Peyton Manning was one quarter away from
capturing his second Super Bowl title in four years, but the four-time league
MVP didn't get enough support from his teammates, and in the end a costly
interception proved part of the downfall for the Indianapolis Colts.
Four years ago, Manning reached the summit by leading the Colts over Chicago
in Miami to win the Super Bowl. Same stadium, same game, different result
against a team that was destiny's pick - the New Orleans Saints.
Manning threw an interception that was returned 74 yards for a touchdown by
Tracy Porter late in the fourth quarter to seal New Orleans' 31-17 win in
Super Bowl XLIV.
"I don't think it will have any bearing on his legacy," Colts coach Jim
Caldwell said of the interception. "Obviously, he's a great player. It never
comes down to just one single play in the game."
For everything that went right for the Colts in the first quarter, periods two
and four were the complete opposite. The Colts dominated the opening quarter,
outgaining the Saints in yardage, 154-36. The Saints ran just 10 offensive
plays in the period, but the Colts had just six in the second quarter. Indy
was outgained 143-15 in the second quarter, but still maintained a 10-6 lead.
The turning point of the game though came on the opening play of the second
half when rookie kicker Thomas Morstead, actually the Saints' punter, put down
a perfect onside kick. Colts wide receiver Hank Baskett was in position to
come up with the ball, but it squirted away and New Orleans' Jonathan Casillas
came away with the football.
The Saints scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive, part of a 31-7 surge in
points to end the game for New Orleans in that franchise's first Super Bowl
title.
"They kind of kept the momentum from there," Manning said. "We just didn't
play well enough in certain times and in certain phases."
Manning finished 31-of-45 for 333 yards with a TD pass to Pierre Garcon to cap
a 96-yard drive in the opening quarter.
The Colts had their opportunities, but they never got a sustained pass rush
and one dropped pass in particular hurt their chances.
Dwight Freeney started for the Colts despite playing with a torn ligament in
his right ankle. He had a one-handed sack of Saints quarterback Drew Brees in
the second quarter, preventing a possible drive for a touchdown and limiting
New Orleans to three points. Freeney had the ankle re-taped, but wasn't much
of a factor in the second half.
"I tried to figure out ways to keep it warm, keep it going," Freeney said.
"The problem is once it gets stiff it's tough to bring it back."
Joseph Addai was the catalyst on offense for Indianapolis. He had 13 rushes
for 77 yards and a TD and caught seven passes for 58 yards.
Already ahead 10-0 in the second quarter and facing a third down at their own
28, Garcon dropped a sure first-down catch with plenty of open space ahead.
Even when they were up 17-16 early in the fourth, the Colts couldn't add to
their lead as Matt Stover's 51-yard field goal hooked wide left. The Saints
went ahead on the next possession when Brees connected with Jeremy Shockey for
a two-yard TD pass.
"They just made the plays," Colts offensive lineman Jeff Saturday said. "The
bottom line is when the game was on the line they made the plays and we
didn't."
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