Tag: Peyton Manning

Brett Favre has high praise for Sean Payton-Drew Brees duo

Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre commended New Orleans Saints passer Drew Brees for what he and coach Sean Payton have accomplished.

[jwplayer tfUYEFbQ-ThvAeFxT]

Brett Favre may have went into the Pro Football Hall of Fame after a storied career with the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, and briefly the New York Jets, but his heart has always been with the team he grew up cheering for: the New Orleans Saints. Favre grew up in nearby Kiln, Miss., where he and his family remain ardent supporters of the black and gold. He still keeps up with the Saints, and he and his young grandson called Drew Brees to congratulate him after the Saints’ dramatic Week 1 victory over the Houston Texans.

Favre was watching again when Brees shattered the NFL record for career passing touchdowns — a record he once held himself, before Peyton Manning surpassed him. In an interview with Sirius XM NFL Radio, Favre credited Brees for his personal success, and what he and Saints coach Sean Payton have accomplished together. He puts them up there against any other coach-quarterback duo in the league.

As far as that goes, Favre argues that Payton and Brees deserve the respect given to the New England Patriots. “Whether you like it or not, you just kind of expect (opponents to say), ‘Well, we can’t beat the Patriots ’cause they have (Bill) Belichick and (Tom) Brady.’ You know, you feel that way about Drew Brees, and I always like to include Sean Payton in this because I think that duo itself is by far the most prolific in history. It’s still writing their own record books.”

That’s some seriously high praise, and it’s coming from someone who knows a thing or two about what it takes to win in the NFL. Favre’s comments just speak to the kind of respect Brees and Payton have earned around the league, and what kind of company they’ve joined after sustaining success for so long.

[vertical-gallery id=24977]

Can you guess the NFL’s all-time top 10 for touchdown passes?

If you watched Drew Brees’ record-breaking performance on Monday Night Football – and, realistically, even if you didn’t – you know who the NFL’s top two (well, probably top three) quarterbacks are when it comes to all-time touchdown passes. But can …

If you watched Drew Brees’ record-breaking performance on Monday Night Football — and, realistically, even if you didn’t — you know who the NFL’s top two (well, probably top three) quarterbacks are when it comes to all-time touchdown passes.

But can you correctly name QBs No. 4 through No. 10?

Find out.

(Stats, as of Monday, Dec. 18, 2019, courtesy of Pro Football Reference)

(Photo by Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports)

1. Drew Brees (541)

(Photo by Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports)
Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7, Page 8, Page 9, Page 10

4 game balls from the Saints’ record-setting Monday night beatdown

The New Orleans Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts during Monday Night Football, with Drew Brees breaking a few records along the way.

[jwplayer A1HDGD64-ThvAeFxT]

The New Orleans Saints made easy work of the Indianapolis Colts during their prime-time matchup on Monday Night Football in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. While the 34-7 scoreline was impressive, the records set were even more so. However, the results could not have been accomplished if not for the efforts of some key players.

Here are the game balls we have given to some players for their extraordinary performances in Monday night’s game.

Marshon Lattimore

The Pro Bowler was tasked with shadowing Colts wideout T.Y. Hilton for much of the night. Even with Hilton returning from injury, the wideout has proven he among the best in the game at his position. Lattimore did a phenomenal job at keeping Hilton quiet all evening.

It was not until the second half of the game when Hilton looked as if he was going to be productive. However, Lattimore continued to shut Hilton out of the game, and the wideout finished with only four receptions and 25 yards receiving. In a night where New Orleans’ pass rush was non-existent, Lattimore helped pick up the slack by playing lockdown defense on the edge.

Chauncey Gardner-Johnson

Starting safety Vonn Bell did not see action Monday night due to injury, and rookie standout Gardner-Johnson took his place in the starting lineup. Before leaving the game with a concussion, Gardner-Johnson made his mark on the defense. During a game where, as previously mentioned, the Saints lacked any real pass rush, the rookie safety attacked the Colts backfield.

Gardner-Johnson led New Orleans in tackles on the evening with eight, and was a constant threat to Indianapolis’ rushing attack. Hopefully the rookie’s concussion will heal similarly to tight end Jared Cook’s and fans can see the special talent take the field against the Tennessee Titans in Week 16.

Michael Thomas

Can’t Guard Mike was back at it on Monday night. After another 12 receptions for a 128 yards and a touchdown, how could we not give the man a game ball? His consistent and repeated performances are becoming the status quo, and as such are beginning to fly under the radar.

Thomas is currently chasing Marvin Harrison’s single season reception record of 143, and is currently 11 receptions behind. That is essentially one game for Thomas, and New Orleans could see two huge records fall in back-to-back weeks.

Drew Brees

Easiest decision on this list. Brees led his team to the 34-7 blowout, while throwing for 307 yards and four touchdowns. Lest we forget he also broke the record for most career passing touchdowns by throwing for 541 touchdowns in his illustrious career. He also threw 30 passes, 29 of which were caught for completions, another record set for highest completion percentage in an NFL football game. Who is this guy, and how is he only 40-years old?

[vertical-gallery id=24977]

‘Baldy’s Breakdowns’ highlights all four of Drew Brees’ record-breaking TD’s

NFL analyst Brian Baldinger dug into “Monday Night Football” tape to find how New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees broke Peyton Manning’s record

[jwplayer A1HDGD64-ThvAeFxT]

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees made NFL history on “Monday Night Football,” lobbing four touchdown passes against the Indianapolis Colts defense to win 34-7. That effort put him ahead of both New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and retired passer Peyton Manning, who left the game with an NFL-record 539 career passing touchdowns.

Now, Brees has raised the bar up to 541. And who better to dig into the tape and explain how the Saints did it than NFL analyst Brian Baldinger?

Baldinger featured Brees and his teammates during a “Baldy’s Breakdowns” segment on Twitter, in which he uses game tape from the coach’s angle to highlight big plays and underrated moments.

“The New Orleans Saints passing game is different than almost every other team,” Baldinger said while reviewing Brees’ first touchdown pass. “Now in part because of Drew Brees. It’s a timing and spacing passing game. Maybe I’m thinking too much about this, but watch the spacing of all three receivers as Drew Brees gets ready to throw this ball.”

Baldinger noted how well-rehearsed the Saints’ receiving corps have become, picking out where all three of Brees’ options on his opening touchdown pass were in relation to each other at the time of the throw.

He continued, “Now when he throws this, they all just hit the goal line together. And if you look at Josh Hill, Michael Thomas, and Tre’Quan Smith, they’re exactly equidistant apart. It’s math, right? But lets’s spread the seven defenders out as much as we can, and we’ll open the windows as wide as we can.”

Baldinger then circled back in a second video to review that first score from a different perspective, before stringing together each of the subsequent touchdown passes, including the record-breaker.

[vertical-gallery id=24937]

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.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3

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.”

[vertical-gallery id=629471]

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.

[vertical-gallery id=24630]

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.

[jwplayer fC3ePoXO-ThvAeFxT]

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?

[vertical-gallery id=24630]