Tony Dungy said last week that he would be shocked if his former team, the Colts, lost Super Bowl XLIV to the Saints. And after it happened, the retired coach told Dan Patrick on Monday morning that he was, indeed, surprised the Colts lost and that they managed to score just 17 points.

“I expected the Colts to score touchdowns and put 30 points on the board,” Dungy said on Patrick’s syndicated radio show. “They only put up 17. I was pretty shocked.”

The Colts were driving for a chance to tie the score in the fourth quarter Sunday, but Saints CB Tracy Porter intercepted Peyton Manning’s pass and returned it 74 yards for a touchdown that sealed New Orleans’ first Super Bowl title. Manning — whose all-time playoff record dropped to 9-9 — and Dungy struggled for years in the postseason before breaking through and beating the Rex Grossman-led Bears in Super Bowl XLI.

Manning and the Colts, in Dungy’s eyes, had experience on their side against the Saints.

“I just thought it would probably be New Orleans that made the big mistake,” Dungy said. “It ended up being the Colts that made the big mistake.”

Dungy believed the key was not the plays the Saints made but rather some of the plays the Colts didn’t.

“I thought the onside kick probably changed the momentum a little bit,” Dungy said. “But the biggest play of the game for me was in the second quarter when the Colts were up 10-3 and Pierre Garcon, it was a third-down pass. Had Pierre caught the ball, they would have probably gone ahead, moved on and maybe go ahead 13-3 or possibly 17-3, and that’s the one that allowed New Orleans back in it.”

Reggie Bush is lifted into the stands by Saints fans. (David J. Phillip / Associated Press)

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — These Saints do know how to celebrate.

When the postgame celebration following Super Bowl XLIV shifted to the end zone where CB Tracy Porter scored the touchdown that sealed the win, RB Reggie Bush was in the thick of it. Bush said he found two of his close friends, and when climbed on top of a table along the padded wall, they soon pulled him into the stands by his shoulder pads as the surrounding group of fans chanted, “Reggie, Reggie, Reggie!”

Bush, with help, pulled off his version of the Sun Life Leap. Sitting on the edge of the wall, he took it all in as cameras soon engulfed the area.

The celebrating didn’t stop there. In the corridor just inside, Bush’s celebrity girlfriend, Kim Kardashian, was posing for photos with Miami-Dade County policemen. The photo opportunity and ensuing commotion was blocking the entire corridor.

“Tell me that isn’t going to be your Facebook photo forever,” one officer said to his buddy after he posed with Kardashian.

– Frank Tadych

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Saints owner Tom Benson, coach Sean Payton and MVP Drew Brees took the midfield podium following Super Bowl XLIV.

Here’s a look back at commissioner Roger Goodell’s presentation of the Vince Lombardi Trophy to Benson.

“Louisiana, by the way of New Orleans, is back,” Benson said. “And this shows the whole world. We’re back.”

Head coach Sean Payton celebrates the Saints' first Super Bowl win. (Ben Liebenberg / NFL.com)

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The scene on the field in the immediate moments following Super Bowl XLIV was one of jubilation.

Saints coach Sean Payton pumped his fist in the air while holding up the Vince Lombardi Trophy after New Orleans’ 31-17 victory. Drew Brees had tears in his eyes, as did Jeremy Shockey. Sedrick Ellis said it was nothing like he imagined.

Inside the fences around the middle of the field, family members have rushed in to be with their Saints. Over on the Colts’ bench, cameramen are shoulder-to-shoulder getting the celebration in images that will last much longer than this moment.

Saints fans have made their way down to the first few rows of the stadium, taking part in several different “Who Dat!” chants from different sections of the stands.

Its a celebration that was a long time coming.

– Frank Tadych

Saints QB Drew Brees was selected as MVP of Super Bowl XLIV after leading his team to a 31-17 win over the Colts, and the first NFL title in franchise history.

Brees completed 32 of 39 passes for 288 yards and a pair of touchdowns with no interceptions in the victory.

Brees hit TE Jeremy Shockey on a 2-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to give the Saints the lead.

The Saints trailed the Colts 10-0 in the first quarter and tied the Redskins (Super Bowl XXII) for the largest rally in Super Bowl history.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The improbable just happened: Peyton Manning threw an interception at the worst possible time in Super Bowl XLIV, ending what was looking like a game-tying drive for the Colts late in the fourth quarter.

Manning looked left to intended receiver Reggie Wayne on a 5-yard slant, one of the Colts’ favorite routes. They had run it with success all game, but Saints CB Tracy Porter jumped the route and came up with the ball clean.

Saints DE Will Smith threw a great block on Manning during Porter’s return for a touchdown, which gave New Orleans a 31-17 lead.

Before he had raced all of the 74 yards to the end zone, Porter already was celebrating — along with the Saints fans.

– Frank Tadych

The Saints’ challenge of a two-point conversion play in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLIV was rewarded after officials reversed their earlier call that Lance Moore didn’t cleanly catch Drew Brees‘ pass.

After another look, referee Scott Green determined that Moore did indeed have possession and crossed the goal line, giving the Saints two points and a 24-17 lead over the Colts in Miami Gardens, Fla.

Brees threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to TE Jeremy Shockey with 5:46 remaining in the fourth quarter, and the Saints decided to go for two points. Brees tossed a pass to Moore in the front right corner of the end zone, and as he fell, he extended the ball over the goal line before a Colts defensive back knocked it loose.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — There’s a feeling in this press box at Sun Life Stadium that the 51-yard miss by the Colts’ Matt Stover was a win on two fronts for the Saints — not only did they get the ball back in great field position, but the momentum swung back in their favor.

NFL.com analyst Pat Kirwan believes that the teams will not have to score on every possession remaining to win this game. Can’t say I disagree.

Before I could even finish the post, the Saints did just that — they took nine plays to drive the field, and Drew Brees was perfect. In fact, he completed all seven of his attempts on the drive, to seven different receivers. The last went to TE Jeremy Shockey for the 2-yard touchdown.

– Frank Tadych

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — While most of the pre-snap attention goes to Peyton Manning when the Colts have the ball, it is the clever adjustment orchestrated by the Saints’ Jonathan Vilma that is keying New Orleans’ improved defensive play in this game.

The savvy linebacker is routinely checking out of blitzes to counter Manning’s pre-snap calls. The Saints are starting to show single-high safety looks initially before jumping into two-deep zone coverage upon Vilma’s instruction

With Manning unable to make another adjustment prior to the play clock expiring, the Colts have been duped into some ineffective calls on critical downs. If Vilma is able to continue to win this high-stakes chess match, the Saints may end up winning their first Super Bowl.

– Bucky Brooks

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Colts tight end Dallas Clark’s domination of safety Roman Harper is putting Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams in a quandary when it comes to play-calling.

The Saints’ defensive architect wants to get after Peyton Manning with a variety of man coverage, but Clark is routinely running away from Harper to get open in the middle of the field. With the complementary pressure unable to affect Manning’s rhythm or timing, Clark is emerging as the top target in the passing game.

Throw in Joseph Addai’s success on the ground, and Williams is seemingly at a loss for how to attack the Colts’ offense. Until Williams figures out a way to neutralize Clark, the Colts are going to move the ball at will against the Saints.

– Bucky Brooks

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Sean Payton has earned a reputation for being a brilliant play-caller during his tenure in New Orleans, and his beautifully scripted scoring drive to open the second half of Super Bowl XLIV showcased his masterful talents.

The Saints used a variety of quick option routes and short crossers to take advantage of the underneath areas of the Colts’ zone coverage, and Payton’s decision to go with the screen pass inside the 20-yard line was an outstanding play call.

Getting the ball to RB Pierre Thomas in space with three lead blockers proved to be an effective tactic against the Colts’ two-deep zone.

New Orleans must score touchdowns to win the title, and Payton’s play-calling to open the half got them a much-needed score.

– Bucky Brooks

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Now that’s a way to start a second half in the Super Bowl.

Saints coach Sean Payton took his second gamble of the game by attempting an onside kick to start the second half. This time, his gamble paid off, as the Saints recovered the ball.

Colts backup WR Hank Baskett had the first shot at the ball but couldn’t recover it, and Saints backup FS Chris Reis did.

NFL.com’s Gil Brandt fired off this note moments after the converted attempt — he believes the last coach to attempt an onside kick in the Super Bowl was the Steelers’ Bill Cowher against the Cowboys in Super Bowl XXX. We’ve also found out that all onside kicks in the Super Bowl had come in the fourth quarter, and all occurred with the kicking team trailing.

“Payton knows he is the underdog, so he’s not afraid to try different things,” NFL.com’s Pat Kirwan added.

– Frank Tadych

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Saints went for a touchdown, and it didn’t work.

Facing a fourth-and-goal on the Colts’ 1-yard line late in the second quarter of Super Bowl XLIV, the Saints ran Pierre Thomas to the right but were stopped for no gain. Colts CB Tim Jennings read the play and contained to force Thomas to cut inside, while LB Gary Brackett shot the gap to get the first hit on Thomas. Colts LB Clint Session followed to bring down Thomas.

A big risk, and Saints coach Sean Payton came away empty-handed. NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks told fans he doesn’t fault the move.

“Tim Jennings made a great play forcing the ball back inside, and their speedy linebackers got to the ball in a hurry,” Brooks explained. “I don’t fault the Saints for running the ball at that point, but the Colts won the battle of execution on those critical downs.”

– Frank Tadych

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Saints’ return to basics keyed their first Super Bowl scoring drive.

After attempting to test the Colts’ defense through the air on their first two possessions, the Saints relied on their running game to establish an offensive rhythm. Mike Bell, Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush took turns grinding it out between the tackles, and their success allowed Drew Brees to throw the ball in more manageable situations.

With the ability to get to their efficient short and intermediate passing game, the Saints effectively moved the ball down the field and finally put some points on the board.

– Bucky Brooks

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Peyton Manning found Pierre Garcon on a 19-yard strike for the game’s first touchdown.

The Saints were in Cover 2 on the play, and NFL.com analyst Pat Kirwan noted in the live Super Bowl chat that the safety was late in providing help over the top. Garcon beat the Saints’ Usama Young on the play, a player Gil Brandt was surprised to see in the game covering the slot. Garcon was lined up wide right against Young, who was in for Jabari Greer on the play.

The Colts’ 96-yard drive tied a record for the longest scoring drive in Super Bowl history, and Manning’s audibles were key. Kirwan also noted that Manning audibled to the run four times, with great success. The Colts had 55 yards rushing on the four audibles.

Our analysts believe the early audibles from the Colts might lead to more play-action passes later in the game.

– Frank Tadych