Super Bowl XLIV (Postgame)

The Super Bowl lived up to the hype.  The two top seeds from their respective conferences played for the Vince Lombardi Trophy yesterday, the most coveted object in football.  Super Bowl XLIV was defined by efficiency in the passing game, risk taking by the Saints, and the unforgettable scene of Drew Brees holding his son in his moment of celebration after the win.  It was simply a great game that fans have come to expect recently in the Super Bowl.

In the first quarter, it did not appear to some that the game would remain close.  The Colts took a 3-0 lead after forcing the Saints offense to go 3 and out, and embarking upon a subsequent 11 play 53 yard drive that ended in a field goal.  The fact that the Colts could only put 3 points on the board left an opening for the Saints to regain momentum.  However, the Saints were simply not in sync early in the game.  The running game could not get on track, there were no true explosive plays, and players seemed tense and nervious.  For example, Marques Colston dropped a wide open pass attempt in the Saints’ second series that would have given the team some momentum.  The Saints instead punted on the second set of downs in the next drive and then allowed Peyton Manning and the Colt offense to embark upon another 11 play drive, this time for 96 yards, and a touchdown to put the Colts up 10-0 at the end of the 1st quarter. 

In a 1st half seemingly defined by 11 play scoring drives, the Saints went on an 11 play drive and Garrett Hartley kicked a field goal (more to come on him) to put the Saints back into the game, now down by only 7 points early in the 2nd quarter.  The Saints then forced the Colts to go 3 and out on the next possession, and then drove 68 yards to the Colt 1 yard line.  On 4th and goal Pierre Thomas was stopped by the Colts strong defensive line.  This defensive stand looked to be a huge momentum swing in the game, but the Saint defense stepped up.  The Colts went 3 and out and punted from deep inside their own territory.  The Saints received the ball at about midfield and proceeded to drive into field goal range, where kicker Garrett Hartley again was clutch and drew the Saints within 4 points at half.  These points were so important for the Saints, because by getting the ball back at midfield and kicking a field goal in the last minute before half, the Saints in essence did not miss the scoring opportunity they had when they decided not to kick the field goal before being stopped at the 1 yard line.  If they had kicked the field goal, the Colts would have gotten better field position after the Saint kickoff, and the Saints most likely would not have had the opportunity to score again with the very limited amount of time remaining in the half and the lack of good field position.  Therefore, this field goal mitigated the momentum the Colts had garnered by stepping up at the goal line, and this change in momentum was a big turning point of the game going into half.

After the half, the Saints kicked off to the Colts.  Or so we all thought.  The Colts were taken by complete surprise, as was the rest of the nation and the world, by an onside kick by the Saints.  The Saints angled the ball to Hank Baskett, who clearly was not expecting the onside kick.  The ball bounced off his helmet well beyond the 10 yard limit, and then a 5 minute scrum erupted at the Saints 42 yard line.  Finally, it was determined that the Saints had recovered the ball.  This play was another main turning point in the game.  The Saints promptly moved the ball down the field and scored a touchdown to take a 13-10 lead.  The Colts then scored a touchdown on their next drive to take a 17-13 lead.  The Saints then responded with a field goal, again by clutch kicker Garrett Hartley, to cut the deficit to 17-16 heading into the 4th quarter of Super Bowl XLIV.

It was in the 4th quarter that the Saints made all the big plays necessary to win the Super Bowl.  Beginning with a Colts missed field goal by Matt  Stover, the Saints took all the momentum for the remainder of the game.  The Saints promptly took the ball downfield after receiving good field position and scored a touchdown, then followed with a successful two point conversion, which was determined to be good after replay review.  The Saints now had a 24-17 lead, and the Colts had an opportunity to drive down the field and tie the game with 5:42 remaining.  However, Tracy Porter essentially ended the Colts’ hopes with a 74 yard interception for a touchdown to put the Saints up 31-17.  This play, along with the onside kick to begin the 2nd half, were the biggest plays in the Super Bowl and will always be remembered as two of the most famous plays in Super Bowl history.   

However, the Colts were STILL not done.  Peyton took his team down the field, and he faced a 4th and goal from the 5 yard line.  However, Reggie Wayne let a ball go right through his hands on a crossing pattern that would have cut the lead to 7.  The ball went right through Wayne’s hands, and after the turnover on downs the Saints only needed to assume the victory formation and kneel on the ball to become Super Bowl XLIV Champions.

This victory was important for the Saints for so many reasons.  It is the franchise’s first ever Super Bowl win, and it is the first Super Bowl win for one of the best quarterbacks in the league, Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees.  Also, the city of New Orleans is only 4 years past the devastation that was Hurricane Katrina.  4 years since the franchise did not have a home, and 4 years since the uncertainty of the franchise’s future in New Orleans, and the future of the city of New Orleans in itself.  However, these 4 years show the power of a city who loves its people, whose people loves its franchise, and whose franchise actively seeks to give back to those who give it so much support.  Congratulations to the Saints and all its fans.  You deserve this.  Drew Brees deserves this.  New Orleans deserves this.