The New Orleans Saints, a team with no home and an uncertain future five years ago, are heading for their first Super Bowl after a 40-yard field goal in overtime. They beat Brett Favre and beating the Minnesota Vikings 31-28 last night (Sun., Jan. 24).
Favre threw away Minnesota’s best chance to win, tossing an interception deep in New Orleans territory in the closing seconds of regulation. Then the Saints won the coin toss and ended it on Garrett Hartley’s kick 4:45 into OT.
The Saints (15-3) will meet Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts (16-2) in the Super Bowl in two weeks in Miami. The Colts opened as 4-point favorites.
There were nine fumbles and two interceptions, and the biggest mistake belonged to Favre. Flushed from the pocket in the final minute, he seemed to have room to run to set up a field goal. But hampered by a left leg injured in the third quarter, he threw cross-field and was intercepted by Tracy Porter at the 22.
That finished off Minnesota’s chance for its first Super Bowl trip in 33 years — and opportunity to win it for the first time after four defeats. The Vikings have lost five straight NFC title games.
Information from the Associated Press contributed to this report.