MIAMI - The Saints' Tracy Porter had a postseason that most cornerbacks can only dream of.
With two interceptions, he beat two future Hall of Famers. He ended Brett Favre's season and possibly his career in the NFC Championship Game, and then he beat Peyton Manning at a clutch moment in the Super Bowl.
"I'm a Louisiana native, and this is real big," said Porter, whose hometown Saints beat the Colts 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV at Sun Life Stadium on Sunday. "Words can't describe how much this means for New Orleans and all that's happened since Hurricane Katrina."
Saints quarterback Drew Brees was the game's MVP, but Porter made the single most important play in the game. And he did it against Manning, a guy who won a record fourth season MVP while posting a record seven fourth-quarter comebacks this season.
Trailing 24-17 and driving for what everyone assumed would be a game-tying touchdown and the first overtime in Super Bowl history, Manning made a mistake. And Porter made him pay for it, just like he did when he picked off Favre two weeks earlier when the Vikings were trying to move into position for a game-winning field goal in the waning seconds of regulation in the NFC title game. The Saints won in overtime.
But there would be no overtime this time.
On third-and-5 from the Saints 31-yard line with 3:24 left in the game, Manning threw to receiver Reggie Wayne while being heavily blitzed. He rushed the throw, Porter read it perfectly, picked it off and returned it 74 yards for a touchdown and the final margin of victory.
"It was great film study," Porter said. "We knew that on third-and-short they stack, and they like the outside release for the slant. It was great film study by me, a great jump and a great play."