The New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts will play for the National Football League championship in Super Bowl XLIV.
New Orleans survived a turbulent National Conference championship game Sunday in a 31-28 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. The teams traded turnovers and touchdowns to finish regulation play tied at 28-28.
In overtime, New Orleans held on to the ball as quarterback Drew Brees guided his team into field goal position. Garrett Hartley hit a 40-yard field goal to send New Orleans to its first Super Bowl.
Earlier, Indianapolis came from behind to beat the New York Jets, 30-17, in the American Conference title game.
After a scoreless first quarter, Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez threw two touchdown passes, and Jay Feely added a field goal, to quickly build a 17-6 advantage over host Indianapolis.
But AP Most Valuable Player Peyton Manning began the comeback just before halftime with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Austin Collie. The second half belonged to the Colts. Manning threw two more touchdown strikes and Matt Stover hit a 21-yard field goal to put the Colts into the Super Bowl.
Ironically, Manning will play against the franchise where his father Archie spent his NFL career. The Saints and the Colts will play in Miami, Florida on February 7. Manning led the Colts to the Super Bowl title in 2007 with a (29-17) win over the Chicago Bears, also in Miami.