Symbolic of their home city's rebuilding from Hurricane Katrina's devastation, the New Orleans Saints are on the verge of pulling off a sports miracle by going to their first Super Bowl.
The once-downtrodden Saints will visit the Chicago Bears tomorrow for a berth in the NFL's biggest game, with the winner facing either the Indianapolis Colts or New England Patriots in the Feb. 4 championship in Miami.
The Saints have become a beacon of hope for a city left in shambles by the deadly 2005 storm's destruction, reviving from a 3-13 record last season, which they spent as homeless wanderers, to a 10-6 campaign and the second playoff win in club history.
"It resembles the determination of this city. They've given everything they've had and we've given everything we've had as a team," Saints running back Deuce McAllister said.
The Saints relocated to San Antonio for a season in the wake of the hurricane, playing home games at the New Jersey Meadowlands, the Alamo Dome and Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.
Dallas Cowboys assistant Sean Payton replaced Jim Haslett as coach of the Saints, who obtained quarterback Drew Brees in March and drafted collegiate rushing star Reggie Bush in April.
Top offense
Together, they powered what became the NFL's top offense, with Brees leading the NFL with 4,418 passing yards.
"We had a great responsibility. We felt like every time out, we were playing for each other, the team, this city and community," Brees said.
"When I first got here, all these people were trying to put their lives back together and we sold out for the season in ticket sales, which I thought was unbelievable," he said.
"You could see it. As bad a situation that these people were in, they still wanted to put a lot of their hopes into us," he said. "You can tell how much it means. People stop me on the street every day, like 20 times a day, telling me how great it is they feel and how it helps them [fill] their day and rebuild their life."
The Saints have never advanced this far in the playoffs. By reaching the milestone this year, they have become the sentimental favorites for the US.
That will not help them against the Bears, who went 13-3 this season and seek their 10th NFL crown.
Bears coach Lovie Smith, like Indianapolis counterpart Tony Dungy, could become the first black coach to guide a team in the Super Bowl.
"This is the first time two black men have led their teams to the final four," Smith said. "I realize the responsibility that comes with that."
Stingy
The Bears' defense, the stingiest in the NFC, is led by linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs.
Chicago quarterback Rex Grossman has given Bears fans fits by giving away the ball, throwing 20 interceptions and losing five fumbles this season while throwing for 3,193 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Host Indianapolis and New England meet in the playoffs for the third time in the past four years, with Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri going against the club for which he booted two last-second Super Bowl-winning field goals.
Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has never reached the Super Bowl. Patriots coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady knocked Manning and the Colts out of the playoffs in 2003 and 2004.
Brady has a 12-1 playoff record, three Super Bowl titles and two Super Bowl Most Valuable Player awards.
Belichick, 13-2 in playoff games, could match former Steelers coach Chuck Noll's record of four Super Bowl titles with a victory in next month's title game.
Manning threw for 326 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-20 regular-season victory over New England in November.
The Colts defense was the NFL's worst at stopping rushers but in the playoffs has allowed only a total of 127 rushing yards in playoff triumphs over Kansas City and Baltimore.
The Patriots defense, led by linebackers Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel, allowed the second-fewest points in the NFL this season with 14.8 a game.
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