It’s Good!
Photo Credit: The New York Times
Garrett Hartley being massed by his team after kicking a perfect field goal in overtime to send the Saints to Superbowl XLIV in Miami. Photo by: The New York Times.
January 27, 2010 • written by Kevin Dupuy
Filed under Football, Sports, featured, top story
The Saints hosted the NFC championship last Sunday in the Louisiana Superdome where they played the number two seed, the Minnesota Vikings. The key match-up was “The Gunslinger”, Brett Favre, against Drew Brees and the explosive offense of the Saints. The game was destined to be a nail bitter.
Many people worried about Minnesota’s defense being able to break through the offensive line to get to Brees, but the opposite occurred on Sunday. Favre was hit over 40 times as defensive coordinator Gregg Williams put the pressure on the veteran quarterback. The added pressure to Favre caused him to throw two interceptions as well as limp off the sideline with ankle pain.
Some were expecting a repeat of the Arizona game with Reggie Bush leading the charge. The Minnesota defense however prevented Bush from going anywhere and almost shut down the Saints running game. Reggie Bush ended the game for a combined 41 yards by both receiving and rushing. The only rushing touchdown during the game was by Pierre Thomas on the Saint’s opening drive.
In common Drew Brees fashion, the ball was spread around to different receivers on the field. Henderson, Thomas, and Bush each got a touchdown through the air. Although Brees did throw three touchdowns and no interceptions, he did not have a spectacular game. Brees completed only 17 out of 32 passing attempts.
The Viking’s offense did a lot better than the Saints however. Two players on Minnesota’s roster ran for more than one hundred yards against the New Orleans’s defense. The ball was not spread out as much though. Three out of the four touchdowns scored by Minnesota were rushing touchdowns to Adrian Peterson.
What really killed the Vikings were the constant fumbles by the offense. Minnesota fumbled six times during the game. Four of which were recovered by New Orleans.
The turnover that sent the game into overtime was an interception by Tracy Porter. The play saved the Saints from a Viking field goal in the closing seconds of regulation.
The Saints went on to win the coin toss. Some say that the coin toss is a sign of destiny for the Saints. The majority of games in overtime go to the winner of the coin toss.
The Saints engineered a shaky drive down field, almost having to punt on some occasions only to be saved by a long pass to Colston. The Saints were saved by three consecutive booth reviews before setting up at the 40 yard line for a field goal. The Vikings tried one desperate attempt to “ice” Garret Hartley with a timeout. Hartley said he was not worried and came out a minute later to kick the game winner.
The field goal in overtime was named the unbeatable play of the game. The kick sent the Saints to their first Superbowl in franchise history. The Saints go on to play the Indianapolis Colts in Miami on Superbowl Sunday, February 6, 2010.
“Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?!?”
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