Payton's gamble could be best-ever in Super Bowl history

New Orleans coach Sean Payton's decision to attempt an onside kick to start the second half Sunday evening will go down as one of the best coaching gambles in Super Bowl history.

With the Saints trailing 10-6, Payton didn't want to just hand the ball over to Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts' high-octane offense to start the half.

Kicker Thomas Morsted's boot to the left side deflected off the hands of Indianapolis' Hank Baskett, bounced off his helmet and a rugby-style scrum ensued.

Former Georgia Tech standout Chris Reis of Roswell High was credited with the recovery although linebacker Jonathan Casillas came away from the pileup with the ball.

The ploy turned the momentum in the Saints' favor and led to a their 31-17 victory, the franchise's first Super Bowl victory.

Here's a look at the top five coaching gambles in Super Bowl history.

1. Payton's onside kick

If he'd kicked off to Manning, he would have stood the risk of the Colts taking a 17-6 lead.

Teams were aware of keeping Manning off the field this season. Miami tried to play keep-away from him by dominating the clock. The Patriots attempted a controversial fourth-down play deep in their own territory.

Both of those attempts were unsuccessful. But Payton's call with the season on the line changed the game.

2. Gibbs' running back call

In Super Bowl XXII in 1988, Washington coach Joe Gibbs played a hunch.

He had the bruising George Rogers, the Duluth native who was battling a host of nagging injuries. Instead, Gibbs went with backup running back Timmy Smith, a rookie with just 29 career carries, in the big game.

Making his first start of the season, Smith rushed for 204 yards on 22 carries as he helped the Redskins pummel the Denver Broncos, 42-10.

Smith, who was a sidelight to the historical and record-breaking passing performance of MVP quarterback Doug Williams, gained most of his yards running the Redskins' trademark "counter trey" play.

3. O'Brien's boots the Colts to victory

In Super Bowl V in 1971, the Baltimore Colts, under coach Don McCafferty, turned to rookie Jim O'Brien to win the game and that looked like a shaky bet.

O'Brien had stumbled badly on his only other kick of the day, when he stutter-stepped on an extra-point attempt and it was blocked.

With nine seconds left, O'Brien, who was drafted out of Cincinnati as a wide receiver/kicker, was summoned. McCafferty could have taken another shot to the end zone or played for overtime in what is considered one the worst played Super Bowls. But O'Brien was true from 32 yards and the Colts beat Dallas 16-13.

4. Randle El's reverse pass

In Super Bowl XL in 2006, the Pittsburgh Steelers were playing Seattle with second-year quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and their stout rushing attack, which featured Jerome "The Bus" Bettis and Willie Parker.

With Roethlisberger struggling in the passing game, the Steelers, under coach Bill Cowher, went to one of their trick plays.

The Steelers led 14-10 early in the fourth quarter when offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, the former Georgia Tech and Atlanta Falcons player, decided to test Seattle's secondary.

Parker got the ball on a toss to his left. Antwaan Randle El, who was a quarterback in college at Indiana, came around on a reverse and took the handoff from Parker.

Randle El drifted back and drilled a strike to a wide-open Hines Ward for a 43-yard touchdown to secure the victory. Randle El is the first receiver to throw for a touchdown in a Super Bowl.

5. Lombardi turns to Max McGee

In Super Bowl I in 1967, before the league had named the trophy after him, Packers coach Vince Lombardi found himself in a quandary early against the blitz-happy Kansas City Chiefs.