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Tracy Porter's Super Bowl XLIV pick New Orleans Saints' defining moment of 2009 season
By Nakia Hogan, The Times-Picayune

Times-Picayune reporters Nakia Hogan and Mike Triplett and columnists John DeShazier and Jeff Duncan select the play they believe was the defining moment of the New Orleans Saints' 2009 Super Bowl season. Here's Hogan's pick, and check back later for the remaining choices.
For as great and magical as the New Orleans Saints' 2009 season was, there was doubt all the way up to 3:12 remained in Super Bowl XLIV.



That's when Tracy Porter made the biggest defensive play in Saints history, stepping in front of a pass thrown by Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and intercepting the ball.
Porter returned the pick 74 yards for a touchdown, pushing what had been a seven-point Saints lead to the final margin of 31-17. It was the fourth longest interception in Super Bowl history.
Perhaps Porter knew he'd have such an impact on the game. Perhaps that's why he arrived at Sun Life Stadium last Sunday with images of the Superdome and the Lombardi Trophy carved into his faded haircut. That haircut caused him to miss the team bus to the game because his barber was still putting the finishing touches on it when the bus pulled away.
Hairdo aside, Porter said the interception was the result of long hours of homework, studying the tendencies of Manning, a former Newman standout, and receiver Reggie Wayne, an All Pro who prepped at John Ehret.
"It was just great film study," Porter said. "All week, we watched it on film, and on third down, that was a big route for them. They went to it a lot. And when that route came, it was just like I was watching it on film. And when I caught the pick, my mindset was to score. That's our mindset every time we get our hands on the ball on defense."
Indeed, forcing turnovers and scoring defensive touchdowns were a point of emphasis throughout the season for the Saints. When defensive coordinator Gregg Williams arrived this past spring, he immediately changed the culture of the unit.
But hardly anyone thought Porter would be able to come up with an interception and score at that moment, when Manning was attempting to complete the pass to Wayne.
Porter's Super Bowl pick was one of 30 by the Saints this season, including the playoffs. It was the most important, however. If not for that interception at that moment, New Orleans may not be the happy city it is today.
This season of destiny could have been just another season of coming up short.
Instead, Porter's play became one of the most defining plays of a championship season.

iceshack149

So does anybody know what he was saying as he was pointing while running down the field with the interception?

Tobias-Reiper

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

OldMaid

I think at the end when he reached the endzone, and he put his head to the side, he was stunned.
He knew what had just happened, what he did , but he was just happy, and proud and relieved and stunded.
I also think he made the interception and jsut ran with all his might.

It was like," Put up the TD for the Saints."
That was an amazing turnover play.

iceshack149

It must have had three syllables as he pointed three times with each hand. Maybe "Game-o-ver"! or "M-V-P" or possibly "1-4-9"!

WVSaint

did anyone else notice sharper saying something to manning as he ran by him on that int play? manning was just getting up after being blocked by smith...i didnt notice it til i rewatched it, but id love to know what he said.

bobad

You know, the Vikings INT was just as important. Without it, the Saints may not make the SB.

QBREES9

We Just Shocked Tony Dungy !!! LOL.