Last night Miami hosted one of America’s biggest sport events, the final of the National Football League NFL – the Super Bowl. As this game each year is followed by millions of people worldwide the advertising minutes around and during the game are the most expensive for the year – this year the price for a 30 second spot reached 2,8mn USD – and usually advertising agencies produce special sport which are aired exclusively during that game, highlighting how important this final for the teams as well as the economy.
As ESPN America broadcasted the game with English commentators in Austria Markus decided to stay up and watch Super Bowl XLIV in which the New Orleans Saints clashed with the Indianapolis Colts in the Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens. While the Saints have so far never won the NFL Finals the Colts, led by experienced superstar quarterback Peyton Manning, could win the Vince Lombardi Trophy three times in the past. The New Orleans Saints were hit hard by Hurricane Katrina back in 2005 when their stadium – the Louisiana Superdome – was devastated so they could not play “at home” in the 2005 season this season they reached the final for the first time.
The game itself kicked of shortly before 00:30 Vienna time and it was the Colts playing out their routine of several Super Bowl appearances taking an early lead. Peyton Manning was at his best in the Colt’s second drive which was the longest ever in a Super Bowl (96 yards) resulting in a touchdown and the 10:0 lead after Q1. It was only in Q2 when the quarterback Drew Brees and his Saints got into gear and managed to reduce the gap by halftime to 10:6. In the third quarter both teams were playing very solid and equally strong whereas Indianapolis managed to hold on to a one point lead (17:16). At this point Markus was rather sceptical that his expectation of a New Orleans victory would happen the Colt’s quarterback usually plays strongest at crunch time in Q4. It turned out though that the Saint’s defence as well as the offensive versatility in the final quarter was much better, Drew Brees managed to make an important touchdown pass 5:42 minutes before the end and also successfully completed the two point conversion play which put them into the lead again. The following drive was crucial and several incomplete passes by Manning did bring up doubts about him really being able to change up. When Saints’ cornerback Tracy Porter intercepted a pass and scored a completed 74 yard run with a touchdown 3:12 minutes before the end the game was decided, as it would have taken the colts 2 scores within a short period of time. Though not impossible it did not happen and thus New Orleans won their first NFL Championship in their very first appearance in the Super Bowl. While the team celebrated the victory and Drew Brees his award as Most Valuable Player Markus rushed to bed for some 2 hours of sleep before heading to work in the morning.
Jakob, Kerstin & Markus
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