SI's Best Shots of Super Bowl XLIV

SI's Best Shots of Super Bowl XLIV
SI's Best Shots of Super Bowl XLIV /

SI's Best Shots of Super Bowl XLIV

Drew Brees

Drew Brees
Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Drew Brees completed just three of his first seven passes for 27 yards in the first quarter, but was 29 of 32 from there on as the Saints won their first Super Bowl.

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Simon Bruty/SI

Matt Stover's 38-yard field goal in the first quarter gave the Colts a 3-0 lead.

Pierre Garcon

Pierre Garcon
Al Tielemans/SI

Pierre Garcon got behind the Saints defense late in the first quarter as Indy jumped to a 10-0 advantage.

Dwight Freeney

Dwight Freeney
David Bergman/SI

Dwight Freeney's injured ankle didn't keep him out of the game, and in the second quarter he bull-rushed the Saints and sacked Drew Brees.

Dwight Freeney

Dwight Freeney
Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Unfortunately for the Colts, Freeney's sack was his only tackle of the night. Moreover, Indy's pass rush didn't get enough pressure on Brees, who completed 32 of 39 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns in the 31-17 victory.

Pierre Thomas

Pierre Thomas
Bob Rosato/SI

The Saints used all of their offensive weapons, including Pierre Thomas, who had nine carries for 30 yards and caught six passes for 55 yards.

Clint Session

Clint Session
John W. McDonough/SI

Clint Session and the Colts defense stopped the Saints on a goal line stand late in the second quarter, but the Saints got the ball back and kicked a field goal to trail 10-6 at intermission.

Chris Reis

Chris Reis
John W. McDonough/SI

The Saints opened the second half with a gutsy onsides kick that was almost recovered by Chris Reis (39) but ultimately credited to Jonathan Casillas (not pictured).

Pierre Thomas

Pierre Thomas
Simon Bruty/SI

A screen pass to Pierre Thomas on the drive that followed the successful onsides kick led to this touchdown and a 13-10 New Orleans lead.

Marques Colston

Marques Colston
Peter Read Miller/SI

Marques Colston caught seven passes for 83 yards and had the Saints' longest reception of the night, 27 yards.

Reggie Bush

Reggie Bush
Al Tielemans/SI

Reggie Bush touched the ball nine times on offense and added 63 yards to the Saints' cause.

Joseph Addai

Joseph Addai
Peter Read Miller/SI

Joseph Addai scored on a four-yard run late in the third quarter as Indy took a 17-13 lead. He finished the night with 77 yards on 13 carries.

Drew Brees

Drew Brees

The Saints offensive line did a great job giving Brees time to find his receivers.

Jeremy Shockey

Jeremy Shockey
John W. McDonough/SI

The Saints used a nine-play, 59-yard drive to erase a 17-16 deficit in the fourth quarter, getting the go-ahead touchdown on a two-yard reception by Jeremy Shockey.

Lance Moore

Lance Moore
Bob Rosato/SI

Injured and unavailable for most of the season, Lance Moore held on to this two-point conversion pass to give the Saints a 24-17 lead

Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning
Al Tielemans/SI

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning wasn't happy when Matt Stover missed a 51-yard field goal attempt and sadder still when the Saints took the lead.

Malcolm Jenkins

Malcolm Jenkins
Peter Read Miller/SI

Malcolm Jenkins helped hold Reggie Wayne (87) to 46 yards on five catches and came close to picking off this pass.

Tracy Porter

Tracy Porter
Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

The Saints finally got the turnover they'd been searching for all night, an interception that Tracy Porter returned 74 yards for a touchdown that sealed the game.

Tracy Porter

Tracy Porter
Peter Read Miller/SI

It was Porter who intercepted Brett Favre in the fourth quarter of the NFC Championship game, forcing an overtime that the Saints won.

Roman Harper

Roman Harper
David Bergman/SI

New Orleans safety Roman Harper celebrated Tracy Porter's touchdown, knowing that the odds of winning were suddenly heavily in the Saints favor.

Sean Payton

Sean Payton
Peter Read Miller/SI

The Saints reflected the boldness of their coach Sean Payton, whose aggressive play-calling led the team to its first Super Bowl title.

Drew Brees

Drew Brees
Al Tielemans/SI

Peyton Manning may have won the regular season MVP award, but Drew Brees outplayed him in the Super Bowl and won an MVP of his own.

Drew Brees

Drew Brees
Simon Bruty/SI

Drew Brees celebrated the moment with his son, Baylen.

Garrett Hartley

Garrett Hartley
John W. McDonough/SI

Garrett Hartley's overtime field goal against Minnesota put the Saints in the Super Bowl and he followed that up with three field goals in the Super Bowl.

Reggie Bush

Reggie Bush
Bob Rosato/SI

The Saints fans and Reggie Bush celebrated the win.


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