SUPER BOWL XLIV REVIEW

SAINTS GO MARCHING TO A SUPER BOWL TITLE!



The New Orleans Saints, yes the New Orleans Saints, let me say it again the New Orleans Saints are Super Bowl XLIV Champions!! The long time laughing stocks of the NFL and a franchise once known by the Aints by their fans are Super Bowl Champions! New Orleans Saints fans, you can throw away your paper bags, you don't need them anymore your team is on top of the NFL world. The New Orleans Saints rallied from a Super Bowl tieing 10 point deficit to upset the Indianapolis Colts 31 to 17. The Saints coming into this season had only won two post season games in their 42 year history in the NFL, won three this post season to give The Big Easy their first World Championship.


New Orleans QB Drew Brees was the Super Bowl MVP as he passed 32 of 39 for 288 yards and two TDs. The 32 completions tied Tom Brady's Super Bowl record for completions in a Super Bowl game. Lets look at a quarter by quarter look at Super Bowl XLIV.

FIRST QUARTER

The first quarter of Super Bowl XLIV started off like it was going to be a blowout in favor of the Indianapolis Colts. Peyton Manning and the Colts offense was firing on all cylinders as they jumped out to a 10 to 0 lead on their first two possessions of the game. The New Orleans Saints looked lost on offense and defense as they could not get anything going and they could not slow down the Manning express. The first quarter ended with the Colts ahead 10 to 0.

SECOND QUARTER

The momentum changed in the second quarter as the Saints started clicking on offense and they were able to keep Peyton Manning and the Colts offense off of the field. The Colts offense only ran six plays the entire second quarter. The Saints offense was only able to put two 40-plus field goals on the board after dominating the second quarter stats. The Saints Head Coach Sean Payton would make a decision to go for a TD on a 4th and goal, which at the time looked like a mistake when the Colts defense stopped the Saints. The confidence Coach Payton showed in his team, going for it ,would turn out to be one of the turning points of the game. The second quarter ended with the Colts leading 10 to 6.

THIRD QUARTER

The third quarter would start with the next game changing play as Coach Payton of the Saints went for an on sides kick to start the third quarter. After a big pile-up the Saints came away with the ball. The Colts were stunned. The Saints behind QB Drew Brees would drive down the field and take their first lead of the game 13 to 10. Not to be out done a well rested Peyton Manning would drive the Colts down the field to answer the Saints TD to give the Colts the lead right back at 17 to 13. The Saints would drive down to get another 40-plus field goal with about 2:00 left in the third quarter. The third quarter would end with the Colts leading 17 to 16.

FORTH QUARTER

Most of the forth quarter would go by with neither team posing a threat to score. Then with 5:42 left in the game Saints QB Drew Brees would hit Jeremy Shockey with a two yard TD pass to put the Saints back on top. The next game changing play would be when the Saints went for the two point conversion to try to go up 24 to 17. The play was ruled no good on the field but the play was reviewed and the play was reversed and it was good. The Saints were ahead in the Super Bowl with about 5:00 left to play in the game. On came Peyton Manning as he had plenty of time to drive the Colts down the field to force over-time. Manning would drive the Colts into Saints territory, but the Saints Tracy Porter would make the game changing play that would seal the Super Bowl win for the New Orleans Saints, he picked off Mannings pass and returned it 74 yards for the clinching score. The New Orleans Saints won Super Bowl XLIV 31 to 17.

It was a great win for the Saints organization and for the city of New Orleans. CONGRATULATIONS!!

THE ARMCHAIR COACH ended the football season with a record of 228 and 107 in predictions for a percentage of .681.

Until next week.