Barnwell's 2018 NFL playoff preview: Super Bowl stories for all 12 teams

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The crystal-ball path to a Super Bowl title: The Saints sent off Drew Brees on the perfect note. After being named NFL MVP for the first time on Saturday night, Brees added to his trophy cabinet by taking home the Super Bowl MVP award for the second time in a 31-17 victory over the Patriots. Surrounded by his family, Brees promptly announced his retirement on the podium during the postgame ceremony.

There might not be a quarterback in NFL history who aged finer than Brees, who never seemed to suffer the drop-off that hits even the best quarterbacks in their late 30s. After what was arguably the best regular season of his career, the 40-year-old quarterback delivered during a wild postseason. Outside of a three-interception effort against the Bears, Brees was brilliant.

The Purdue product saved his best game for last. Bill Belichick's most famous defensive game plan was built around taking away a versatile receiving back in Marshall Faulk, and indeed, the Patriots spent Sunday taking away Alvin Kamara. Kamara finished with just 47 yards from scrimmage, although he added a late touchdown on a 2-yard plunge to wrap up things for the Saints.

Instead, Brees beat the Patriots by targeting the weaker points in their pass defense. New England's limited pass rush never seemed to bother Brees, who picked on safety Patrick Chung with throws to Benjamin Watson. The former Patriots first-rounder, who announced in December that he would retire after the season, caught six passes for 61 yards and two touchdowns. Belichick attempted to stick Stephon Gilmore on Ted Ginn Jr. and double Michael Thomas with rookie corner J.C. Jackson and safety Devin McCourty, but Thomas racked up 81 yards in the first half alone before the Patriots switched Gilmore onto New Orleans' star wideout.

The key stretch came early in the third quarter. After the Patriots scored on a 29-yard pass to James White to tie the score 14-14, Brees quickly drove the Saints down the field. The critical play came when Jason McCourty, in for Jackson, committed a 54-yard pass interference penalty in dragging down Ginn on a deep Brees pass attempt. Brees hit Watson for the latter's second touchdown of the day two plays later, with the Saints taking a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

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Brees' first Super Bowl run required a key interception late against an NFC North opponent, and this second run was no exception. In a brutal slugfest of an NFC Championship Game against the Bears, the Saints trailed 24-14 with six minutes to go in the fourth quarter. After the Saints' run defense held on a third-and-1 and Cody Parkey missed a 51-yard field goal try, Brees launched back into action. He drove the Saints 59 yards in two minutes and hit Thomas for a touchdown to bring the Saints within three. On the ensuing drive, Matt Nagy called for a pass on third-and-2, only for Mitchell Trubisky to have his pass tipped at the line and picked off by Saints safety Marcus Williams.


The Saints worked their way into what looked to be comfortable field goal range, only for Sean Payton to go for more. On a play-action pass, Brees hit Keith Kirkwood on a fade for a 22-yard score, with Kirkwood taking advantage of backup Bears slot cornerback Sherrick McManis, in for the injured Bryce Callahan. The Bears took over down four points with 37 seconds to go, and after Trubisky scrambled for 22 yards on the first play from scrimmage, an interception by Marshon Lattimore sent the Saints into the Super Bowl. Brees did the rest from there.

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