Super Bowl XLIV game report

FIRST QUARTER -- Colts 10, Saints 3

PASSING LEADERS

Saints

Brees...3-7, 27 yards

Colts

Manning...9-14, 88 yards, TD

RECEIVING LEADERS

Saints

Bush...1, 16 yards

Colts

Clark...2, 25yards

RUSHING LEADERS

Saints

Bell...1, 4 yards

Colts

Addai...5, 58 yards

Momentum: The Colts ran twice as many plays as the Saints, scored on their first two possessions and held the ball for 10 minutes 29 seconds of the 15 minutes.

Did you notice? The reason Peyton Manning didn’t connect on a third-down pass to Pierre Garcon on the Colts’ first drive was the receiver getting tangled with the cornerback. . . . . Saints receiver Marques Colston was hit in the facemask with a pass when he peeked downfield and the ball slipped between his hands.

Unanswered question: Did the Saints ignore defending the run because the Colts were ranked last in the league? The Colts averaged 9.4 yards a pop in the quarter.

SECOND QUARTER -- Colts 10, Saints 6

PASSING LEADERS

Saints

Brees...13-15, 137 yards

Colts

Manning...1-2, 9 yards

RECEIVING LEADERS

Saints

Colston...4, 61 yards

Colts

Addai...1, 9 yards

RUSHING LEADERS

Saints

Bush...3, 10 yards

Colts

Hart...2,4 yards

Momentum: The Colts had two three-and-outs, and Drew Brees passed for 137 yards as the Saints held the ball for 12:26. They were able to put only six points on the board, however, and came up empty on a third- and fourth-and-goal from the one.

Did you notice? Saints backup tackle Zach Strief lined up at tight end when called for a crucial false start penalty on second and goal from the three? Two plays later on fourth down, Gary Brackett made the first hit on Pierre Thomas, Tim Jennings the second and Antoine Bethea cleaned up.

Unanswered question: Why didn’t the Saints double-team Dwight Freeney on his sack to stall the Saints’ first scoring drive?

THIRD QUARTER -- Colts 17, Saints 16

PASSING LEADERS

Saints

Brees...9-10, 80 yards

Colts

Manning...7-8, 65 yards

RECEIVING LEADERS

Saints

P. Thomas...2, 28 yards, TD

Colts

Clark...3, 45 yards

RUSHING LEADERS

Saints

P. Thomas...3, 25 yards

Colts

Addai...3, 19 yards, TD

Momentum: Saints grab momentum with a successful onside kick and a 59-yard touchdown drive for their first lead. The Colts took the momentum right back, however, using their no-huddle offense and responding with a 10-play, 76-yard TD drive. Starting to turn into offensive show everyone expected as Saints came back to drive for a 47-yard field goal by Garrett Hartley.

Did you notice? There were only two incompletions in the quarter. . . . Thomas accounted for 53 yards from scrimmage. . . . Hartley became the first kicker with three 40-plus-yard Super Bowl field goals.

Unanswered question: Why did Thomas seem covered in grease to Colts tacklers?

FOURTH QUARTER -- Saints 31, Colts 17

PASSING LEADERS

Saints

Brees...7-7, 48 yards, TD

Colts

Manning...14-21, 171 yards

RECEIVING LEADERS

Saints

D. Thomas...1, 9 yards

Colts

Garcon...3, 44 yards

RUSHING LEADERS

Saints

Bush...1, 12 yards

Colts

Addai...3, -2 yards

Momentum: The Colts kept their first drive alive with a fourth-and-two conversion, but it all went downhill once Matt Stover missed the ensuing 51-yard field-goal try. The Saints followed with a 58-yard TD drive and two-point conversion. Down seven, the Colts drove to the Saints’ 31 before Tracy Porter’s clinching 74-yard interception for a score.

Did you notice? On the Saints’ go-ahead TD drive, Brees threw five consecutive short passes for 54 yards. . . . Porter appeared to know where Manning was throwing before it was delivered on the key interception.

Unanswered question: Should Brees have beaten out Manning for league MVP?