Destiny. No, I am not making a reference to an episode of “Lost,” I am explaining why the New Orleans Saints will win Super Bowl XLIV. The stench of Archie Manning’s “’Aints” no longer lingers throughout the Louisiana Superdome. The Saints have the city of New Orleans in a frenzy, and none of this would be possible without the guy that wasn’t supposed to make it in the NFL — Drew Brees.

Drew Brees’ impact on the franchise and the city of New Orleans can be summed up by the fact that many fans refer to him as “Breesus.” For Saints fans, he is their savior. However, Brees’ next task is his most difficult to date: overcome the almighty Peyton Manning. Brees will have to be on top of his game to keep the Saints in it, and I have no doubt that he will step up to the challenge.

Brees has dealt with negativity ever since high school, mainly due to his short stature (he is billed at 6 feet, and he’s probably shorter than that in reality). He was exceptional at Purdue, winning the Maxwell Award his senior season, but he wasn’t a first-round pick due to concerns about his height and arm strength. I think it’s safe to say nobody has concerns about Drew Brees’ ability at this point. He’s made a living by proving people wrong, and this Sunday, he has a chance at football immortality by once again defying the odds.

However, long-standing criticism is just a minor factor at this point. I think winning the Lombardi Trophy for the city of New Orleans means much more to Brees than sticking it to his doubters. I don’t need to detail the bond that the Saints’ fans have with the team following the horrific events of Hurricane Katrina; if you’ve watched a Saints home game at any point over the past four years, it is quite obvious. To say that the Saints have the city of New Orleans, even the state of Louisiana, on their backs is clich√É.√©, but it has never been truer.

This game will, in all likelihood, be a shootout. I wish I could say the Saints’ defense will have a huge impact on this game, but I am not naive. Manning will be Manning, but he can be slowed down a bit by pressure, something the Saints like to bring to the table. Every quarterback is rattled by hits. If a quarterback is getting hit enough times throughout a game, it is impossible for him not to feel the effects of those hits in the fourth quarter. Brett Favre can attest to this following the beating he took against the Saints in the NFC championship game. Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams will be bringing the heat early and often to try to get Manning out of rhythm, and if they can get Manning to the ground, they will be in great shape.

The formula sounds too simple, but it’s what got the Saints here in the first place: Dance with the one that brung ya.