Tag: Peyton Manning

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Week 15: Reviewing the Saints’ win over the Colts

On a record-setting night for Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints, there is plenty of good to go around after thrashing the Colts.

The New Orleans Saints dominated the Indianapolis Colts in prime-time during their “Monday Night Football” matchup, winning the game with a very lopsided 34-7 final score.

This victory was important for several years, highlighting more than a need to just get-back-on-track after last week’s crushing loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Tough defensive efforts, a solid showing from the special teams units, and a fantastic offensive performance allowed the Saints to show fans something they haven’t seen this season: an all-around team win.

The Good (Great, really): Drew Brees

Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Let’s just get this out of the way now: Brees eclipsed Peyton’s Manning’s record for career passing touchdowns, and did so in spectacular fashion. En route to that record-breaking play, the Hall of Fame-bound quarterback also completed 29 of his 30 passes, marking a completion percentage of 96.7%; that’s another record broken on the evening.

Brees has been great this year, and he’s now posted back-to-back performances with 300-plus passing yard and four touchdown lobs. The ageless gunslinger is picking up steam at the right time as the Saints move towards the playoffs.

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Peyton Manning congratulates Drew Brees using his signature humor

Former Colts and Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning had a funny reaction when Saints quarterback Drew Brees broke his touchdown record.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees threw four touchdown passes against the Indianapolis Colts on Monday evening, passing former Colts and Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning to become the NFL’s all-time leader in touchdown passes (541).

When Brees broke Manning’s yardage record last year, the quarterback created a playful video “congratulating” the Saints signal-caller with his signature sense or humor.

“Drew, for 1,000 days I’ve held the record for all-time passing yards in the NFL. I’ve gotta tell ya, it’s been the greatest 1,000 days of my life,” Manning said in the video.

“And thanks to you, that’s over now. You’ve ruined that for me. So, thank you very much. [Now] I have nothing left to look forward to except slicing my tomatoes, making dinner for my family, putting together this wedge salad.”

A man off-camera then reminded Manning that Brees was also set to break his TD record, prompting an early congratulations for that record as well.

“Let this serve as the congratulations for the touchdown record, because as you can see, I am very busy,” Manning said. “I don’t have time to keep doing these videos for you, congratulating you.”

The video was in good fun and Manning wrapped it up on a serious note.

“In all seriousness, Drew, congratulations on this record, you’ve done it the right way,” Manning said. “All your hard work and dedication paid off.”

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Texans’ Deshaun Watson congratulates Saints QB Drew Brees on setting all-time touchdown record

Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson congratulated New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees on setting the NFL’s all-time touchdown passes record.

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson was among a cavalcade of NFL players who congratulated Drew Brees for setting the new all-time high in touchdown passes.

On Monday night, Brees reached the 540 mark for career touchdown passes, surpassing two-time Super Bowl champion Peyton Manning, as the New Orleans Saints blasted the Indianapolis Colts 34-7 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

In a Yahoo Sports video, Watson sent his best wishes to the Super Bowl MVP.

“Drew Brees, man, I just want to go ahead and congratulate,” Watson said. “You inspire me, the whole league, not just as a quarterback, but as a human being and as a father and as a man. I really appreciate you and you have a true fan, a true brother here. So, I appreciate you. Congratulations.”

Brees would finish the night with 541 career touchdown passes as he completed 29-of-30 for 307 yards and four touchdowns.

“18, 19, 20 years, that’s crazy,” Watson said of Brees’ career on Sept. 3. “I’ve only been alive for 23 years, so it’s amazing to see what he’s done, and actually this summer I was looking at his stats and seeing the amount of years he’s had 5,000 yards, 5,000 yards, 5,000 yards, 4,000 yards and just constantly doing it repeatedly every year.

It’s crazy to think — correct me if I’m wrong — that he’s never had an MVP, which is very mind blowing. I think he probably had a Super Bowl MVP but never a regular season MVP. I mean, it’s just mind-blowing to even think that, but also just the numbers and the stats and the things he’s doing.”

Though Brees has yet to attain an MVP award, in possessing the NFL’s all-time touchdown passing record, it ensures him a bust in Canton, Ohio, at the Pro Football Hall of Fame when his career is over. By that point, one can only imagine how close Watson will be in surpassing Brees’ mark.

Tom Brady congratulates Drew Brees via sweet tweet

Tom Brady congratulated Drew Brees in classic style for setting the all-time TD mark.

Drew Brees went past Tom Brady and Peyton Manning for career TD passes Monday night in New Orleans.

The New England Patriots’ star quarterback took to Twitter to congratulate the Saints’ QB and suggested he is up for the challenge of vying for the record.

Brady is at 538, one behind Manning and further behind Brees, who was at 541 after three quarters against the Colts.

Tom Brady reacts to Drew Brees’ near-record-breaking touchdown

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady saluted New Orleans Saints passer Drew Brees after he nearly broke Peyton Manning’s record.

The New Orleans Saints were so close to pulling out all the stops for Drew Brees’ record-breaking touchdown pass, which would have been No. 540 in his career — surpassing both New England Patriots passer Tom Brady (538) and retired quarterback Peyton Manning (539), ranking for the most of any player in NFL history.

But a dubious offensive pass interference foul wiped it away, protecting Manning’s hold on the record. His thoughts on the near-historic moment aren’t clear, but Brady happened to be interviewing with Jim Gray of Westwood One Radio at the time, and shared his take.

“I know, a little anticlimactic,” Brady joked. “There might be some silver linings though. You actually get to celebrate the record twice. You know? You celebrated it once, maybe you’ll get to do it again here in the second half. He’s just playing incredible and that offense, once they get it rolling they’re pretty tough to stop.”

Brady also offered a hat-tip to Brees in his pursuit of the record and his performance on the year so far. It’s clear that there’s plenty of respect between Brady and Brees, and as fortune would have it, Brady was right: because Brees found tight end Josh Hill from five yards out to seal it early in the third quarter.

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Drew Brees makes NFL history, sets new record for career touchdown passes

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees surpassed both Tom Brady and Peyton Manning to set a new NFL record for career touchdown passes.

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Drew Brees needed three touchdowns to reset the NFL’s record for career scoring passes, and he got them on Monday night against the Indianapolis Colts. It initially looked like he would have gotten it done in just a half of football, but a weak offensive pass interference penalty on wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith wiped out the would-be scoring play.

But Brees wasn’t going to let that sort of shortcoming slow him down. He came out of the halftime break roaring, and scored again — and without a shadow of a doubt — with a 5-yard throw to backup tight end Josh Hill. Let’s recap each of his touchdown throws.

The first score tied Brees with New England Patriots icon Tom Brady, who finished his game Sunday 538 career touchdown passes. Brees found superstar wide receiver Michael Thomas in the heart of the Colts defense from 15 yards out, which extended the Saints’ lead and matched Brady’s mark:

The next touchdown pass went to second-year pro Tre’Quan Smith. Brees initially gave Smith a chance from 28 yards out, but the young receiver was interfered with and unable to go up and make the catch. So Brees hit him again from 19 yards away; Smith caught it this time, and rumbled two more yards into the end zone. This scoring play saw Brees’ career total climb to 539, matching the record set by retired legend Peyton Manning.

But records are made to be broken. Nobody knows that better than Brees, who has broken so many in his storied NFL career. And with history on the line, the Saints quarterback stepped up and delivered with a five-yard strike to Hill; not do-it-all quarterback Taysom Hill, but the backup tight end. Who else could?

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Drew Brees breaks Peyton Manning’s all-time touchdown mark

New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees is the all-time leader in NFL TD passes.

Mr. Monday Night Football, Drew Brees, did it again on a national stage. The New Orleans Saints’ quarterback is the career leader in touchdown passes at 540, surpassing Peyton Manning in the second half of the Saints’ game with the Indianapolis Colts at the Superdome.

Manning had 539 in his career while Tom Brady is at 538 and counting.

Brees set the mark on the first drive of the third quarter. He found Josh Hill from 5 yards to set the mark … for the time being as Brady continues to play for the Patriots.

Brees appeared to set the mark in the second quarter when he rolled right and found Tre’Quan Smith for a TD. However, the New Orleans WR was called for offensive pass interference on the play.

The Superdome crowd was unhappy despite New Orleans holding a 17-0 lead. It became more vocal toward the officials when Brees was unable to get the record on the next play and the Saints settled for a Will Lutz field goal on the final play of the half to make it 20-0.

Brees had connected with Michael Thomas from 15 yards to tie Brady and then knotted Manning with a 21-yard TD pass to Smith.

Smith had been the recipient of a TD pass in 2018 that made Brees the all-time pass leader. That came on this 62-yard play.

Brees also set the single season mark on a Monday night, breaking Dan Marino’s record in 2011. Brees’ final pass in a 45-16 home win over Atlanta Falcons saw him pass Marino’s mark of 5,084 yards for Miami Dolphins in 1984. Brees’s nine-yard pass to Darren Sproles with 2:51 remaining in the fourth quarter eclipsed one of the longest-standing individual records in NFL history.

 

 

Drew Brees passes Peyton Manning on NFL passing TD list

Drew Brees makes history against Peyton Manning’s former team.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees passed former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning on the NFL’s all-time passing touchdown list on Monday night.

Doing it in a dominating fashion against Manning’s former team at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Monday night, Brees only needed three touchdowns to take the top spot on the illustrious list. Manning previously led the way with 539 career touchdown passes.

Brees got his first touchdown pass in the second quarter when he found Michael Thomas for a 15-yard score.

The 40-year-old got his second touchdown pass with a 21-yard strike to wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith in the second quarter.

And here is the touchdown pass that pushed Brees ahead of Manning on the list. In the third quarter, Brees found tight end Josh Hill for a five-yard touchdown and the 540th of his career.

Given his history in primetime, it isn’t a shock that Brees was able to record a three-touchdown game. It does sting a little bit for Colts fans, though, as their own defense wasn’t able to keep Brees from obtaining the record against Manning’s former team. It also doesn’t help that they are getting absolutely dominated.

Though Brees is currently the leader on the list, he will have some competition for the top spot as New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is right behind Manning with 538 career touchdown passes.

It has been quite a productive career for Brees, who continued to add to his future Hall of Fame resume by passing Manning on another prolific list.

Monday Night Football, Week 15: 4 players to watch in Saints vs. Colts

The New Orleans Saints host the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football with playmakers like Alvin Kamara and Cameron Jordan in focus.

The New Orleans Saints will host the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, and there’s a lot on the line. A win for the Saints would keep them in the hunt with the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers to sit on top of the NFC playoff picture. On the other side, a win for the Colts would stave off playoff elimination for at least another week.

This game also creates another opportunity for Drew Brees to break the NFL record for career passing touchdowns, currently held by Colts (and Broncos) legend Peyton Manning (he retired with 539 touchdown passes to his name). Brees is awful close, and he mightl ook to some familiar targets to get over the top. They’re among four players we’re watching closely in Monday night’s game:

Alvin Kamara, running back

The insanely talented Saints running back has seen some regression this season, and has not looked the part of the All-Pro back he was voted to be last year. Instead, he has seen his yards gained per carry drop each season, falling from 6.1 in 2017 to just 4.4 in 2019. Furthermore, his rate of yards gained per reception — which is normally one of his best stats — has also drastically dropped from a high of 10.2 in 2017 to 6.8 in 2019. The Saints can go as far as Kamara will carry them, and as such, a big game against the Colts will go a long way in helping him find momentum before the playoffs.

Michael Thomas, wide receiver

The top wideout in the league will once again be featured as Brees’ go-to weapon, in a game that could see the Saints dial up more passes in an attempt at getting Brees the three touchdowns he needs to break Manning’s record. Thomas is on pace to break another ex-Colts star’s record, with Marvin Harrison’s 143 receptions single-season mark at threat. Thomas already has 121 receptions of his own with several games left to play. Elite cornerbacks have tried all year to slow Thomas down, but the Colts don’t have many great options on the back end to defend him. If Thomas eclipses 100 yards receiving again, he will have done so for the ninth time this season. The question for him: will he be the one to catch Brees’ record-setting touchdown?

Cameron Jordan, defensive end

Cameron Jordan was limited in practice all week due to an abdomen injury, but he will be ready to go on Monday night. The defensive end has 13.5 sacks on the year, and he has stated numerous times that his career “white whale” is to achieve 20 sacks on the season. He has three games left to try and accomplish that feat, but that would require him to average just over two sacks per game for the rest of the season. Indianapolis’ offensive line is great, but they will have a tough time containing Jordan who is out for a rebound after his defense let the San Francisco 49ers drop 48-points on them. With starting defensive end Marcus Davenport and surging defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins out for the year, Jordan is going to be carrying even more of a responsibility to pressure quarterbacks than usual.

Drew Brees, quarterback

How could we not include Brees in this list when he is on the cusp of another all-time NFL record? With 537 touchdown passes already behind him, Brees only needs three more to break Manning’s record of 539, and he can surpass Tom Brady along the way (Brady climbed to 538 on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, but couldn’t go all the way). Doing it against Manning’s former team, and during prime-time with the Super Bowl XLIV-winning teammates in attendance, would make the moment even more special. This game and atmosphere has all the makings of a vintage Brees performance, to the tune of 400 yards and four touchdowns.

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Drew Brees in position to surpass Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and break TD record

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees can make football history on Monday Night Football, and surpass both Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.

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Fortune kept giving New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady opportunities, but he just couldn’t seize them. When New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees missed five games with an injury to his throwing hand, sidelining him from their race to unseat Peyton Manning as the NFL’s all-time leader in touchdown passes, Brady failed to take control of the race and held the door open long enough for Brees to catch up to him.

Again, in Week 15, Brady had a shot at breaking the record before Brees. He was playing one of the NFL’s worst teams a day before Brees would take the “Monday Night Football” stage, and just needed rack up some scores on the lowly Cincinnati Bengals. But he couldn’t get it done.

Now, Brees is set to star in prime-time and surpass Brady and Manning both. Brees will take the field against the Indianapolis Colts with 537 career touchdown passes to his credit, trailing Brady (538) and Manning (539) for the record. A single passing touchdown will tie him with Brady. Two will match the mark with Manning. Three or more rewrites the NFL record books.

The enormity of this record can’t be summed up just by comparing Brees to those two all-time greats, though. Before Brett Favre broke the record Dan Marino set in 1999 (ending his career with 420 career passing touchdowns; Favre shattered that total with 508), the record stood for nearly a decade. When Marino broke it himself, he did so after Fran Tarkenton retired with 342 career touchdowns passes — back in 1978. It took 17 years for anyone to best the mark Tarkenton established.

And it might take that long for anyone to break the record Brees could set, once it’s all said and done. Though he’s tied with Brady for now, they could both retire in the next year or two and not shock anyone. Whoever ends up winning this record will hold onto it for a long, long time. Many of the active quarterbacks behind Brees and Brady are closer to retiring themselves than playing in their prime. Here’s how the standings shake out among them, with ages in parentheses:

  1.  Tom Brady (42), 538 touchdown passes
  2. Drew Brees (41 in January), 537 touchdown passes
  3. Philip Rivers (38), 395 touchdown passes
  4. Eli Manning (39 in January), 366 touchdown passes
  5. Ben Roethlisberger (37), 363 touchdown passes
  6. Aaron Rodgers (36), 362 touchdown passes
  7. Matt Ryan (34), 319 touchdown passes
  8. Matthew Stafford (31), 256 touchdown passes
  9. Russell Wilson (31), 224 touchdown passes
  10. Joe Flacco (35 in January), 218 touchdown passes

Of the names on that list, only Rodgers, Ryan, Stafford, and Wilson feel like they may have the staying power (and secure starting jobs) to challenge Brees (or Brady) someday. But even that’s pushing it; if each of them averaged 30 touchdown passes a year (a tall order considering only two quarterbacks have done so this year, with two games remaining), here’s how old they would be when they get to 540 or more career passing touchdowns:

  • Aaron Rodgers (42, six years)
  • Matt Ryan (42, eight years)
  • Matthew Stafford (41, ten years)
  • Russell Wilson (42, eleven years)

So, yeah: if there’s any realistic challengers to the throne Brees (or Brady) will one day sit on, it will take them almost a decade or more to close the gap, and that’s with them playing at a sustained, high level. That isn’t a guarantee especially for players with frequent injury issues (Stafford), or who are stuck in run-first offenses (Wilson), or who are simply cursed to never win anything due to playing for the Atlanta Falcons (Ryan). Maybe Rodgers catches up, but he doesn’t feel like the type of fanatical competitor who will want to continue playing football deep into his forties.

That’s just added motivation for Brees to go out and break Manning’s record (which was Favre’s record, and Marino’s record, and Tarkenton’s record), and cement himself among the greatest quarterbacks to ever spin a football. Sure, it’s not something that will be actively on his mind during the game, but this record and the implications it carries have to be something Brees is aware of. As his career continues winding down and becoming the stuff of legend, it’s records like this that will pad out his Hall of Fame-worthy resume. Saints fans should take every opportunity to enjoy Brees and what he’s done while he’s still wearing shoulderpads.

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