The dress rehearsal for Super Bowl 44 resulted in one of the more memorable games in New Orleans Saints history. Playing in the host city for this year's Super Bowl, New Orleans came back from a 24 to 3 deficit to beat the Dolphins 46 to 34.
The win improves the Saints' record to 6 and 0. If you weren't a believer that the Saints could play in the Super Bowl this season, you are probably now making your plans to visit Miami for the first weekend in February.
Saints Quarterback Drew Brees turned it over four times, three interceptions and one fumble. The Black and Gold QB shook it off and delivered a 298 yard effort that including throwing one touchdown. Brees also ran for two TDs, including the go ahead score.
The defense returned two interceptions for touchdowns as the Saints outscored Miami 22 to 0 in the fourth quarter.
For the first time this season, the Saints did not score on their opening drive. On that initial possession, New Orleans picked up only one first down. Three plays later, the Saints were forced to punt. A false start on offensive tackle Jon Stinchomb hurt any opportunity to continue the drive.
The Saints second drive of the afternoon was even worse. It started at their own 6 yard line after a nice punt by Brandon Fields. A false start and delay of game penalty back to back pushed New Orleans to its own 2 yard line. On 3rd down, Brees tossed an intercepted to defensive back Tyron Culver, who returned it to the New Orleans 4 yard line.
One play later, former Saint Ricky Williams ran it into the end zone to give Miami a 7 to 0 lead with 7:20 left in the 1st quarter. It was the first time all season that the Saints trailed.
New Orleans responded a few minutes later with a 46 yard field goal from John Carney. It was set up by an 87 yard kickoff return by Courtney Roby. Despite the excellent field position, the Saints could not punch it into the end zone. The field goal by Carney gave him 2,000 points for his career. That's the 4th highest total in the NFL.
Miami quickly struck back when they got the ball back. Williams took a pitch to the short side of the field and ran past the Saints' defense for a 68 yard touchdown run. It gave Miami a 14 to 3 lead with 4:47 left in the 1st quarter.
The Dolphins would add to their lead, after the Saints went three and out. Miami drove 46 yards on 12 plays to set up a 32 yard field goal by Dan Carpentar. That extended the Dolphins lead to 17 to 3 with 11:25 left in the 2nd quarter.
The nightmare continued when the Saints got the ball back. Brees threw his second interception of the afternoon on 3rd down and 5. The Saints QB had his pass deflected at the line of scrimmage and Baton Rouge native Reggie Torbor made a diving grab to give the Dolphins excellent field position at the Saints 22 yard line.
Four plays later, running back Ronnie Brown ran it into the end zone from 8 yards out to give Miami a commanding 24 to 3 lead over the beleaguered Black and Gold with 8:55 left in the 2nd quarter.
The first half got worse, when defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis went down with a knee injury late in the 2nd quarter. Ellis had his knee rolled over and could not walk off on his own power. The second year pro was eventually carted into the locker room.
At least the 1st half ended on a positive note. With 1:44 left in the 2nd quarter, Brees drove the Saints down the field and ended the 51 yard drive with a quarterback sneak for a touchdown. A 20 yard pass to Marques Colston set up the TD.
The score cut Miami's lead to 24 to 10 at halftime and helped turn the momentum in favor of the Saints.
New Orleans would make it 24 to 17 on Miami's first drive of the second half. Darren Sharper returned an interception 42 yards for his third touchdown of the season. Dolphins QB Chad Henne attempted to hit Ted Ginn on a long pass play, but there was excellent coverage by cornerback Tracy Porter. Porter batted the ball in the air, which allowed Sharper to intercept the pass. Sharper quickly ran down the sideline and got into the end zone before fumbling the football. The TD stood up to a review.
The Saints forced Miami to go 3 and out on its next drive, and New Orleans looked to tie the football game. New Orleans drove to the Miami 26 yard line, but Brees was intercepted for the 3rd time when he tried to hit Colston near the goal line. Miami defensive back Nate Jones took the ball away from Colston to preserve the Dolphins lead.
Later on in the quarter, Brees would turn the football over again. With the ball at the Saints 14 yard line, Brees was flushed out of the pocket and hit from behind by defensive end Jason Taylor, jarring the football loose. After a mad scramble, Miami's Randy Starks recovered the fumble at the Saints 15 yard line.
The Saints defense would hold Miami to a field goal. Carpenter hit from 33 yards to extend Miami's lead to 27 to 17 with 5:59 left in the 3rd quarter.
New Orleans refused to give up. The Saints would cut the lead to 27 to 24 before the end of the 3rd quarter. Brees hit Colston on a 10 yard pass for his first passing touchdown of the game. The Saints used the running game to get the ball down the field. Mike Bell's 35 yard run was the key play. Bell was the Saints leading rusher with 80 yards on 12 carries.
The Saints defense, however, could not stop Miami's offense. Henne connected with Brian Hartline on a 67 yard pass play, which set up a four yard touchdown run by Williams. It was the Heisman Trophy winner's third touchdown of the game. The Dolphins were up 34 to 24.
Another Heisman Trophy winner would get the Saints back within three. Reggie Bush scored on a 10 yard touchdown run to cap off a quick 3-play 79-yard drive. Two plays after a 56 yard pass to tight end Jeremy Shockey, Bush found the end zone. It was an acrobatic play, as the former USC Trojan soared through the air inside from 5 yard line. As he flew out of bounds, Bush snuck the ball inside the pylon. The dramatic run cut the lead to 34 to 31 with 13:33 left in the 4th quarter.
When the Saints got the ball back, they would finally complete the comeback with a 2 yard Brees touchdown run. After the score, the team leader jumped and dunked the football over the cross bar and through the goal posts. Two passes to Shockey for a total of 30 yards helped set up the score. Shockey finished with 4 catches for 105 yards.
Carney missed the extra point, when Mark Brunell had trouble with the snap and hold. The Saints still had a 37 to 34 lead with 8:38 left in the game.
Carney and Brunell redeemed themselves by hitting a 20 yard field goal later in the 4th quarter to make it 40 to 34 with 3:27 left. Carney's second field goal ended a drive that took 4:38 off the clock. A 23 yard completion to Devery Henderson was the big play.
The Saints finally sealed the come from behind victory, when Porter intercepted a Henne pass on 4th down and returned it for 54 yards for a touchdown.
Other defensive stars for the Saints included middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma who returned to his hometown to record 10 tackles, and Anthony Hargrove who had two sacks.
After the game, Brees and Shockey led the Saints on a victory lap around the stadium, giving high fives to the Saints faithful who were in attendance. Maybe we'll see a similar scene on February 7th.
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