Mardi Gras has kicked off a little early this year in New Orleans and, who knows, it could even go on a little longer than usual. Last night the New Orleans Saints shocked many people by knocking off the favoured Indianapolis Colts to win Superbowl XLIV. It is hard to beleive the Saints have been able to create a winning product just four years after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city, and many wondered if the Saints would be able to remain in New Orleans.
Let’s face it, the concept of winning the Lombardi Trophy has been a foriegn one throughout the franchise’s entire 43-year history. Actually, for most of my life there were two constants in football, the New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals were going to be terrible. However, in the past two seasons, the Cardinals came within one play of winning their first Superbowl, and in the following year the New Orleans Saints are World Champions. Times have certainly changed in the National Football League.
Everyone predicted that if the Saints were going to win this game, Drew Brees would have to put in an MVP performance. Brees did exactly that on Sunday tying a Superbowl record for completions with 32, and also throwing for 288 yards and 2 touchdowns. Brees appeared shaky in the NFC Championship, but the Colts were unable to consistently pressure the superstar quarterback, and Brees picked them apart.
Brees was on the mark all night, but he was at his best on the Saints go ahead touchdown drive in the 4th quarter. The Colts were up by one and had just missed a field goal, which gave New Orleans the ball on their own 41 yard-line. Brees marched his team down the field for the go ahead touchdown going a perfect 7 for 7 on the drive, and hitting seven different receivers in the process. Brees actually went 8 for 8 on the drive if you count the two-point conversion. Brees was at his best on the biggest stage, and that is a trait that earns a great quarterback elite status in this league.
While Brees put in the most outstanding performance in this year’s Superbowl, New Orleans is also celebrating due to the play-calling of their coach, and the performance of their defense. Sean Payton is known for being an aggressive coach. He put in place this high powered offense that plays pedal to the metal, but his decisions on Sunday will go down in Superbowl lore. Payton made his first gusty call on a 4th and goal from the Colts 1-yard line late in the second half. The Colts stopped Pierre Thomas on that attempt, and the Saints came away with nothing. However, Payton stated he made the call because he had the faith in his defense that they could force the Colts to go three and out, which would give New Orleans the ball back to the in good field position. Not many people were giving the Saints defense much of a chance at being able to shut down the high powered Colts offense, but they were phenomenal throughout Sundays’ contest. The Saints defense did force a three and out, which resulted in a field goal making the score 10-6 heading into halftime.
One might think that the failed attempt at the goal line could slow down Payton’s aggressive style, but maybe the response from his defense gave him even more confidence to attempt the momentum changing onside kick. Payton said after the game that his staff noticed the Colts were cheating on theif kick-off coverage all season, and they had practiced the onside kick for two weeks with the idea of possibly surprising the Colts with it at some point on Sunday. Using the opening kick-off of the second half was certainly surprising, and the subsequent recovery allowed the Saints to drive down the field and take their first lead. In order to even attempt this a coach has to not only believe there is a good chance it will work, but he also has to have faith that his defense will be able to hold the opposition on a short field. Despite giving up 10 points on the Colts first two possessions, the Saints defense had completely shut down Manning for the remainder of the first half, which was a clear indication to Payton that his defense was up to the task on Sunday.
New Orleans defensive performance was highlighted by Tracy Porter’s 74-yard interception return that sealed the victory. The Saints defense had lived and died off of the turnover all season long, so it was only fitting that they would end the night with a turnover, but their performance on Sunday was so much more than that. New Orleans offense got off to a slow start in the Superbowl, and it appeared this game could get out of hand early with Colts up 10-0, but the Saints defense shut the door for the remainder of the first half, allowing their offense to put some points on the board. Sure the Saints defense did give up 432 total yards to the Colts, but they were able to get the stops when it was absolutely necessary, and instilled in their teammates the belief that they could keep the game close, and give their offense an opportunity to get the lead.
Sunday’s Superbowl victory was no fluke as the Saints won every facet of the game. New Orleans’ offense, being led by Drew Brees, scored on every possession in the second half, their defense shut down the high powered Colts for the final three quarters, their special teams executed perfectly on arguably the game’s biggest play, and their coach did not succumb to the pressure of the big game, and continued to call plays in an aggressive style. The party will continue in New Orleans for quite a while, but it will quickly be back to work for the Saints brass who will have a number of decisions to make over the off-season in an effort to make a run at defending their title, but they should allowed to enjoy this one for a little while at least.