New Orleans Saints Defy Logic En Route To First Super Bowl

I wasn't the only one to doubt the New Orleans Saints, but I was definitely one of the loudest.

If you read anything by me in the last month, you probably hated me if you were a Saints fan. Green Bay Packers fans can attest to that, as well (except they actually did lose).

I called the Saints defense dirty (even though I still think it kind of was).

The logic was there. Peyton Manning and his MVP season was there.

Dwight Freeney was even there.

But really, looking back, there was nothing that was going to stop this. This tidal wave of "Who Dat!?" fans, Archie Manning's soul torn between his son and his beloved franchise.

This was pure majestic bliss, and all for a city, a state, a franchise, that needed it more than anyone else in the world.

The New Orleans Saints and the entire state of Louisiana are partying like it's Mardi Gras. As they should be.

For all the doubters and haters (myself included) that Tracy Porter 74-yard pick-six was a slap in the face. A final "Who Dat ?" that left a bitter taste in your mouth.

And for all the fans and supporters that believed all along, it was nothing short of righteous. This was revenge and glorification on a football field.

This was Drew Brees playing his best, backed by a defense that wouldn't let Peyton Manning own them.

Seriously, 17 points? A pick-six to turn the tables? A goal-line stand when the game was almost certainly over?

Yeah, that's not too shabby.

Darren Sharper, Will Smith, Scott Fujita, and the rest of the lot. You've earned my respect.

I will never be a member of the "Who Dat" nation, but as a sports fan and as an unbiased writer (contrary to popular belief), I am mystified. More, blown away.

This is NFL beauty and glory at it's finest, and when you look over the entire body of work, the 13 wins to start (and the three straight losses to end) the regular season, this was just too good of an ending.

Once the Saints were 5-0, everyone was jumping on their bandwagon. Once they were 13-0, irate fans of opposing teams started screaming "fraud" and "set-up", claiming the Saints were given countless opportunities by refs to go 16-0 (see: Washington Redskins game).

But, really, that's just a load of crap.

Short of a still controversial NFC Championship overtime period, there's no doubt in this writer's mind that these Saints did this all on their own.

Drew Brees finally got the MVP award he deserved, despite arguably getting the snub for the regular season award.

Jeremy Shockey has been vindicated. Reggie Bush did his part, and for all intents and purposed, really can no longer be labeled a bust.

The Saints devoured the Arizona Cardinals, won a fist-fight with the Minnesota Vikings, and completely owned the Indianapolis Colts in the second half of the biggest stage in sports.

Tracy Porter was Larry Brown in two straight playoff games. Two straight big playoff games.

The Saints fought adversity once again, as they and their state have grown accustomed to, and stormed back in the second half, truly living up to the old adage, "No guts, no glory".

A gaudy 31-7 run (25-7 in the second half) to end the game was all anyone really had to know, in order to prove that this was a well-deserved win.

It wasn't easy. It took all 19 games. But finally, the Saints have our respect.

And the best part was, they didn't even earn it. They grouped together, just when everyone was betting against them, and they took it.

And for that, I say to the New Orleans Saints: Congratulations.

May the wounds dealt by Hurricane Katrina begin to fully heal. Let it be known that Drew Brees is among the greats.

Archie Manning, console your son while hiding your grin. It has finally happened and it was glorious.

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