After barely having enough time to digest one of the most humbling defeats in New Orleans Saints history, Drew Brees took the field on Sunday night knowing that the outcome of the game could mean the difference between hosting at least one playoff game or playing all of them on the road.
Clearly, the pressure didn’t get to him. Brees completed at least a pass to nine different teammates for over 300 yards and 4 touchdowns in the Saints 31-13 win over the Carolina Panthers.
“We knew the challenge, especially on a short week playing against a great divisional opponent in the Carolina Panthers,” Brees said. “They had won eight in a row, so they were rolling.
“But we wanted to kind of hit our stride and get our swagger back and no better way than to come in the dome and do that. All three phases played exceptionally well tonight. We got a great team win.”
Brees also became only the fifth player in NFL history to pass for over 50,000 yards and the first player in league history to throw at least 30 touchdown passes in six consecutive seasons.
“Love this offense. Love what Sean Payton’s put together,” Brees said. “I love the group of guys that I get a chance to play with.”
With the win, the Saints have put themselves in control of the NFC South and the second seed in the NFC playoffs. The Saints could even lose at Carolina in two weeks and still win the NFC South if they won their other two games (at St. Louis, vs. Tampa Bay).
Next week, the Saints (10-3) will travel to St. Louis to face the Rams and the Panthers (9-4) will return home to host the New York Jets.
NOTES:
- Jimmy Graham caught two touchdown passes to tie Calvin Johnson for the league lead with 12. Graham is on pace to break Rob Gronkowski’s record for most receiving yards in a season by a tight end.
- Marques Colston had a multi-touchdown game for the first time this season. Colston has had at least one multi-touchdown game every single year of his NFL career.
- Junior Galette and Cameron Jordan combined to sack Cam Newton five times for a loss of 49-yards.
- The Panthers lost for the first time since October 6 in Arizona against the Cardinals.
- Because the Eagles won earlier on Sunday, the Saints did not clinch a birth in the NFC playoffs.
- If the season ended today, the Panthers would travel to Detroit to play the Lions in the first round of the playoffs.
- People from the Guinness Book of World Records were at the Superdome as Saint’s fans attempted to break the indoor sound record. ESPN reporter Mike Triplett said on twitter that the fans fell short. However, it was announced in the stadium that the record was broken. No word yet from Guinness.
- In possibly the worst giveaway of the season (or ever), the Saints treated their fans to a plain white towel. The towels, an idea of Saints coach Sean Payton, were placed on each seat in the Superdome over an eight-hour period early Sunday morning. Over 60,000 Saints fans dropped their towel on the ground on the way out of the stadium (not confirmed). No word yet on what the other 10,000 fans plan to do with the blank, white dish towel.
In New Orleans, a plain white towel is waved with pride, it’s a symbol of the city. Maybe the worst giveaway anywhere else, but here in Nola it’s understood and celebrated. Come on down to New Orleans Steve, we’ll show you what I’m talking about!