Mark Craig: Moment belongs to New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS - After 43 years of waiting for the ball to bounce their way, the New Orleans Saints are going to their first Super Bowl because the ball wouldn't stop bouncing their way.

The hard-luck team from a harder-luck city that was nearly wiped off the map by Hurricane Katrina 4 1/2 years ago got more than four decades' worth of good luck in the last 32 minutes of regulation as the Vikings melted down, turning the ball over five times and failing Coaching 101 by having 12 men in the offensive huddle on third-and-10 from the New Orleans 33-yard line with 19 seconds left in regulation.

The next play conjured memories of Brett Favre's last game as a Packer, when his Green Bay career ended with an interception that allowed the Giants to win the NFC title two years ago. With 5 yards needed for a 50-yard field goal attempt by reliable Ryan Longwell, Favre scrambled, locked his eyes on Sidney Rice, threw late over the middle and, well, did all the things a quarterback isn't supposed to do.

Saints cornerback Tracy Porter intercepted the ball, the Saints won 31-28 in overtime on Garrett Hartley's 40-yard field goal and Vikings fans got to add another notch in their misery belt.

"Am I surprised he threw that ball? No," said Saints linebacker Scott Fujita. "He's always been known as a risk-taker. Usually, it works out for him. But not tonight. Tonight was our night."

When choosing between redemption for a 40-year-old future Hall of Fame quarterback and a once-bumbling "Aints" franchise that introduced the sports world to fans wearing bags over their heads in shame, the football gods chose the Saints and the resilient city of New Orleans.

The Saints were beginning to wonder whether the football gods were on their side. The Vikings fumbled six times but were able to recover three of them. The Saints were penalized nine times for 88 yards, were outgained in yardage 475-257, first downs 31-15 and time of possession 36:49 to 27:56.

Favre had thrown only seven interceptions in 17 games. Yet he threw two.

The Vikings had a great game plan that allowed them to neutralize the crowd effect with quick passes and a touchdown on the first drive. Yet they couldn't count to 12 when they broke the huddle with the season on the line, 19 seconds left and within field goal range for a great place-kicker.

Early on, it was pretty obvious that the team with the ball last would win. So, naturally, the New Orleans mojo made the coin turn up tails when the Vikings said "heads" heading into overtime.

"Did I think it was meant to be?" Sharper said. "When that field goal went through, I believed it was meant to be."

The second Hartley's 40-yard field goal cleared the crossbar with 10:15 left in overtime, a Saints Superdome record crowd of 71,276 erupted. Confetti machines spewed more than four decades' worth of frustration into the air. The speakers blared, "When the Saints Go Marching In." Saints flags waved.

"It's hard to explain [the significance of this win]," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "Four years ago, there were holes in this roof. The fans in this city and this region deserve it."

While Sharper also was enjoying the moment, he couldn't help but think about Favre and whether he'll return.

"I don't think he wants to leave on that note," Sharper said. "... He really should come back and give it another try."