New Orleans Saints 31 Indianapolis Colts 17:The New Orleans Saints completed a fairytale run to Super Bowl glory by shocking the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in Miami early this morning.
Drew Brees equalled the Super Bowl record for completions as the Saints notched an emotional victory five years on from Hurricane Katrina.
New Orleans trailed 10-0 after the first quarter, but took control from that moment on to dominate the favoured Colts.
Brees hit on 32 of 39 passes for 288 yards and two scores en route to being voted the game's most valuable player.
Indianapolis, trying to win their second Super Bowl in four seasons, started confidently and Matt Stover booted a 38-yard field goal to give them the early edge.
And when Peyton Manning hit Pierre Garcon with a 19-yard scoring pass to cap a 96 yard drive (equalling the longest in Super Bowl history) they appeared to be in control.
But the Saints, with Sean Payton and his staff calling an inspired game, totally dominated the second period to get right back in the hunt.
They only had two Garrett Hartley field goals to show for outgaining the Colts 143 yards to 15 in the quarter, but it would have been more if Pierre Thomas hadn't been stuffed by Gary Brackett on 4th and goal from the 1.
Payton and his team took control of the game at the start of the second half, going for an onside kick and recovering it.
That set them up to go 58 yards in six plays on a scoring drive capped by a 16-yard screen pass from Brees to that man Thomas.
The Colts though struck back, going 76 yards in 10 plays as Joseph Addai rumbled in from four yards out.
New Orleans responded with another Hartley field goal - his third of the day from more than 40 yards out - to pull within one point at 17-16 - before a dramatic final period.
Stover missed a 51-yard field goal to give the Saints great field position at their own 41, and Brees and his team mates capitalised immediately.
With the quarterback and his wide receivers in perfect rhythm, they marched 59 yards in nine plays with Brees capping the drive by hitting Jeremy Shockey on a slant from two yards out.
Lance Moore's amazing reception for the two-point conversion was called good after the Saints challenged the ruling of incomplete, and New Orleans were in front 24-17.
Manning still had more than five minutes to pull off a memorable comeback, and he quickly drove the Colts to the New Orleans 31.
But then Tracy Porter stepped in front of a pass intended for Reggie Wayne and returned it 74 yards to put the result beyond any doubt.
Manning completed 31 of 45 passes for 333 yards with one score and that crucial interception.
But he was outplayed for most of the night by Brees, who was virtually perfect after the first period in completing passes to eight different receivers.
-PA