Hartley kicks Saints to Miami

Hartley wins it for Saints

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New Orleans Saints secured their place at Super Bowl XLIV after clinching a dramatic overtime victory against Minnesota Vikings on Sunday evening.

The top-seeded Saints needed a Garrett Hartley overtime field goal to beat the second-seeded Vikings 31-28 in sudden death and claim the NFC Championship.

Saints will now play in the Super Bowl for the first time in their history, and meet AFC champions Indianapolis Colt in Miami on February 7, the Colts having beaten the New York Jets earlier in the day.

The Vikings had scored first in the opening quarter with running back Adrian Peterson crossing the line to complete a 19-yard touchdown run, Ryan Longwell kicking the extra point.

Saints running back Pierre Thomas got the home team on the scoreboard when he collected a 38-yard pass from quarterback Drew Brees before the Vikings' Brett Favre threw a touchdown pass of his own to Sidney Rice to leave Minnesota with a 14-7 lead heading to the second quarter.

New Orleans were level again at 14-14 by half time thanks to a nine-yard Brees pass to Devery Henderson and the Saints got on a roll at the start of the second half on a drive that originated with a 61-yard punt return by Courtney Roby.

Costly

Pierre Thomas again finished the drive with a touchdown, although this time rushing for nine yards to put the Saints in front for the first time in the game.

There lead was short-lived however, as just seven minutes later Peterson grabbed his second touchdown of the night, stretching across the goal-line for the score with Longwell's extra point tying the contest once more at 21-21.

Reggie Bush drew first blood for the Saints in the fourth quarter, as he squeezed the ball over the corner of the end zone after collecting a five-yard pass from Brees - after the Vikings' Percy Harvin had fumbled for a turnover.

Favre had been hit numerous times by the Saints defence and was helped from the field after being tackled low by Bobby McCray. After treatment on an injured left ankle he was front and centre for the Vikings, however, handing off to Peterson, who rushed five yards for his third touchdown of the game, Longwell's kick tying it up at 28-28 with 5:03 remaining.

The Vikings had a chance to get Longwell within field-goal range with 19 seconds left on the clock, but their offensive line was penalised for having too many men in the huddle and sent back five yards on a third down, forcing the kicker out of range and leaving Favre to throw the ball instead.

It proved a costly penalty as Favre's pass was intercepted by Tracy Porter and the game went into sudden-death overtime, the Saints winning the toss and electing to receive the kick-off.

New Orleans made the most of the possession, advancing to the Vikings 40-yard line and setting up Hartley for the kick of his career.