locker room, the Saints decided to start the second half with a surprise.

Super Bowl XLIV - The Saints' Onside Kick

Down by four points, New Orleans head coach SEAN PAYTON called for an onside kick, which led to seven points and a shift in the game's momentum. "We knew we were going to call it at some point," says Payton. "All week we had practiced that onside kick. And at halftime, I just told these guys we would do it. It was a good kick by THOMAS MORSTEAD. Our guys did a good job in showing a normal kickoff coverage look. You know you get a little nervous. There's a lot going on and the key was the kicker. CHRIS REIS recovered the ball and we were able to take advantage of it and get seven points." The recovery of the onside kick led to a PIERRE THOMAS touchdown reception and a 13-10 lead.

The teams would each take the lead later in the second half before the game's closing minutes…

Super Bowl XLIV - The Saints' Big "Pick Six"

With the Colts facing a third-and-five at the New Orleans 31-yard line with 3:24 remaining in the fourth quarter, Porter picked off PEYTON MANNING's pass and raced 74 yards for the game-clinching touchdown. It marked the third-longest interception-return touchdown in Super Bowl history. "In film study, I was seeing that route over and over on third down," says Porter. "That was a big route for them to convert on. The film studying that we had done all week and all the preparation for the Super Bowl helped me. That route came just like I was watching it on film so I made a break on it."

Porter's touchdown gave the Saints a commanding 31-17 lead and put the finishing touches on a magical game for the New Orleans faithful. "We just believed in ourselves," says DREW BREES. "We knew we had the entire city and maybe the entire country behind us. It was all meant to be. It was destiny."

Super Bowl XLIV MVP Drew Brees Holding Lombardi Trophy
MVP Drew Brees Holding Lombardi Trophy

Super Bowl XLIV - Drew Brees the MVP

Drew Brees tied a Super Bowl record with 32 completions as he finished with 288 yards and two touchdowns without a single turnover. He completed 82.1 percent of his passes (32 of 39), the second-highest mark in a Super Bowl.

Brees, who set the NFL single-season completion percentage mark (70.60) in the regular season, finished the game with 10 completions in a row, tying the second-longest streak of consecutive completions in a Super Bowl.

"He was magnificent," says Payton. "He played so well, so efficiently. He was fantastic. He was fantastic all year. He's just a winner."

Super Bowl XLIV - The Viewers

It was, simply, the most-viewed television program of all time.

Super Bowl XLIV reached a total audience of 153.4 million viewers, making it the most-watched show in U.S. television history, according to Nielsen Media Research. The game topped the previous mark of 151.6 million viewers set last year (Arizona-Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLIII). Super Bowls account for the 19 most-watched programs in history in terms of total audience.

In addition, a record average of 106.5 million viewers watched Super Bowl XLIV -- topping the previous mark of 106.0 million for the series-finale of M*A*S*H in 1983 and an eight percent increase over last year's Super Bowl (98.7 million). "The Super Bowl is like a national holiday," says CBS Corp. President and CEO LES MOONVES.

Super Bowl XLIV on the Internet

More than two million fans voted for the Super Bowl MVP on NFL.com and on web-enabled mobile devices -- the highest total in the decade that fan votes have counted 20 percent towards the MVP

Fans watched 130 percent more NFL.com videos on Super Bowl Sunday than last year… Super Bowl XLIV was the number one trending topic on Twitter on Super Bowl Sunday.

Super Bowl XLIV Celebration Victory Parade New Orleans
Celebrating Super Bowl XLIV New Orleans Style