Superbowl score by quarter 2010 game recap

The New Orleans Saints are officially the 2010 NFL Champions after winning Superbowl 44 by a final score of 31-17 over the Indianapolis Colts.  The game featured some outstanding and gutsy plays including an onside kick to start off the second half, as well as a key interception late in the game to seal the victory for New Orleans.   The Superbowl score by quarter for 2010 was 10-0 Colts (1st), 10-6 Colts (2nd), 17-16 Colts (3rd) and 31-17 Saints (4th & Final).

Here's the look at points scored by quarter in Sunday's big game:

In the first quarter, it appeared to be the Colts' game as they roared out to a 10-0 lead behind an early field goal and then a TD pass from Peyton Manning.  Drew Brees and the Saints appeared to be out of rhythm, but in the 2nd quarter managed to get 2 field goal kicks from beyond 40 yards from Garrett Hartley to close the game to 10-6 for halftime.

It was Saints coach Sean Payton's gutsy call to start off the second half that really may have propelled the New Orleans team to victory.  The team was able to recover their onside kick attempt after it bounced off a Colts' player's outstretched hands.  There was a pile of players there with the refs trying to clear things up, but finally it was determined to be the Saints ball.  This set up an intense drive where Brees and the Saints scored their first TD of the game, to take the lead.  During that sequence, Drew Brees threw a 16-yard TD pass to Pierre Thomas to give the Saints the 13-10 lead.

Peyton Manning is never down and out though, and he returned his team to the lead position with another TD drive before the third quarter had ended.  Joseph Addai ran in a 4-yard TD to put the Colts back ahead, 17-13 in the 3rd.

In the fourth, the Saints managed to score on a Jeremy Shockey on a 2-yard TD reception to make it 24-17.  There was a bit of a delay after the Saints attempted to go for the extra 2 point conversion.  A 2-point pass to Lance Moore featured the receiver doing his best to break the plane with the football.  At first it was ruled no TD, but after the Saints had the play reviewed, the ref's determined it was officially 2 points, putting New Orleans up 24-17.

The play that sealed the victory for the Saints came in the fourth when Tracy Porter intercepted a Manning pass and returned it 76 yards for a TD and a 31-17 lead.  Once the clock expired, the Saints were celebrating on field, as Bourbon Street and the rest of New Orleans went crazy!

That sums up the Superbowl score by quarters for 2010.  The Colts basically lead every quarter, except the fourth and as the buzzer sounded, which was when it counts most.  Congratulations to the New Orleans Saints, the 2010 Superbowl champions!

Did you watch this year's game between the Colts and Saints?  Feel free to comment below with your favorite part of the 2010 Superbowl!