First off, we'd like to dedicate this post to our pal Clint, who kept howling "Wha' Happened!" at us in the wee hours of Saturday's 10th and (sadly) final installment of the Clinter Carnival. Clint, we cannot outdo you in epic parties or tales of childhood woe.

But more to the point: The Super Bowl. While we understand it was a tough one to watch for many Vikings fans (even, perhaps, musical ones like Mason Jennings, who might be making an early run at becoming to the purple what The Hold Steady and Craig Finn are to the Twins).

And there might even be some Vikings fans with added lament this morning, since the team the purple came so close to defeating, and indeed outplayed in many facets of the game, ended up winning the Super Bowl by double-digits. That could have been the Vikings? Sure, it could have.

However, let's also say this: the Saints played approximately 1.2 billion times better yesterday than they did two weeks ago. We're not sure how much of that was due to what Minnesota brought to the table vs. what Indy did, but the Saints made legitimate stops, Drew Brees was far more accurate and composed, and the game-plan seemed much better. Having an extra week to rest and game-plan certainly helped, but let's not pretend the Saints team the Vikings lost to was the same one that won the Super Bowl against a team that hadn't lost a game it tried to win all season. A few specific takeaways from the game:

*The on-side kick to start the second half. A true "do or die" moment that changed momentum. As Local Quipster pointed out last night (because he did PLAY THE GAME), so much of the focus coming out of the locker room after halftime is on the upcoming possession because it is known exactly which team will have the ball. The Saints, knowing they were going to try the on-side kick, could prep for both offense and defense. The Colts, who had no idea it was coming, suddenly were back on their heels and scrambling after not recovering. A great, gutsy call and not just because it worked.

*Speaking of which: We had quite a debate for 5 minutes or so after the Saints went for it and were stopped on 4th and goal late in the first half. LQ thought the Saints should have taken the points. We loved the call for two reasons: 1) Make it and the game is tied. Obviously. 2) Miss it, and the Colts are at their own 1 with a shade under 2 minutes left in the half. There was a reasonable chance the Colts would play it safe, run the ball at least twice and try to get to halftime still up 10-3. That also meant the Saints had a reasonable chance to stop the Colts and get the ball back in great field position and a chance to get the field goal they were eschewing at the goal line. (Which is exactly what happened). Had the Saints kicked a field goal, Peyton Manning would have had the ball somewhere around his own 25 after the kickoff (decent attacking field position) with ample time to lead a nice, safe field goal drive of his own. That would have made it 13-6 at the break -- same margin as if the Saints had been stopped and the Colts had successfully run out the clock from deep in their own territory. 3) It was aggressive and showed confidence in both sides of the ball -- confidence in the offense that they could score, and confidence in the defense that if the offense was shut down they could get the ball back with another good crack at scoring. Again, this was a good decision not because it worked out, but because it made sense two or three steps down the road. We love how the game -- and really, the entire season -- made us think in this kind of way more than in the past.

*The kicking game. The Saints' Garrett Hartley absolutely drilled three no-doubters from 44, 46 and 47 yards in one of the best Super Bowl field goal kicking displays ever. The Colts, meanwhile, sent 42-year-old Matt Stover out to try a 51-yarder while clinging to a 17-16 lead in the fourth quarter. He hasn't made a 50-yarder since 2006, and he didn't make that one. A short field ensued, a Saints TD followed, and the Colts never scored again.

*Overall, a very crisp, quick, well-played game. The only turnover (pick-6 by Tracy Porter) was earned; there was only one sack; both teams played well. If they play 10 times, the Colts might win 6. But they didn't win Sunday, and the Saints certainly deserved it. They might have caught (and created) some breaks two weeks ago, but they were dynamite in the Super Bowl. Again, we're not sure if that makes it better or worse for Vikings fans. But it is a fact.

*Still wondering what might have been? Commenter Sassbottom will stop by in a little bit with the "game story" from the Vikings/Colts Super Bowl.