Saints Shock Colts in Super Bowl XLIV

By Tom Herrera 

Who Dat? Super Bowl champions, that's who.

After only nine winning seasons in their 43-year history, the New Orleans Saints capped off an outstanding season with an upset over the Indianapolis Colts, 31-17, in Super Bowl XLIV.

It's been almost 4 1/2 years since flooding from Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and nearly chased them out of town for good, and now the Saints are on top of the NFL world.

"It was all meant to be. It was destiny,'' said Drew Brees.

Peyton Manning led the Colts to an early 10-0 lead in the first quarter, which included a Super Bowl record-tying 96-yard touchdown drive. But the Saints pulled within four of the Colts to close out the half, thanks to two long Garrett Hartley field goals in the second quarter.

New Orleans opened the second half by recovering a surprising onside kick and Brees marched the Saints to their first lead of the game, 13-10, on a 16-yard catch-and-run by Pierre Thomas.

After Joseph Addai helped Indianapolis regain the lead with a four-yard touchdown, the Saints answered with another Hartley field goal late in the third quarter to pull within one.

New Orleans surged to a 24-17 edge with just under six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter on Jeremy Shockey's two-yard TD grab and subsequent 2-point conversion by Lance Moore.

Manning had a chance to rally the Colts in the final minutes, but he threw a devastating interception with 3:12 left in the game as Tracy Porter returned it for the decisive score, 31-17.