New Orleans, LA  - Garrett Hartley's 40-yard field goal 4:45 into overtime moved the Saints into the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history, as they beat Minnesota, 31-28, in the NFC Championship Game.

New Orleans will play Peyton Manning and the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV in Miami on February 7. Indianapolis beat the visiting New York Jets, 30-17, in the AFC title game earlier Sunday.

In what may have been Brett Favre's last game in an NFL uniform, the 40-year- old future Hall of Famer couldn't lead the Vikings to their first Super Bowl appearance since January 1977. Minnesota was hurt by five turnovers. Favre was picked off twice, including a costly interception with only seven seconds remaining in regulation after the Vikings drove into New Orleans territory. The Vikings also fumbled six times, losing three of them.

Following a New Orleans punt, the Vikings got the ball back with 2:37 left in the fourth quarter and moved from their own 21 into field goal range. But on third down from the 33 and with 19 seconds left, Minnesota was penalized for having 12 men in the huddle. Favre then rolled to his right and threw across his body for Sidney Rice, but Tracy Porter intercepted the ball and returned to near midfield. Two incomplete passes from Drew Brees led to overtime.

"I thought I probably should have ran," Favre said. "In hindsight, that's probably what I should have done. I don't know how many yards we needed for a field goal, but I knew we needed some. It was just a late decision."

Favre never got a chance at redemption as the Saints won the coin toss, took advantage of a pair of penalties and converted a fourth down before Hartley made his historic kick.

Long gone are the days of bags over the heads of fans at the Superdome from a team that suffered through fourth straight seasons of 10-plus losses in the late 1990s and the horrific images from 2005 when the Superdome was the site of something much more important than football. The building sheltered thousands of people after devastating Hurricane Katrina came ashore in the Crescent City.

"This stadium used to have holes in it and used to be wet," Saints head coach Sean Payton said. "It's not wet anymore. This is for the city of New Orleans."

Brees completed 17-of-31 passes for 197 yards with three touchdowns, while Pierre Thomas gained 61 yards on the ground and ran for a score for the Saints.

"It's probably going to be nuts around here for a little bit, but that's to be expected," Brees said. "When you look at the weight of this game and what it meant for us to go out and get a victory today, we couldn't have done it without our fans. It feels so good to know we've given our fans a championship, and NFC championship, but we've got another championship we're going after in two weeks."

Favre, a three-time NFL MVP who became the oldest quarterback to start a conference championship game, finished 28-of-46 for 310 yards with a TD, but the late interception cost the Vikings.

After the game, Favre was asked if he'd consider coming back for another year, which would be his 20th in the NFL. He came out of retirement for a second time to join the Vikings after playing one year with the Jets, but most of his time (16 years) has been spent with Green Bay.

Favre said he will need some time before making a decision.

"I know people will roll their eyes," Favre said. "In a situation like this I really don't want to make a decision right now based on solely what's happened, but I do know the year could not have gone any better, aside from us not going to Miami.

"I'd love to win the Super Bowl, who wouldn't, but I know I'm going out on top one way or the other. I didn't think I had anything to prove coming in, but if there were doubters out there maybe I served notice to them."

Bernard Berrian made nine catches for 102 yards, but had a big fumble, one of two turnovers in the red zone for the Vikings. Adrian Peterson had 122 yards rushing and three scores, but also fumbled the ball away.

The Saints held the ball for 10 plays and moved 39 yards in OT for the winning score. On 3rd-and-6 from the New Orleans 43, Brees' pass to Marques Colston fell incomplete, but cornerback Asher Allen was called for holding. Then on 4th-and-1 from the Minnesota 43, Thomas jumped into the air for a first down. A video review ensued for the second straight play, but the Saints were awarded a first down.

A 12-yard pass interference call on linebacker Ben Leber moved the ball to the 29, and a sliding catch by Robert Meachem set up the win. Hartley, who was suspended four games at the start of the season for testing positive for a banned stimulant, then nailed the winning kick and sent Bourbon Street into euphoria.