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Monday February 08, 2010 | 10:11 AM

Be honest.

Raise your hand if you thought Super Bowl XLIV had all but been decided when quarterback Peyton Manning lofted a touchdown pass into the hands of receiver Pierre Garcon to give the Colts a 10-0 lead in the closing seconds of the first quarter during Sunday night’s exciting NFL championship game.

Mine’s in the air.

And I don’t think I’m alone.

It had nothing to do with disrespecting the New Orleans Saints. I know how well the team played this season. I know all about the incredible talent possessed by quarterback Drew Brees.

But I also know how many times it’s been drilled into my head by coaches, former players, and so-called experts how things such as emotion and heart don’t mean anything once the ball kicked off and the first tackle is made – especially in an NFL game.

I never agreed with that premise. But for a few moments during the game, I bought into it.

Never again.

Carrying the hopes and dreams of residents of a city ravaged by a devastating hurricane almost five years ago, head coach Sean Payton and the New Orleans Saints showed the guts and character of a champion.

Now, they have the hardware to go with it.

An onsides kick to start the second half. Going for a touchdown instead of kicking a chip-shot field goal. Defensive stops inside the red zone. Add it up and it equals a 31-17 win by the Saints, the first Super Bowl championship in the franchise’s 43-year history.

You don’t have to be eligible for AARP to remember when the Saints were the laughingstock of the National Football League.

Fans sitting in their seats at the Superdome with paper bags covering their heads. New Orleans followers not-so-fondly referring to their team as the “Aints.”

The Saints played their first NFL game in 1967. Their first winning season came 20 years later. It took another 13 years before New Orleans won its first playoff game.

Before this season, the “rich tradition” of the Saints franchise included a grand total of eight playoff games. And just two postseason wins. In fact, even with this season’s success, the New Orleans franchise is still 102 games below .500 at 276 wins, 378 losses and five ties.

All of that might as well be ancient history.

For a franchise that never played beyond the first round of divisional playoffs, the Saints played like seasoned veterans against the league MVP Manning and the Colts, especially when it counted most – the final three quarters.

The Colts looked almost unstoppable in the opening quarter, scoring both times they had the ball to take a 10-0 lead. Meanwhile, the Indianapolis defense held the Saints’ potent offense to no points and just two first downs in the first quarter.

From there, however, it was it was almost all New Orleans.

The Saints controlled the ball – and the clock – in the second quarter, allowing the Colts to run just six offensive plays from scrimmage. Manning and Co. had the ball in their hands for only 2:23 of the 15-minute quarter.

So who would have believed – after being dominated in the opening quarter – that New Orleans would outscore the Colts 31-7 through the rest of the way?

Yet with every first down, every big play, every score, and every defensive stop, the confidence – and momentum – of the Saints continued to grow.

And when people – my hand is still in the air – stopped believing, the Saints never did. That’s why a feel-good story concluded with a feel-good ending.

It’s not winning a championship that makes the New Orleans Saints so special.

It’s the manner in which they won it.

Dave Konopki is the assistant sports editor of The Times Leader. You may e-mail him at dkonopki@timesleader.com.