The New Orleans Saints are NFL champions after they beat Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in Super Bowl 44.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees tied a Super Bowl record with 32 completions and was chosen Super Bowl MVP.

The biggest play of the game came at the beginning of the second half when the Saints recovered an onside kick.

The final dagger was when Saints cornerback Tracy Porter intercepted Manning and ran 74-yards for a touchdown.

The championship comes 4 1/2 years after Hurricane Katrina tore New Orleans apart.

There was doubt that the Saints would even be able to play in the city again, but the Superdome was rebuilt and the Saints won the NFC South in 2006, which was their first season with Brees and head coach Sean Payton.

Ironically, that was also the same season Peyton Manning won his only Super Bowl.

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