Brees: Saints’ win “unbelievable”

MIAMI – The Saints are world champions.

Coach Sean Payton’s squad responded time and again with the game on the line, and they put it away when second-year cornerback Tracy Porter intercepted Peyton Manning’s pass on a quick slant to Reggie Wayne, scoring on a 74-yard return that sent the Saints to a dramatic 31-17 victory.

“I’m not sure the words are in my mind,” Saints linebacker Scott Fujita said. “That image was in my mind, for the last two weeks. Someone handed me my daughters. To share this with them, that’s as good as it gets.”

No doubt, New Orleans and the entire Gulf South can relate.

The party was just getting started in the French Quarter. It might not end for a few days, if then. New Orleans is, after all, The City That Care Forgot.

“I know they’re having a good time on Bourbon Street,” Payton said.

They were, of course, but only because Payton had enough confidence in his team to take the chances they’d need to win the big game. They opened the second half with an onside kick, after the Saints had closed to within 10-6 on Garrett Hartley’s 44-yard field goal as the teams retreated to their respective locker rooms.

That’s when Payton told the Saints they’d go for it, while The Who was belting out tunes like “We Don’t Get Fooled Again.” Well, the Colts were fooled. Big time.

Thomas Morstead, the Saints’ rookie punter, got the perfect topspin on the ball, and it bounced off the helmet of Colts receiver Hank Baskett.

The Saints got the ball and moved 58 yards in six plays for their first touchdown of the game, Pierre Thomas’ deft 16-yard scoring reception on a screen play to the right side of the field. That would put the Saints in front for the first time in Super Bowl XLIV,

Drew Brees, the quarterback who delivered the Vince Lombardi Trophy to New Orleans, was named the game’s MVP, completing 32 of 39 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns. Brees likes to tell anyone who will listen that they’re all in this together, and he’s not just talking about the players and coaches in the Saints’ locker room.

“We played for so much more than just ourselves,” Brees said. “We played for our city, the region, the entire Who Dat Nation that was with us all the way. What can I say? We’ve been blessed with so much.

“It’s unbelievable.”