MIAMI — Drew Brees was pushed, provoked, pressured and flat-out pummeled at times during Super Bowl XLIV.
But no matter how hard or often the Colts’ defense — which featured elite but injured pass rusher Dwight Freeney — got after the Saints’ star quarterback, Brees kept coming.
Brees kept getting up. He kept waiting until the last possible second to throw the ball. And dart after dart, the four-time Pro Bowl pick kept piercing the Colts’ defense for scores that led to New Orleans’ 31-17 victory over Indianapolis on Sunday in Sun Life Stadium.
Brees was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
“I tried to imagine what this moment could be like for a long time, and it’s better than I imagined,” said Brees, who was joined by his 1-year-old son, Baylen, at the trophy podium. “It was all meant to be. All destiny.”
With Peyton Manning on the other sideline, Brees knew he wouldn’t get many opportunities to put scoring drives together, so he made the most of every throw, keeping punter Thomas Morstead (two punts) well rested.
Brees completed 32-of-39 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns, tying an NFL record for most completions in a Super Bowl, a record he now shares with New England’s Tom Brady. Brady completed 32 passes in his Super Bowl XXXVIII win over Carolina.
During one stretch, Brees completed 21-of-25 passes.
With Brees at the trigger, the Saints scored on all but three of the offense’s drives before the one that was capped by Brees taking a knee to end the game and a majestic season for the Saints.
“We played for so much more than just ourselves,” Brees said. “We played for our city. We played for the entire Gulf Coast regions. And we played for Who Dat Nation that was behind us.”
Brees’ passing precision was personified by the fourth-quarter drive that produced the deciding touchdown. A 2-yard touchdown pass Brees threw to tight end Jeremy Shockey was his eighth consecutive completion on a nine-play, 59-yard scoring drive.
Brees threw three or more passes to five separate receivers. His efficiency enabled the Saints, who rushed for more than 2,000 yards in the regular season, to abandon their running game.
“I thought Drew was magnificent,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. “When you look at his location, I thought he was fantastic. He has been all year.”
With a championship on his resume, Brees now catapults into the realm of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks.
“He may not have the stats that some of these other quarterbacks have,” said tailback Reggie Bush, “But give him a couple of years and he’ll be there.”
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