ANDERSON — Sean Payton, dat’s who.
The New Orleans Saints head coach engineered a stunning 31-17 upset of the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV on Sunday by winning a gambit of daring gambles.
“This coach really said, ‘We’re going out to win the game,’” Pendleton Heights football coach John Broughton said. “The Colts played it more by-the-book. The Saints were out to win the game.”
Indianapolis surged to a 10-0 at the end of the first quarter, but the Saints controlled the rest of the game.
Payton’s first big gamble came near the end of the second quarter, and it initially appeared to fail. Trailing 10-3, the Saints eschewed a field-goal attempt and went for the touchdown on fourth-and-goal from just outside the Colts’ 1-yard line. Running back Pierre Thomas was stopped well short of the goal line, and Indianapolis temporarily seized momentum.
However, the Colts went three-and-out on their ensuing possession, and New Orleans still was able to drive for a field goal just before halftime.
“I thought that was a bad move,” Broughton said of Payton’s call. “But it cost them nothing. In the NFL that is not done often at all. In high school, it’s something you might think about depending on your snapper, your holder and your kicker. For the professionals, that’s an automatic three points.”
Payton’s second gamble paid much bigger dividends.
After noticing two Colts routinely retreating early to set up the blocking wall on kickoffs in film study, Payton called for an onside kick to start the second half. The ball bounced off Indianapolis receiver Hank Baskett and was eventually recovered by New Orleans’ Chris Reis in a massive scrum.
“Very aggressive,” Lapel football coach Nate Andrews said with a hint of admiration. “It turns out, the way it ended up, it was a great call, right?”
Indianapolis tied a Super Bowl record with a 96-yard touchdown drive in the first quarter, and New Orleans allowed the Colts to take just eight offensive snaps in the second period. So possessions were at a premium.
“That was probably the quickest Super Bowl ever,” Broughton said. “Both teams had such long drives. (Payton) probably felt like he needed to do something to give his team an extra offensive possession.”
The drive following the onside kick ended with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Drew Brees to Thomas, giving the Saints their first lead at 13-10.
As much as the gamble fired up New Orleans, its effect on the Colts might have been even greater.
“It’s demoralizing to the other team,” Andrews said. “It takes the wind out of your sails. You’re fired up about receiving the kickoff and setting the tone for the second half. When that doesn’t happen, there’s a letdown. It’s human nature.”
Indianapolis rallied to regain the lead at 17-13, but the Saints scored the game’s final 18 points.
The last seven came on an interception return by Indiana alumnus Tracy Porter with 3:12 remaining in the game. The Saints’ opportunistic defense allowed 432 total yards but somehow came up with the big stops it needed.
“Their defensive game plan was even more complex than most teams try to show the Colts,” said Andrews, who played safety at Ball State. “I think one reason for that is that they had two weeks to prepare. It looked like they were running many more defenses than they did throughout the (regular season).
“They were running more defenses than I’ve seen any team play in my years of playing and coaching football. It wasn’t just formations. They had multiple fronts and multiple philosophies. It really kept the Colts on their heels.”
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Discussion
Payton's aggressive calls reap rewards
Local coaches dissect Saints coaches' Super Bowl gambles
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