History Redux
The first 11-0 start for the Saints. The first NFC team to start 11-0. The first time in NFL history that two teams start 11-0. And it came against the team that made the media question the Saints credibility. All week long the bandwagon announcers have been hedging their bets. After all, it’s the New England Patriots, right? It’s Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, right? The 7-3 Pats would surely be the team to defeat those lucky 10-0 Saints, right?
Wrong.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported this week that Drew Brees does not consider himself in the same league as Tom Brady but after Monday’s 38-17 ass-handing that is a fact that you can make book on. Of course Brees was being humble but I think it’s time for the media to start recognizing that there’s more to the NFL than Tom Brady, Brett Favre and the Manning boys. Last night’s game was so out of control that Head Coach Bill Belichick yanked Brady out in the middle of the fourth quarter. That in itself speaks volumes almost as loudly as the Superdome crowd who, during the first quarter, all but drowned out the commentary by the announcers.
While Brees is still slowly chipping away at Aaron Brooks yardage, attempts and completion records he has caught and tied Archie Manning for second place in all-time touchdowns with 115. Six more TD’s and Brees will take first place away from Brooks. Brees threw for 371 yards on only eighteen completions giving him a 20.62 y/c average. That’s massive. Drew had only 5 incompletions and no interceptions and brought his first place 300-yard passing game record up to 29, six of those from this season.
Brees also tied Mike Buck for first place in Passer Rating for a Single Game at 158.3. I can pretty much guarantee that he’ll never beat that score because it’s the highest rating possible under current NFL calculations. A perfect rating has been achieved only 57 times in the NFL by just 35 players. Brees adds his name to a list that includes Sammy Baugh, YA Tittle, Sonny Jurgensen, Joe Namath, Johnny Unitas, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana, Steve Young, Kurt Warner, Ben Roethlisberger, Tom Brady and Peyton and Eli Manning among others.
But Drew wasn’t the only player making moves in the history books. Marques Colston caught four passes for 121 yards and a TD. Colston’s receiving yards are now at 3,808 moving him into 5th all-time past Quinn Early. 41 more yards and he’ll move into 3rd place past Hoby Brenner. He also needs just five more receptions to take Brenner’s sixth place spot in that category.
Defensively, Grampaw Darren Sharper moved up in two categories. Sharper intercepted Pat’s QB Cindy Brady in the fourth quarter for a 38 yard return. This un-breaks his tie with Tommy Myers for sole possession of 3rd place all-time with eight career interceptions and puts him just two picks shy of Dave Waymer’s second place spot. The 38 yard return moved him into fourth place in return yards past Gene Atkins. Sharper needs 41 more return yards to take third place from Waymer. Just three more return yards and Sharper will pass Baltimore’s Ed Reed for the NFL record of return yards/season.
I also found some new records for Sharper as well: In the Most Interception Yards Returned per Game category, with 97 yards in Wk 02, Sharper picked up the 4th place spot previously held by Bo Burris. (Dating back to 1968!) In Wk 04 Sharper had 99 yards on two returns giving him a second place tie with Gene Atkins.
While not nearing any records, props must be given to CB Mike McKenzie who was cut by the Saints earlier this year after two injury plagued years. (Torn ACL in 2007, fractured kneecap in 2008.) McKenzie was re-signed just seven days ago on November 23 which, one might think, wouldn’t give him much time to get in step with the new defensive schemes. Well, McKenzie was so in step with the new D that he made three tackles, an interception and three pass deflections including a key play late in the third quarter stopping New England cold on the Saints 10-yard line on a 4th and 4.
The Saints defense did not allow a touchdown pass from Brady, a rare feat indeed, even though the Jets kept Brady scoreless in week two of this season. They also stopped his 300-yard game streak at five allowing only 237 passing yards. The D did allow 122 rushing yards but it took six players to reach that mark. Laurence Maroney was the Pat’s leading rusher with 64 yards.
The offense tore a nice chunk of points off their run for a new first place record bringing their total to 410 points on the season, just 54 shy of breaking last years 463 point team high. So far the Saints have scored 1.2 points for every two minutes of football played. At that rate they could break their season-high point total by 130 points.
Up next: The Saints visit the 3-8 Washington Redskins who lead the series 15-7. Kickoff is at Noon, N’awlins time and the game will be broadcast on FOX8. Get ready, because history will be made, yet again.
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“Ass-Handing”, indeed.
That’s putting it generously.
The Patriots were crushed and dominated beyond all measure.
NOTE: We don’t fucking care how y’all do it up North.
WHO DAT!
One more little historical tidbit: Drew Brees is the first player to throw 5 TD’s against a Bill Belichick coached team. The sign I saw on FOX8′s pre-game special was accurate indeed: Beli-check yourself before you wreck yourself.
Genius!
I was curious about how many games have been played in the NFL since its inception. So I Googled. And as usual, I had to do the freaking work myself. By concatenating the season by season records listed on Google I came up with the following numbers:
Since the formation of the American Professional Football Association (which became the NFL after just two years) in 1920 there have been 13,692 football games played by NFL teams, not counting pre-season or exhibitions. 131 APFA games (1920-1921), 12,484 regular season NFL games (1922-present), 602 regular season AFL games (1960-69), 40 American Bowl pre-season games, 112 wild card games, 249 NFL playoffs, 3 AFL playoffs, 38 NFL championships, 10 AFL championships, 43 Superbowls, 5 all-star games, 59 Pro Bowls and 47 Hall of Fame games through 90 seasons of professional football. By the end of Superbowl 44 in 2010 the number will be 13,784.
I don’t have a reliable source for exhibition/pre-season games at hand, but I’ll add them when I can. FYI, there have been 19 tie games in the APFA, 249 ties in the NFL and 24 ties in the AFL for a grand total of 292 tie games in NFL/AFL history.
And since it’s all about history, next Monday’s contest between the Baltimore Ravens and Green Bay Packers will be the 12,500th regular season NFL game ever played. Unless you add in the 602 AFL regular season games, in which case it’s the 13,102d. Either way, it’s impressive!
Good thing he uses his powers for Good, instead of E-Vil.
As far as we know, anyway.
i really don’t have anything to add here (imagine that)
but i just wanted to say that you are awesome M.S.
keep posting stats. good stuff.
I so want Brees to pass up Brooks in the record books. I wouldn’t cross the street to see Brooks play, but Brees is worth every $8 cup of luke warm watered-down poor excuse for beer they sell at the Dome.
Peace,
Tim
ZOMG!!!! :) 12-0!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHO DAT!??!??! :) Lurves me some Saints! Possible heart-breaker ends up just a fantastic heart-stopper w/the right ending! Huzzah!!!!
And this week I head to New Orleans! :)
Great gravy, it’s getting harder and harder keeping up with the SAINTS! But I shall try…
Do I need to state the obvious? First time the Saints or any NFC has started 12-0. First time in the history of the NFL that two teams have started 12-0. It just gets better and better.
Despite a questionable performance, records have fallen. Drew Brees has pulled into sole possession of 2nd in career touchdowns with 117, passing Archie’s 115 and just four away from breaking Aaron Brooks’ record of 120. With his one interception Brees takes sole possession of 5th place and is 6 INT’s away from Billy Kilmer in 4th.
Marques Colston moved into 4th place in career receiving yards with 3,854. He’s now 1,021 yards away from Danny Abramowicz’s 3rd place mark of 4,875. With 265 career receptions Colston is just 3 away from Hoby Brenner’s 6th place spot. Reggie Bush caught 4 passes leaving him just 4 receptions away from Dalton Hilliard’s 8th place career reception spot.
Now let’s talk points. Specifically the fact that the Saints have scored at least 24 points per game in their last 16 games. Not only is that the NFL’s longest current streak for that stat, it’s the only time any team has accomplished it! The Saints are now just 21 points away from breaking last years season point total of 463, which is the most points the Saints have ever scored in a season.
Do NOT miss next weeks game against the Falcons because even more records will be falling. The Falcons, our longest rival at 80 games, lead the series 44-36.