Ochsner Health Saints Report: Drew Brees patron Saint of passing

Coming into Monday night’s game between the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts, Drew Brees was just three touchdown passes away from breaking Peyton Manning’s all-time NFL record.

But it was another Brees record that was almost even more impressive on a night that the man of the hour doubled down on some Black and Gold history. How fitting that the Saints would be taking on Manning’s old team in the Colts, as Brees looks to rewrite history and get his team a much needed victory to stay in the hunt for a first round bye.

On a night the New Orleans Saints celebrated their Super Bowl 44 championship team’s 10 year anniversary, Drew Brees celebrated some league history worthy of its own 10-year anniversary someday as the NFL’s patron Saint of passing broke Peyton Manning’s all-time touchdown record against Manning’s former Colts team.

Brees also completed 29 of his 30 pass attempts, good for a single-season completion percentage record. “It was special, everything about the night. I don’t know how they pick them, right? Monday Night Football. Playing the Colts, right? The team that we won the Super Bowl against 10 years ago so the whole Super Bowl XLIV team is back for the 10th anniversary. And obviously national television, big game. And now that record in the balance as well. And just kind of makes you shake your head, are you kidding me? I’m not sure how we got here. It just kind of makes your whole life and career flash before your eyes. The funny thing was, as we walked up to the ball, play call comes in and I’m thinking touchdown. And then the minute I walk up to the ball and I see the look and I say oh, this is definitely a touchdown, right,” said Brees.

Tight End Josh Hill said, “It is. A little play action. Safety bit on it and I was wide open. Yep. It was awesome. Absolutely. I knew what it meant. I knew what number it was. A special moment for him.”

Defensive End Cameron Jordan said, “I feel like I probably keep taking him for granted, I don’t know. You have somebody that scores as many touchdowns as he has, that’s just another record for him. How many records has he broken? He’s broken like two today? (Two, yes. Today.) You know? Like 15 over the course since I’ve played with him, I don’t know. Another accolade. We’re looking for a Super Bowl.”

Head Coach Sean Payton said, “I’m trying to think of the incompletion. I got it. He’ll get a minus on that play. He’s got to get one minus, right? Look. Honestly, the win means a lot. And there’s going to be a day someday where we all ride off into the sunset, but it’s not now. And like I said, it’s about winning and winning and winning and trying to give yourself the best chance in the postseason. That’s really the truth.”

With a Saints win, the NFC now has four 11-3 teams heading into the final two weeks of the regular season. Now, regardless of how it plays out, we’ll see the Saints back in the Superdome come January 2020, it’s just a matter of whether or not they’ll be coming off a first round bye.

Brees says the record-setting ball will be going to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.