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New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees had a 2019 season that was characterized by experiencing the highest of highs, and the lowest of lows. Brees started the season with a devastating injury to his thumb in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams that had many doubting the future of his career. Upon his return, he looked reinvigorated, and in Week 15 set the all-time record for most touchdown passes thrown.

Then came the playoffs. In the wild-card round, nearly every pundit had the Saints winning against the Minnesota Vikings, and those predictions weren’t close. Brees’ and the rest of New Orleans’ season came to a halting end after losing in a 29-23 upset against the Vikings.

Let’s take a deeper look into Brees’ 2019 season, and what it could mean for him and the Saints in 2020.

Level of play

Brees played to a MVP-caliber level after his return from injury in Week 8 against the Arizona Cardinals. When on the field, he was the most accurate passer in the NFL with a 74.3% completion rate, a feat that has become the norm for Brees. In December, he was rewarded for his high level of play when he won the NFC Offensive Player of the Month award.

Despite playing in only 11 games in 2019, Brees was still able to throw for 2,979 yards, and 27 touchdowns. Those 27 touchdowns were the fifth most thrown in the NFL in 2019. Again, an impressive stat when considering he played in five less games than almost any other quarterback on the list.

Turnovers were a double edged sword for Brees and New Orleans in 2019. The Saints set a NFL record for fewest turnovers in a season with eight, and Brees had a large part in that with protecting the football and making sound decisions. However, in the wild-card round, that trait disappeared for the quarterback. New Orleans was handicapped against the Vikings in large part due to Brees’ two turnovers, one in the form of a fumble, and one by an interception. Both came during promising drives that could have turned the tide of the game.

Despite the uncharacteristic struggles Brees faced in the postseason, the quarterback played to one of the highest levels he has experienced in his career. After another devastating postseason loss on the last play of the game, expect Brees to come out strong in 2020.

What to expect in 2020

Brees is an unrestricted free agent heading into the 2020 season, and many are wondering what his future may hold. With Teddy Bridgewater and Taysom Hill both free agents, many are advocating for the Saints to choose youth over experience. Still, Brees will be back in 2020 and most likely on a one-year deal with the Black and Gold. Next season very well could be his last regardless of what the outcome is.

2020 should bring a fully healthy Brees who will play 16 games, and at 41-years old, his production will be maintained in part because New Orleans will surround him with capable playmakers this offseason. The game plan for the quarterback will remain the same, and Brees should once again see a completion percentage above 70% and over 4,000 yards passing. Expect big things from the Benjamin Button-like quarterback.

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