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Monday, February 08, 2010

New Orleans Saints win Super Bowl - beating Colts 31-17

The New Orleans Saints completed a fairytale run to Super Bowl glory by shocking the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in Miami on Sunday.

Indianapolis, trying to win their second Super Bowl in four seasons, started confidently and Matt Stover booted a 38-yard field goal to give them the early edge.

And when Peyton Manning hit Pierre Garcon with a 19-yard scoring pass to cap a 96-yard drive (equalling the longest in Super Bowl history) they appeared to be in control.

Quarter Time : Indianpolis 10-0

New Orleans trailed 10-0 after the first quarter, but took control from that moment on to dominate the favoured Colts.

The Saints, with Sean Payton and his staff calling an inspired game, totally dominated the second period to get right back in the hunt.

They only had two Garrett Hartley field goals to show for outgaining the Colts 143 yards to 15 in the quarter, but it would have been more if Pierre Thomas hadn't been stopped by Gary Brackett on 4th and goal from the 1-yard line.

Half Time : Indianpolis 10-6

New Orleans took the game by the scruff of the neck right at the start of the second half, going for a short onside kick and recovering it.

That set the Saints up to go 58 yards in six plays on a scoring drive capped by a 16-yard screen pass from Brees to that man Thomas.

The Colts though struck right back, going 76 yards in 10 plays as Joseph Addai rumbled in from four yards out.

New Orleans responded with another Hartley field goal - his third of the day from more than 40 yards out - to pull within one point at 17-16 - before a dramatic final period.

Three Quarter Time : Indianapolis 17-16

Colts kicker Stover missed a 51-yard field goal which gave the Saints great field position at their own 41, and Brees immediately capitalised.

With the quarterback and his wide receivers in perfect rhythm, they marched 59 yards in nine plays with Brees capping the drive by hitting Jeremy Shockey on a slant from two yards out to take the lead.

Lance Moore's amazing reception for the two-point conversion was called good after the Saints challenged the ruling of incomplete, and New Orleans were in front 24-17.

Manning still had more than five minutes to pull off a memorable comeback, and he quickly drove the Colts to the New Orleans 31.

But then Tracy Porter stepped in front of a pass intended for Reggie Wayne and returned it 74 yards to put the result beyond any doubt.

Final Score : New Orleans 31-17

Drew Brees hit on 32 of 39 passes for 288 yards and two scores en route to being voted the game's most valuable player. Brees equalled the Super Bowl record for completions as the Saints notched an emotional victory five years on from Hurricane Katrina.

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