Peyton Manning was 31-of-45 for 333 yards and a touchdown, but it was his pick to Tracy Porter that was run back for a touchdown in the fourth quarter which sealed the Colts’ fate.  The Colts even ran the ball more than usual, and Joseph Addai had 77 yards and a score on 19 carries. Indy gained 432 yards to the Saints’ 332 yards, but the Colts made a couple of critical mistakes, and while the Porter pick was huge, the second half started the comeback.

Sean Payton made the gutsiest call in Super Bowl history, as his onside kick threw everyone in Sun Life Stadium off guard. The Saints went on to outscore the Colts 22-7 in the second half of the game, and they stuck with the gameplan they created going into the game. The Colts refused to let the Saints beat them with their crew of deep threats, but like Manning did against the New York Jets in the AFC championship game, Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees did the same against the Colts. Brees took his check-down throws and moved the ball, and he ended up going 32-of-39 for 288 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The 32 completions by Brees tied a Super Bowl record, and Marques Colston and Devery Henderson caught seven passes apiece for the Saints.

NFL lines had the Saints as a 4.5-point underdog in this contest, and they showed a lot of poise and courage in this game. They started off very slow, but they never panicked and stuck to their plan. The onside kick was a huge blow to the Colts, and then the Saints systematically broke them down. New Orleans has also lived and died with turnovers this year, and their eighth forced turnover in three playoff games clinched the title. Also, it can’t be understated what Brees did during this postseason run. Brees went up against Arizona’s Kurt Warner, Minnesota’s Brett Favre and Manning, all three of whom should end up in the Hall of Fame, and Brees outplayed them all, failing to throw a pick throughout the playoffs.

Those who were looking for a shootout were disappointed as the 48 combined points were under the posted total of 56.5. Still, that had to be the only thing that Super Bowl betting players had to be disappointed with in this brilliant game.