This Week in Sports 2010: Week 5 (Super Bowl XLIV Edition)
Who Dat? Drew Dat. Drew Brees was unreal in the biggest game of his career. Brees was 32/39 for 288 yards and 2 touchdowns in the 31-17 Saints (who were down 10 at the end of the first) victory. The Super Bowl MVP was Super indeed. But the Saints most clutch player was not on offense. He is one Tracy Porter. Porter, with his carved hair and all (Google it), got the game saving interception again. First against Brett Favre in the NFC Championship game, now Peyton Manning with roughly 3 minutes left to go up 14.
Sean Payton made some of the gutsiest plays in Super Bowl history. Going for it on 4th and goal, the onside kick to end the half, playing Reggie Wayne close with the risk of him beating Porter. All his gutsy attempts paid off.
Looking at Peyton Manning's pass that was picked, you will see that it was a decent route, and a decent pass. But it was a GREAT read by Tracy Porter. Peyton was on a role during that whole drive, and Reggie Wayne was involved in the drive for the first time all game. But there was that hard hitting, aggressive, take-all-risks Saints defense there to halt the Super Bowl dreams of yet another team, and yet another legendary quarterback. Peyton was 31/45 with 333 yards, 1 touch down, and 1 pick. Joseph Addai was the surprise of the game for me as he rushed for a solid 77 yards and 1 touch down with 58 yards receiving. The story of the week was probably Dwight Freeny's ankle. It was sore all week and there were rumors he would not play. But he played as he said he would and did not do bad. He had a crucial sack on 3rd down and forced the Saints to double team him every snap.
This was one of the most exciting Super Bowls in a long while, and was very close to being the first one ever to go into overtime. Super Bowl XLIV will go down in history as a feel-good story on how one team had the whole country behind them, and how the town went from ruins to Super Bowl Champions.
Rohan Reddy