Super Bowl XLIV MVP: Drew Brees Saints QB

Super Bowl XLIV MVP Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes to lead the New Orleans Saints from a first quarter 10-0 deficit to defeat the Indianapolis Colts 31-17.

Brees' second touchdown pass came with 5:46 remaining in the game as he connected with tight end Jeremy Shockey on a two-yard slant to put the ahead 24-17. The Saints essentially sealed the victory when cornerback Tracy Porter intercepted Peyton Manning's pass with 3:21 remaning, returning it 74 yards for a touchdown to put the Saints ahead 31-17. The Colts drove deep in New Orleans territory one last time, but stalled inside the five-yard line. Porter also had intercepted Brett Favre to force overtime in the NFC Championship game. The interception was the game's only turnover.

The Colts led 17-16 heading into the 4th quarter thanks to Joseph Addai's four-yard touchdown run. Colts kicker Matt Stover missed a 51-yard field goal attempt early in the fourth quarter, giving the New Saints Orleans excellent field possession.

Brees completed his final 10 attempts finishing 32-for-39 with 288 passing yards throwing two TD passes and 0 interceptions. The Super Bowl MVP ended the game with a 114.5 passer rating.

A huge key was the Saints ability to keep Peyton Manning and the Colts offense off the field during the second quarter as New Orleans' time of possession was 12 minutes and 26 seconds. The Saints narrowed the Colts lead to 10-6.

The Saints opened the third quarter with an onside kick that caught the unsuspecting Colts off-guard. Casillas recovered the ball on the New Orleans 42-yard line. Brees connected twice with Devery Henderson and twice with running back Pierre Thomas on a 6-play 58-yard touchdown drive. Thomas weaved thru the Colts defense on a screen play right for the 16-yard touchdown to put the Saints ahead 13-10.

Peyton Manning and the Colts offense responded quickly engineering a 10-play 76-yard drive to take back the lead 17-13. Joseph Addai ran right off tackle for 4 yards to cap the drive scoring his first Super Bowl TD. The Saints countered with an 8-play 37-yard drive which culminated in a Garrett Hartley third field goal (47-yard) of the game to the narrow the gap 17-16.

The Colts defense opened Super Bowl XLIV holding the Saints to a three-and-out on their first possession. NFL regular season MVP Peyton Manning then drove the Colts 51 yards to the Saints 22-yard line. However, a false-start penalty pushed the Colts back 5 yards and the Saints were able to hold the Colts to a 38-yard Matt Stover field goal. The Colts held the Saints powerful offense yet again forcing the Saints to punt. Morstead's punt for 46 yards pinned the Colts all the way back at their 4-yard line.

However, Peyton Manning drove the Colts 96-yards for a touchdown culminating on Pierre Garcon's 19-yard touchdown pass from Manning 42 seconds remaning in the first quarter to give the Colts a 10-0 lead. Joseph Addai was the main force of the drive compiling 53 rushing yards on the drive including a 26-yard dash to Saints 23-yard line. Garcon's TD catch came two plays later.

It appeared as if the Colts were well on their way to an easy Super Bowl victory as the Saints were unable to respond, recording only one first down on their first two possesions.

However, the momentum of the game began shifting in the second quarter. The Saints put their first points of the game after an 11-play 60-yard drive culminated in Hartley's 46 yard field goal. The Saints were fortunate to hold the Colts on the next possession when Garcon dropped a catchable pass on a 3rd down play. The Saints drove the ball all the way to the Colts one-yard line but were unable to score on 4th down when Pierre Thomas was stopped in his tracks for no gain by linebackers Gary Brackett and Clint Session.

Starting from their own one-yard line, the Colts were forced to punt from their own ten-yard line. With 35 seconds remaning in the half, Brees was able to drive the Saints 26 yards allowing Hartley to close out the first half with 44 yard field goal.

Peyton Manning wound up with 33 completions in 45 attempts for 333 yards, one touchdown, one interception and an 88.5 passer rating.

Colts running back Joseph Addai rushed for 77 yards and one TD on 13 attempts plus 58 receiving yards on 7 catches.

Dallas Clark led the Colts receivers with 7 receptions (86 yards) while receivers Pierre Garcon (5 receptions, 66 yards, 1 TD), Austin Collie (6 receptions, 66 yards), and Reggie Wayne (5 receptions, 46 yards) turned in solid results in the losing effort.

New Orleans Saints Holding the Offensive Line
Super Bowl XLIV

As the old adage goes, 'Behind every great man there stands a great woman.' Mind you, we're not here to debate the merits of this adage. However, the same (or almost the same) can be said of great quarterbacks -- 'In front of every great quarterback there stands a great offensive line.' Here's a look at the Saints offensive line arguably, the key to Saints Super Bowl XLIV victory

Saints Defense Actually Better than it Gets Credit For
Super Bowl XLIV

Looking at the Saints' key team defensive statistics -- Points, Total Yards, Pass Yards and Rushing Yards Allowed -- it's easy to see, perhaps, why the Saints defense does not get all that much respect. However, their defense is actually better than it gets credit for. You just need to dig a little deeper and look at the 'key' stats that make the Saints defense tick ...

Super Bowl XLIV Selections
Benjamin Lee Eckstein

The Indianapolis Colts opened at most spots as a four or 4.5 point Super Bowl XLIV favorite. The line quickly moved to 5 then 5.5. There were a couple of stray 6's out there briefly, but once news of the Dwight Freeney injury hit, the line dropped back to 5, and now there are a bunch of 4.5's showing. Here's why I'm picking the Saints plus some of Super Bowl XLIV side bets

New Orleans Saints Daily Report
Super Bowl XLIV Preview - February 5, 2010

The Saints, who plan to conduct a final walk-through practice at Sun Life Stadium tomorrow, concluded their practice preparations at the U. of Miami with an hour and 50 minutes of work, focusing on red-zone offense and defense, plus short-yardage and goal-line situations. It was their shortest practice of the week.

Indianapolis Colts Daily Report
Super Bowl XLIV Preview - February 5, 2010

On a day when defensive end Dwight Freeney did not practice but cornerback Jerraud Powers got in some work, another player had to leave the Colts third Super Bowl practice of the week after aggravating an existing injury: Indianapolis all-pro wide receiver Reggie Wayne.

New Orleans Saints Daily Report
Super Bowl XLIV Preview - February 4, 2010

Saints coach Sean Payton cut back Thursday's practice about 20 minutes from the previous day and it was by design. He also limited team drills to eight snaps while also interspersing some special teams' work between offense and team defensive work.

Indianapolis Colts Daily Report
Super Bowl XLIV Preview - February 4, 2010

Veteran left guard Ryan Lilja missed the second day of the Colts practice week with what coach Jim Caldwell called a back injury that he did not think would jeopardize his status for Super Bowl XLIV

New Orleans Saints Daily Report
Super Bowl XLIV Preview - February 3, 2010

The Saints practiced for almost 2 ½ hours today under ideal conditions and head coach Sean Payton said he was very pleased with the work.

Indianapolis Colts Daily Report
Super Bowl XLIV Preview - February 3, 2010

With NFL Most Valuable Player Peyton Manning looking particularly sharp and hobbled defensive end Dwight Freeney unavailable, the AFC champion Indianapolis Colts opened their practice week for Super Bowl XLIV late Wednesday afternoon with a 1-hour, 48-minute

New Orleans Saints Come Marchin' In to South Florida
Super Bowl XLIV

The New Orleans Saints make their first Super Bowl appearance when they face the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. on Sunday, February 7. The Saints clinched the berth with a dramatic 31-28 overtime victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship Game

NFL Popularity America's Choice
Super Bowl XLIV

The National Football League is America's most popular sports league, comprised of 32 franchises that compete each year to win the Super Bowl, the world's biggest annual sporting event. Business Week magazine calls the NFL 'one of America's best-run businesses.' So, just how popular is the NFL

AFC Championship Game

(Home Team in CAPS)

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 30 New York Jets 17

NFC Championship Game

(Home Team in CAPS)

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 31 Minnesota Vikings 28 (OT)

NFL 2009 Playoffs Divisional Weekend Results

(Home Team in CAPS)

Saturday, January 16
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 45, Arizona Cardinals 14
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 20, Baltimore Ravens 3

Sunday, January 17
MINNESOTA VIKINGS 34, Dallas Cowboys 3
New York Jets 17, SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 14

NFL 2009 Playoffs Wild Card Weekend Results

(Home Team in CAPS)

Saturday, January 9
N.Y. Jets 24, CINCINNATI BENGALS 14
DALLAS COWBOYS 34, Philadelphia Eagles 14

Sunday, January 10
Baltimore Ravens 33, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 14
ARIZONA CARDINALS 51, Green Bay Packers 45 (OT)

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