Resilience wins.

The New Orleans Saints and their dedicated fans are the emphatic embodiment of that idea, with the latest reminder served up with a scintillating 31-17 comeback victory against the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV at Sun Life Stadium on Sunday night.

Quarterback Drew Brees led the way, earning MVP honors after tying a Super Bowl record with 32 completions that included two touchdown passes.

He had plenty of help. The Saints' big-play defense lived up to its reputation in the nick of time, thwarting MVP quarterback Peyton Manning and providing the game-clinching play with just over three minutes remaining with cornerback Tracy Porter's 74-yard touchdown on an interception return.

"We played for so much more than just ourselves," said Brees. "We played for our city, the entire Gulf region and the entire Who Dat Nation that was behind us all the way."

Who Dat?

The Saints -- the franchise that had never been to a Super Bowl in a 43-year history that included the disparagement of fans once attending games with paper bags over their head and the tragedy of being displaced for a season after Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005 -- are new owners of the Lombardi Trophy given to the kings of the NFL.

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