Madden NFL 10 (2009-2010 NFL Season)

…

Week 1

Thursday, Sep 10

Tennessee (0-1) 7 at Pittsburgh (1-0) 17

Sunday, Sep 13

Miami (0-1) 17 at Atlanta (1-0) 20

Kansas City (0-1) 7 at Baltimore (1-0) 24

Philadelphia (1-0) 23 at Carolina (0-1) 15

Denver (1-0) 38 at Cincinnati (0-1) 28

Minnesota (1-0) 28 at Cleveland (0-1) 14

N.Y. Jets (1-0) 27 at Houston (0-1) 16

Jacksonville (0-1) 17 at Indianapolis (1-0) 20

Detroit (0-1) 14 at New Orleans (1-0) 31

Dallas (1-0) 23 at Tampa Bay (0-1) 20 (OT)

San Francisco (1-0) 38 at Arizona (0-1) 7

Washington (0-1) 10 at N.Y. Giants (1-0) 13

St. Louis (1-0) 24 at Seattle (0-1) 9

Chicago (1-0) 23 at Green Bay (0-1) 20

Monday, Sep 14

Buffalo (0-1) 3 at New England (1-0) 35

San Diego (1-0) 24 at Oakland (0-1) 9

Week 2

Sunday, Sep 20

Carolina (1-1) 24 at Atlanta (1-1) 17

Minnesota (2-0) 9 at Detroit (0-2) 6 (OT)

Cincinnati (0-2) 14 at Green Bay (1-1) 15

Arizona (1-1) 31 at Jacksonville (0-2) 16

Oakland (0-2) 6 at Kansas City (1-1) 21

New England (2-0) 22 at N.Y. Jets (1-1) 13

New Orleans (2-0) 24 at Philadelphia (1-1) 14

Houston (1-1) 28 at Tennessee (0-2) 16

St. Louis (2-0) 34 at Washington (0-2) 12

Seattle (0-2) 6 at San Francisco (2-0) 24

Tampa Bay (0-2) 21 at Buffalo (1-1) 31

Pittsburgh (1-1) 25 at Chicago (2-0) 28

Cleveland (1-1) 46 at Denver (1-1) 3

Baltimore (1-1) 3 at San Diego (2-0) 7

N.Y. Giants (1-1) 20 at Dallas (2-0) 23

Monday, Sep 21

Indianapolis (2-0) 28 at Miami (0-2) 7

Week 3

Sunday, Sep 27

Cleveland (1-2) 3 at Baltimore (2-1) 28

Washington (1-2) 10 at Detroit (0-3) 9

Jacksonville (0-3) 19 at Houston (2-1) 24

San Francisco (3-0) 37 at Minnesota (2-1) 14

Atlanta (1-2) 9 at New England (3-0) 21

Tennessee (0-3) 22 at N.Y. Jets (2-1) 24

Kansas City (1-2) 10 at Philadelphia (2-1)31

Green Bay (2-1) 24 at St. Louis (2-1) 19

N.Y. Giants (2-1) 13 at Tampa Bay (0-3) 10

New Orleans (3-0) 28 at Buffalo (1-2) 21

Chicago (3-0) 17 at Seattle (0-3) 6

Denver (1-2) 13 at Oakland (1-2) 29

Miami (0-3) 19 at San Diego (3-0) 24

Pittsburgh (2-1) 20 at Cincinnati (0-3) 6

Indianapolis (3-0) 9 at Arizona (1-2) 6

Monday, Sep 28

Carolina (1-2) 21 at Dallas (3-0) 42

Week 4

Open Date

Arizona, Atlanta, Carolina, Philadelphia

Sunday, Oct 4

Detroit (0-4) 6 at Chicago (4-0) 13

Cincinnati (0-4) 9 at Cleveland (2-2) 16

Oakland (1-3) 10 at Houston (3-1) 24

Seattle (0-4) 17 at Indianapolis (4-0) 21

Tennessee (0-4) 11 at Jacksonville (1-3) 20

N.Y. Giants (3-1) 22 at Kansas City (1-3) 19 (OT)

Baltimore (2-2) 21 at New England (4-0) 27

Tampa Bay (0-4) 3 at Washington (2-2) 21

Buffalo (1-3) 10 at Miami (1-3) 20

N.Y. Jets (2-2) 3 at New Orleans (4-0) 24

Dallas (4-0) 24 at Denver (1-3) 21

St. Louis (2-2) 19 at San Francisco (4-0) 27

San Diego (3-1) 17 at Pittsburgh (3-1) 31

Monday, Oct 5

Green Bay (3-1) 9 at Minnesota (2-2) 7

Week 5

Open Date

Chicago, Green Bay, New Orleans, San Diego

Sunday, Oct 11

Cincinnati (0-5) 17 at Baltimore (3-2) 27

Cleveland (3-2) 20 at Buffalo (1-4) 10

Washington (2-3) 7 at Carolina (2-2) 20

Pittsburgh (4-1) 35 at Detroit (0-5) 14

Dallas (5-0) 30 at Kansas City (1-4) 13

Oakland (1-4) 13 at N.Y. Giants (4-1) 16

Tampa Bay (0-5) 0 at Philadelphia (3-1) 12

Minnesota (2-3) 13 at St. Louis (3-2) 21

Atlanta (1-3) 7 at San Francisco (5-0) 24

Houston (3-2) 31 at Arizona (2-2) 47

New England (5-0) 23 at Denver (1-4) 16

Jacksonville (2-3) 19 at Seattle (0-5) 13

Indianapolis (5-0) 27 at Tennessee (0-5) 20

Monday, Oct 12

N.Y. Jets (3-2) 17 at Miami (1-4) 14

Week 6

Open Date

Dallas, Indianapolis, Miami, San Francisco

Sunday, Oct 18

Houston (3-3) 20 at Cincinnati (1-5) 25

Detroit (0-6) 9 at Green Bay (4-1) 10

St. Louis (3-3) 13 at Jacksonville (3-3) 34

Baltimore (4-2) 17 at Minnesota (2-4) 13

N.Y. Giants (4-2) 17 at New Orleans (5-0) 27

Cleveland (3-3) 7 at Pittsburgh (5-1) 28

Carolina (3-2) 38 at Tampa Bay (0-6) 28

Kansas City (2-4) 13 at Washington (2-4) 6

Philadelphia (4-1) 17 at Oakland (1-5) 10

Arizona (2-3) 17 at Seattle (1-5) 27

Tennessee (0-6) 9 at New England (6-0) 24

Buffalo (1-5) 17 at N.Y. Jets (4-2) 20 (OT)

Chicago (5-0) 42 at Atlanta (1-4) 14

Monday, Oct 19

Denver (1-5) 28 at San Diego (4-1) 31

Week 7

Open Date

Baltimore, Denver, Detroit, Jacksonville, Seattle, Tennessee

Sunday, Oct 25

Chicago (6-0) 27 at Cincinnati (1-6) 24

Green Bay (5-1) 24 at Cleveland (3-4) 10

Minnesota (2-5) 15 at Pittsburgh (6-1) 22

San Francisco (6-0) 20 at Houston (3-4) 6

San Diego (5-1) 45 at Kansas City (2-5) 28

Indianapolis (6-0) 31 at St. Louis (3-4) 24

New England (7-0) 31 at Tampa Bay (0-7) 7 (London)

Buffalo (1-6) 13 at Carolina (4-2) 29

N.Y. Jets (5-2) 13 at Oakland (1-6) 10

New Orleans (6-0) 24 at Miami (1-5) 14

Atlanta (1-5) 24 at Dallas (6-0) 27

Arizona (2-4) 6 at N.Y. Giants (5-2) 21

Monday, Oct 26

Philadelphia (5-1) 23 at Washington (2-5) 11

Week 8

Open Date

Cincinnati, Kansas City, New England, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Washington

Sunday, Nov 1

Denver (1-6) 9 at Baltimore (5-2) 17

Houston (3-5) 30 at Buffalo (2-6) 33

Cleveland (3-5) 14 at Chicago (7-0) 15

Seattle (1-6) 6 at Dallas (7-0) 17

St. Louis (4-4) 12 at Detroit (0-7) 9

Minnesota (2-6) 15 at Green Bay (6-1) 20

San Francisco (6-1) 3 at Indianapolis (7-0) 9

Miami (1-6) 13 at N.Y. Jets (6-2) 16

Jacksonville (4-3) 13 at Tennessee (0-7) 10

Oakland (1-7) 3 at San Diego (6-1) 17

Carolina (5-2) 28 at Arizona (2-5) 14

N.Y. Giants (5-3) 20 at Philadelphia (6-1) 24

Monday, Nov 2

Atlanta (1-6) 13 at New Orleans (7-0) 20

Week 9

Open Date

Buffalo, Cleveland, Minnesota, N.Y. Jets, Oakland, St. Louis

Sunday, Nov 8

Washington (3-5) 27 at Atlanta (1-7) 21

Arizona (2-6) 10 at Chicago (8-0) 14

Baltimore (6-2) 17 at Cincinnati (1-7) 10

Houston (3-6) 27 at Indianapolis (8-0) 31

Kansas City (3-5) 27 at Jacksonville (4-4) 12

Miami (1-7) 21 at New England (8-0) 38

Green Bay (7-1) 21 at Tampa Bay (0-8) 6

Carolina (5-3) 14 at New Orleans (8-0) 20

Detroit (0-8) 13 at Seattle (2-6) 35

San Diego (7-1) 17 at N.Y. Giants (5-4) 7

Tennessee (0-8) 15 at San Francisco (7-1) 29

Dallas (8-0) 24 at Philadelphia (6-2) 21

Monday, Nov 9

Pittsburgh (7-1) 27 at Denver (1-7) 24 (OT)

Week 10

Open Date

Houston, N.Y. Giants

Thursday, Nov 12

Chicago (9-0) 20 at San Francisco (7-2) 9

Sunday, Nov 15

Atlanta (1-8) 31 at Carolina (6-3) 34 (OT)

Tampa Bay (0-9) 13 at Miami (2-7) 23

Detroit (1-8) 16 at Minnesota (2-7) 0

Jacksonville (4-5) 7 at N.Y. Jets (7-2) 16

Cincinnati (1-8) 17 at Pittsburgh (8-1) 30

New Orleans (9-0) 13 at St. Louis (4-5) 3

Buffalo (2-7) 16 at Tennessee (1-8) 41

Denver (1-8) 17 at Washington (4-5) 27

Kansas City (3-6) 22 at Oakland (2-7) 28

Seattle (2-7) 13 at Arizona (3-6) 17

Dallas (8-1) 28 at Green Bay (8-1) 31

Philadelphia (6-3) 19 at San Diego (8-1) 33

New England (8-1) 10 at Indianapolis (9-0) 17

Monday, Nov 16

Baltimore (7-2) 17 at Cleveland (3-6) 10

Week 11

Thursday, Nov 19

Miami (2-8) 9 at Carolina (7-3) 27

Sunday, Nov 22

Indianapolis (10-0) 24 at Baltimore (7-3) 17

Washington (4-6) 10 at Dallas (9-1) 34

Cleveland (3-7) 7 at Detroit (2-8) 10

San Francisco (8-2) 13 at Green Bay (8-2) 3

Buffalo (2-8) 13 at Jacksonville (5-5) 28

Pittsburgh (9-1) 24 at Kansas City (3-7) 17

Seattle (3-7) 35 at Minnesota (2-8) 25

Atlanta (2-8) 31 at N.Y. Giants (5-5) 21

New Orleans (10-0) 24 at Tampa Bay (0-10) 21

Arizona (4-6) 24 at St. Louis (4-6) 9

San Diego (9-1) 20 at Denver (1-9) 17

N.Y. Jets (7-3) 6 at New England (9-1) 24

Cincinnati (1-9) 3 at Oakland (3-7) 10

Philadelphia (6-4) 27 at Chicago (10-0) 34

Monday, Nov 23

Tennessee (2-8) 21 at Houston (3-7) 7

Week 12

Thursday, Nov 26

Green Bay (9-2) 24 at Detroit (2-9) 16

Oakland (3-8) 3 at Dallas (10-1) 27

N.Y. Giants (5-6) 7 at Denver (2-9) 21

Sunday, Nov 29

Tampa Bay (0-11) 24 at Atlanta (3-8) 31

Miami (3-8) 27 at Buffalo (2-9) 20

Cleveland (3-8) 3 at Cincinnati (2-9) 15

Indianapolis (11-0) 17 at Houston (3-8) 16

Chicago (11-0) 31 at Minnesota (2-9) 21

Carolina (7-4) 14 at N.Y. Jets (8-3) 20

Washington (4-7) 31 at Philadelphia (7-4) 41

Seattle (3-8) 17 at St. Louis (5-6) 24

Arizona (4-7) 3 at Tennessee (3-8) 16

Kansas City (3-8) 12 at San Diego (10-1) 17

Jacksonville (5-6) 20 at San Francisco (9-2) 34

Pittsburgh (10-1) 16 at Baltimore (7-4) 13

Monday, Nov 30

New England (9-2) 21 at New Orleans (11-0) 38

Week 13

Thursday, Dec 3

N.Y. Jets (9-3) 8 at Buffalo (2-10) 7 (Toronto)

Sunday, Dec 6

Philadelphia (8-4) 31 at Atlanta (3-9) 24

Tampa Bay (0-12) 13 at Carolina (8-4) 36

St. Louis (5-7) 17 at Chicago (12-0) 28

Detroit (2-10) 9 at Cincinnati (3-9) 16

Tennessee (3-9) 19 at Indianapolis (12-0) 35

Houston (4-8) 12 at Jacksonville (5-7) 7

Denver (3-9) 30 at Kansas City (3-9) 17

Oakland (3-9) 24 at Pittsburgh (11-1) 28

New Orleans (12-0) 31 at Washington (4-8) 14

San Diego (11-1) 27 at Cleveland (3-9) 3

Minnesota (2-10) 15 at Arizona (5-7) 20

Dallas (10-2) 9 at N.Y. Giants (6-6) 10

San Francisco (10-2) 24 at Seattle (3-9) 10

New England (10-2) 24 at Miami (3-9) 17

Monday, Dec 7

Baltimore (7-5) 14 at Green Bay (10-2) 22

Week 14

Thursday, Dec 10

Pittsburgh (11-2) 28 at Cleveland (4-9) 31 (OT)

Sunday, Dec 13

New Orleans (13-0) 20 at Atlanta (3-10) 9

Detroit (2-11) 3 at Baltimore (8-5) 15

Green Bay (11-2) 20 at Chicago (12-1) 17

Seattle (3-10) 21 at Houston (5-8) 24

Denver (3-10) 14 at Indianapolis (13-0) 24

Miami (3-10) 16 at Jacksonville (6-7) 34

Buffalo (2-11) 14 at Kansas City (4-9) 28

Cincinnati (4-9) 27 at Minnesota (2-11) 20

Carolina (8-5) 10 at New England (11-2) 17

N.Y. Jets (10-3) 26 at Tampa Bay (0-13) 16

St. Louis (5-8) 16 at Tennessee (4-9) 34

Washington (5-8) 27 at Oakland (3-10) 17

San Diego (11-2) 10 at Dallas (11-2) 19

Philadelphia (9-4) 27 at N.Y. Giants (6-7) 17

Monday, Dec 14

Arizona (5-8) 21 at San Francisco (11-2) 24

Week 15

Thursday, Dec 17

Indianapolis (14-0) 35 at Jacksonville (6-8) 28

Sunday, Dec 19

Dallas (12-2) 24 at New Orleans (13-1) 20

Sunday, Dec 20

Chicago (12-2) 17 at Baltimore (9-5) 18

New England (12-2) 31 at Buffalo (2-12) 3

Arizona (5-9) 13 at Detroit (3-11) 16 (OT)

Cleveland (4-10) 10 at Kansas City (5-9) 38

Atlanta (3-11) 10 at N.Y. Jets (11-3) 17

San Francisco (11-3) 13 at Philadelphia (10-4) 34

Green Bay (12-2) 28 at Pittsburgh (11-3) 22

Houston (5-9) 20 at St. Louis (6-8) 27

Miami (3-11) 9 at Tennessee (5-9) 24

Oakland (4-10) 33 at Denver (3-11) 24

Cincinnati (4-10) 17 at San Diego (12-2) 34

Tampa Bay (0-14) 10 at Seattle (4-10) 31

Minnesota (2-12) 17 at Carolina (9-5) 34

Monday, Dec 21

N.Y. Giants (7-7) 30 at Washington (5-9) 27 (OT)

Week 16

Friday, Dec 25

San Diego (12-3) 10 at Tennessee (6-9) 16

Sunday, Dec 27

Buffalo (3-12) 30 at Atlanta (3-12) 23

Kansas City (5-10) 7 at Cincinnati (5-10) 31

Oakland (4-11) 6 at Cleveland (5-10) 21

Seattle (5-10) 10 at Green Bay (12-3) 7

Houston (6-9) 35 at Miami (3-12) 21

Carolina (10-5) 17 at N.Y. Giants (7-8) 14

Jacksonville (6-9) 12 at New England (13-2) 27

Tampa Bay (0-15) 10 at New Orleans (14-1) 28

Denver (4-11) 23 at Philadelphia (10-5) 20

Baltimore (10-5) 27 at Pittsburgh (11-4) 13

St. Louis (6-9) 13 at Arizona (6-9) 28

Detroit (3-12) 10 at San Francisco (12-3) 20

N.Y. Jets (11-4) 17 at Indianapolis (15-0) 27

Dallas (12-3) 21 at Washington (6-9) 37

Monday, Dec 28

Minnesota (2-13) 13 at Chicago (13-2) 45

Week 17

Sunday, Jan 3

Indianapolis (15-1) 24 at Buffalo (4-12) 27

New Orleans (15-1) 17 at Carolina (10-6) 14

Jacksonville (6-10) 20 at Cleveland (6-10) 23 (OT)

Philadelphia (10-6) 24 at Dallas (13-3) 35

Chicago (14-2) 29 at Detroit (3-13) 15

New England (14-2) 23 at Houston (6-10) 16

Pittsburgh (12-4) 14 at Miami (3-13) 13

N.Y. Giants (8-8) 27 at Minnesota (2-14) 24

San Francisco (12-4) 17 at St. Louis (7-9) 35

Atlanta (3-13) 3 at Tampa Bay (1-15) 24

Green Bay (12-4) 16 at Arizona (7-9) 21

Kansas City (6-10) 20 at Denver (4-12) 12

Baltimore (11-5) 16 at Oakland (4-12) 3

Washington (6-10) 6 at San Diego (13-3) 10

Tennessee (6-10) 9 at Seattle (6-10) 28

Cincinnati (5-11) 3 at N.Y. Jets (12-4) 20

…

…

2009 Madden NFL 10 Final Standings

AFC North

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)

2. Baltimore Ravens (11-5)

3. Cleveland Browns (6-10)

4. Cincinnati Bengals (5-11)

…

AFC South

1. Indianapolis Colts (15-1)

2. Houston Texans (6-10)

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-10)

4. Tennessee Titans (6-10)

…

AFC East

1. New England Patriots (14-2)

2. New York Jets (12-4)

3. Buffalo Bills (4-12)

4. Miami Dolphins (3-13)

…

AFC West

1. San Diego Chargers (13-3)

2. Kansas City Chiefs (6-10)

3. Oakland Raiders (4-12)

4. Denver Broncos (4-12)

…

NFC North

1. Chicago Bears (14-2)

2. Green Bay Packers (12-4)

3. Detroit Lions (4-12)

4. Minnesota Vikings (1-15)

…

NFC South

1. New Orleans Saints (15-1)

2. Carolina Panthers (9-7)

3. Atlanta Falcons (3-13)

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-15)

…

NFC East

1. Dallas Cowboys (13-3)

2. Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)

3. New York Giants (8-8)

4. Washington Redskins (6-10)

…

NFC West

1. San Francisco 49ers (12-4)

2. Arizona Cardinals (7-9)

3. St. Louis Rams (7-9)

4. Seattle Seahawks (6-10)

….

…

2009 Madden NFL 10 Playoffs

Seedings:

AFC

1. Indianapolis Colts (15-1, AFC South Champion)

2. New England Patriots (14-2, AFC East Champion)

3. San Diego Chargers (13-3, AFC West Champion)

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4, AFC North Champion)

5. New York Jets (12-4, AFC Wild Card)

6. Baltimore Ravens (11-5, AFC Wild Card)

NFC

1. New Orleans Saints (15-1, NFC South Champion)

2. Chicago Bears (14-2, NFC North Champion)

3. Dallas Cowboys (13-3, NFC East Champion)

4. San Francisco 49ers (12-4, NFC West Champion)

5. Green Bay Packers (12-4, NFC Wild Card)

6. Philadelphia Eagles (10-6, NFC Wild Card)

…

Wild Card Playoffs

Saturday January 9th, 2010

AFC: (6) Baltimore Ravens 26 vs. (3) San Diego Chargers 23

NFC: (6) Philadelphia Eagles 10 vs. (3) Dallas Cowboys 42

Sunday January 10th, 2010

AFC: (5) New York Jets 25 vs. (4) Pittsburgh Steelers 24

NFC: (5) Green Bay Packers 20 vs. (4) San Francisco 49ers 34

…

Divisional Playoffs

Saturday January 16th, 2010

AFC: (6) Baltimore Ravens 14 vs. (1) Indianapolis Colts 17 (OT)

NFC: (4) San Francisco 49ers 28 vs. (1) New Orleans Saints 49

Sunday January 17th, 2010

NFC: (3) Dallas Cowboys 21 vs. (2) Chicago Bears 24

AFC: (5) New York Jets 31 vs. (2) New England Patriots 28

…

Conference Championships

Sunday January 24th, 2010

AFC: (5) New York Jets 31 vs. (1) Indianapolis Colts 34

NFC: (2) Chicago Bears 28 vs. (1) New Orleans Saints 31 (OT)

…

Super Bowl 44 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, Florida

Sunday January 31st, 2010

(1) New Orleans Saints 24 vs. (1) Indianapolis Colts 21

Super Bowl 44 MVP: Drew Brees QB, New Orleans Saints

...

Madden 10 Season Awards

2009 NFL Season MVP: Peyton Manning QB, Indianapolis Colts

2009 NFL Coach of the Year: Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints

2009 NFL Offensive Player of the Year: Chris Johnson RB, Tennessee Titans

2009 NFL Defensive Player of the Year: Charles Woodson CB, Green Bay Packers

2009 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year: Percy Harvin WR, Minnesota Vikings

2009 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year: Brian Cushing LB, Houston Texans

...

...

The 2009 Madden NFL 10 Season: The 15–1 Heavyweight Showdown

The Setup: Twin Juggernauts and Unprecedented Depth

With Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald sharing the first-ever dual cover for Madden NFL 10, the 2009 regular season showcased offensive brilliance and razor-thin division races, led by two dominant franchises operating at the peak of their powers:

The 15–1 Standouts:

Peyton Manning captured yet another League MVP award, guiding the Indianapolis Colts to a conference-best 15-1 record. In the NFC, Coach of the Year Sean Payton engineered an unstoppable offensive machine in New Orleans, matching the Colts with a 15-1 record of their own.

The 14-Win Chasers:

Right behind the top seeds stood two perennial contenders: Tom Brady and the New England Patriots (14-2) in the AFC, and the physical Chicago Bears (14-2) in the NFC North.

Elite Competition Across the Board:

The playoff field was arguably the most competitive in virtual history, featuring 13-win squads in San Diego and Dallas, alongside 12-win powerhouses in Green Bay, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, and the New York Jets.

The Postseason: One-Score Classics and Overtime Heart-Stoppers

The playoffs delivered relentless fourth-quarter drama, with nearly every matchup coming down to the final possession:

Wild Card Road Stunners:

In the AFC Wild Card Round, the #6 seed Baltimore Ravens edged the #3 seed San Diego Chargers 26-23 on the road, while the #5 seed New York Jets eliminated the defending champion #4 seed Pittsburgh Steelers 25-24 at Heinz Field.

The NFC Wild Card saw the #3 seed Dallas Cowboys take down the #6 seed Philadelphia Eagles 42-10 in dominating fashion, while QB Alex Smith and the #4 seed San Francisco 49ers upset the #5 seed Green Bay Packers 34-20 at Candlestick Park.

Divisional Drama:

In the AFC Divisional Round, the #1 seed Colts narrowly averted disaster, escaping with a 17-14 overtime victory over the Baltimore Ravens. Meanwhile, the #5 seed Jets carried their underdog magic into Foxborough, stunning the #2 seed New England Patriots 31-28.

Over in the NFC, the #1 seed New Orleans Saints demolished the San Francisco 49ers 49-28 in a deafening Louisiana Superdome, and the #2 seed Chicago Bears edged out the Dallas Cowboys 24-21 in a snowy Soldier Field.

Championship Sunday Nail-Biters:

Both conference titles were decided by a single field goal.

In the AFC Championship, the Indianapolis Colts held off the surging New York Jets 34-31 to lock up the AFC crown.

In the NFC Championship, the New Orleans Saints hosted the Chicago Bears and waged an epic battle in the Louisiana Superdome, advancing to the Super Bowl on a 31-28 overtime game-winning field goal by kicker Garrett Hartley.

Super Bowl 44: Brees and the Saints Claim the Crown

Super Bowl 44 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, Florida, delivered the ultimate regular-season heavyweight matchup: the NFC Champion New Orleans Saints against the AFC Champion Indianapolis Colts. In a tactical duel between Drew Brees and Peyton Manning, every single drive proved critical. Brees delivered a masterclass in accuracy and composure against the Colts' secondary, orchestrating clock-killing drives down the stretch. New Orleans held off a late Indianapolis charge to secure a 24-21 victory, with Drew Brees earning Super Bowl MVP honors.

The victory capped off a historic 18-1 championship season and helped raise the spirits of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast Region as they continued their long road to recovery five years after Hurricane Katrina.