Super Bowl XLIV Online Live Blog

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Super Bowl XLIV

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Welcome to the Super Bowl XLIV live blog at NowPublic. The New Orleans Saints are set to tee off with the Indianapolis Colts at SuperBowl 44. We'll have live updates throughout the game for every great pass, catch, run and score.

• 3:09 PST: The New Orleans Saints are taking the field. 'Who Dat' nation goes wild.
• 3:11 PST: The AFC Championship Indianapolis colts are introduced. Manning takes some practice throws.
• 3:13 PST: Focus is on Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney, who has a torn ligament in his ankle. Freeney isn't 100% and it's not known how much playing time he'll see, or how effective he'll be on the field.
• 3:18 PST: Queen Latifah performs "America the Beautiful" joined by a children's choir.
• 3:21 PST: Carrie Underwood performs the Star-Spangled Banner in an all-white jumpsuit. Hits it out of the park.
• 3:28 PST: New Orleans wins the toss and will receive.
• 3:33 PST: New Orleans first drive results in a 3 and out. 
• 3:34 PST: Peyton Manning's first throw results in a 15-yard catch and first down.
• 3:42 PST: Colts get on the board with a 38-yard field goal. 3-0 Colts.
• 3:43 PST: Saints defense looked shaky at the start of the Colts' drive, but tightened up once Indy got closer to the goal line.
• 3:45 PST: Saints fumble on the punt return, but recover quickly.
• 3:48 PST: Saints get their first 1st down of the day on an 18-yard pass to Reggie Bush.
• 3:50 PST: Saints denied again after WR Colston drops an easy pass. New Orleans forced to punt again.
• 3:55 PST; Colts' RB Addai goes for 16 yards and a first down. Colts on the 31.
• 3:59 PST; Joseph Addai breaks loose for  26 yards, his longest run of the season. Colts on the Saints 24.
• 4:01 PST: Touchdown Colts! Pierre Garcon catches a pass from Peyton Manning. After the extra point, it's 10-0 Colts after a 96-yard drive, the longest in Super Bowl History.
• 4:15 PST: Saints threatening after finally stringing together some first downs. On the Colts' 20.
• 4:17 PST: Dwight Freeney sacks Drew Brees, forcing the Saints to kick for a field goal. Colts 10 Saints 3.
• 4:25 PST: Colts' Garcon drops an easy pass, forcing Indy to punt.
• 4:30 PST: Brees to Colston for 13 yards, first down.
• 4:31 PST: Brees is heating up, hitting Shockey for another 8 yards.
• 4:32 PST: Brees finds Colston again for 27 yards! Saints are on the Colts' 3. Brees is 9 of his last 10.
• 4:39 PST: Saints are stopped at the 1-yard line. Will they go for it or take the field goal? 
• 4:41 PST: New Orleans goes for it and they are denied! Colts defense with a huge stop! Colts ball.
• Bad sign for the Saints. Indy's defense is stifling. That could be the defining play of this game.
• 4:47 PST Drew Brees finds Henderson with a pass. The Saints are threatening on the Colts' 35.
• 4:49 PST: Saints get a 44-yard field goal. 10-6 Colts.
• Going into halftime the score is Colts 10 Saints 6.

A pretty quiet first half, considering many predicted this would be such an offensive game. The Saints have been unable to get it done in the red zone, repeatedly coming up short when it matters most. The Colts only gained 16 offensive yards in the second quarter.

Halftime Show: The Who are performing at the Super Bowl and they start off the show with "Pinball Wizard" before segwaying into "Teenage Wasteland". Sweet. Townshend and Daltry  are giving a spirited performance.

The Who are now playing "Who Are You" which is great for CBS and their hit show CSI.

The Second Half begins.

• 5:21 PST: The Saints start the second half with an onside kick! Both teams are certain they are in possession of the ball. The referees are taking their time deciding who has possession. SAINTS BALL!
• Incredible start to the second half of the Super Bowl. Gutsy move by Saints head coach Sean Payton.
• 5:24 PST: Brees to Thomas for a 1st down. Successful onside kick could be a game changer. Brees hooks up with Henderson for another 9 yards.
• 5:26 PST: 1st down Thomas and the Saints are on the Colts' 16.
• 5:27 PST: Touchdown Saints! Brees throws to Thomas for a touchdown. New Orleans have their first lead of the Super bowl. Saints 13 Colts 10.
• That was the first onside kick in a Super Bowl that happened before the 4th quarter.
• 5:33 PST: Joseph Addai is having an excellent game for the Colts. Another 11 yard run for a first down.
• 5:35 PST: Peyton Manning lobs a 25-yard pass to Dallas Clark that went through about 4 Saints defenders.
• 5:58 PST: Addai spins his way into a touchdown!  Indianapolis retakes the lead 17-13.
• The pace of this game has really been pushed up. The first five minutes of the 3rd quarter has had more touchdowns than the entire first half.
• 5:48 PST: Hartley hits a 47-yard field goal attempt after a productive Saints drive. Colts' lead 17-16.
• That's the end of the 3rd quarter and the Colts lead by 1! Looks like we're in for an exciting finish.

4th Quarter

• 6:00 PST: Manning starts the 4th quarter with a pass to Garcon to get the Colts to the Saints' 45.
• 6:02 PST: Colts go for it on 4th and 2, Manning hits Reggie Wayne for the first down.
• 6:05 PST: Colts' Stover goes for a 51-yard field goal kick and it goes wide. The Saints take over at the 41 trailing by one.
• 6:08 PST: Reggie Bush breaks free for a first down into Colts territory.
• 6:09 PST: Brees connects with Henderson for another first down.
• 6:12 PST: Brees to Thomas for 1st and Goal. One more completion for Brees and he ties Tom Brady for most completions in a Super Bowl.
• 6:13 PST: Touchdown Saints! Brees hits Shockey for a 2-yard TD. Brees now has 32 completions, tied for the Super Bowl Record. Saints take the lead, 22-17 after a failed two-point conversion.
• Nevermind... after a challenge and review, the refs decide the two-point conversion is good. 24-17 Saints.
• Manning and the Colts get the ball back with 5:35 to go.
• 6:24 PST: Jenkins almost picks off a throw by Manning. Close call.
• 6:25 PST: Three straight first downs by the Colts. Manning is rolling.
• 6:27 PST: Colts are 3rd and 5. Game could depend on Manning finding a first down. At this point in his career, I wouldn't bet against him.
• 6:29 PST: Manning picked off! Tracy Porter runs it in for a touchdown!!! Incredible play. Saints up 31-17 with only 3:12 to play.
• Manning looks devastated on the sideline. Unless something insane happens, he just lost the game for the Colts.
• Manning gets the Colts to the Saints 30 after a 41-yard pass, but it might be too little too late.
• 6:39 PST: Manning to Addai at the Saints' 7. 1st and goal Colts.
• 10-yard penalty against the Colts.
• 6:43 PST: Colts are stopped and the New Orleans Saints are your Super Bowl 44 Champions!! The city of New Orleans must be going crazy. Great game!
• Saints 31 Colts 17