NFL: Coach was an MVP for the Saints

MIAMI — Sean Payton put in an MVP-like performance.

From the sideline.

The New Orleans coach made all the right calls in the Super Bowl — even one that didn't look so good at first, well, it turned out just fine. Thanks in large part to Payton's bravado, the Saints won the first Super Bowl title in their franchise's largely dismal history, beating that other Peyton — you know, Manning — and the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 Sunday night.

Payton will go down in Super Bowl lore for calling an onside kick at the start of the second half — the first time it had been attempted in this game before the desperation of the fourth quarter. The Saints recovered and drove down for a touchdown that put them ahead for the first time, 13-10.

But let's not forget a couple of other calls by the brash coach.

Near the end of the first half, with his team trailing 10-3, Payton decided to go for it on fourth-and-goal from just outside the 1 instead of kicking a chip-shot field goal. When Pierre Thomas was stuffed for no gain, it looked as though Payton might be remembered for a big blunder.

But the Colts couldn't do much, backed up against their own end zone, and were forced to punt it away. The Saints took over at their 48 with 35 seconds left — enough time to get back in position for Garrett Hartley, who knocked through a 44-yard field goal on the final play of the half, making sure Manning didn't get it back.

Payton, it turned out, was just getting warmed up.

While The Who was rockin' out at halftime, Payton was deciding to take an even bigger gamble. Thomas Morstead moved forward slowly, as if ready to swing his right foot into the ball like any other kickoff. Suddenly, the pigskin was dribbling along the ground, headed toward Hank Baskett.

The ball bounced off the chest of the Colts receiver, setting off a mad scramble that took more than a minute to sort out. Finally, the officials made their call.

Saints ball. Jonathan Casillas had it.

With the Colts back in front 17-16 and the game getting deep in the fourth quarter, Drew Brees directed a nine-play, 59-yard drive that finished with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Shockey. The next call was a no-brainer, go for 2 in hopes of making it a seven-point game.