Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees Ignites Saints' Rally

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees delivered a passing performance for the ages in Miami, stunning Peyton Manning and the highly-favored Indianapolis Colts, 31-17, in Super XLIV. In spite of an early 10-0 deficit, the resilient Saints responded in remarkable, yet, routine fashion.

A Look at Drew Brees' Super Bowl XLIV MVP Performance

The unflappable former Purdue quarterback repeatedly answered the comeback call, compiling 288 passing yards and two touchdowns, in addition to a Super Bowl record-tying 32 completions to garner the game's MVP honors.

Play after play, Brees masterfully eluded the Colts' vaunted pass rush due to Sean Payton's superbly proficient protection schemes, the veteran's poise under pressure and outstanding execution from the Saints' unsung offensive line.

After amassing a relatively pedestrian six points at halftime, the Saints' dormant offensive attack exploded, aided by kicker Garrett Hartley's surprise onside kick to start the second half. Calm and collected, Brees completed an astonishing 16 of 17 second half pass attempts, rightfully distinguishing the gunslinger as the league's most accurate passer.

Super Bowl XLIV MVP Drew Brees Spreads the Ball Around

The Colts failed to force a Saints' turnover the entire game, as Brees efficiently spread the ball to eight different Saints' receivers. Brees' horizontally and vertically exploited the Colts' defensive by consistently delivering the ball in stride to the Saints' spectacular cast of playmakers, most notably to top-notch targets Marques Colston (seven catches for 83 yards) and Devery Henderson (seven for 63), along with running backs Reggie Bush (four for 38) and Pierre Thomas (six for 55 and one touchdown).

Brees' masterful nine-play, 59-yard fourth-quarter touchdown drive to secure the Saints' first lead encapsulates the MVP's legendary Super Bowl performance. New Orleans' offense executed an absolutely perfect five-minute drive, relegating Manning to the sideline, which was a significant storyline contributing to the Colts' defeat.

Brees completed all eight attempts, including the go-ahead score to Jeremy Shockey (three catches for 13 and one touchdown), and a potentially critical and successfully overturned two-point conversion to Lance Moore. Saints' Nation will forever remember Brees' fourth-quarter brilliance, as the quarterback indelibly rewrote Super Bowl legend and lore.

How Drew Brees Ranks Against Other Super Bowl MVPs

Brees' splendid Super Bowl success certainly warrants inclusion amongst the NFL's most celebrated quarterback performances in the past decade. The short-list of recent field-general Super Bowl heroics includes the Rams' Kurt Warner in 2000, the Patriots' Tom Brady in 2004 and 2005, the Giants' Eli Manning in 2008, and the Steelers' Roethlisberger in 2009.

Ultimately, the Saints' signal-caller enters rare and revered company, by commanding New Orleans to a fourth-quarter comeback and Super Bowl championship. If Brees' success continues as expected, the performance could likely cement the Saint's enshrinement in Canton.

All game stats per NFL.com.