If it turns out that Drew Brees only holds the NFL single-season yardage record for one week, it won’t matter to the who-dat nation. Monday night he gave them another in a series of thrills as he led a thrashing of the Atlanta Falcons 45-16. Usually a blow-out like this will result in early exits, but in the midst of the growing euphoria not a creature was stirring in that direction as Brees closed in on Marino’s record.
I’ve been lucky enough to attend a lot of great events at the Superdome. That first Monday night game where Steve Gleason blocked the punt. Michael Jordan’s Final Four. The NFC Championship over the Vikings. About 15 Sugar Bowls (before the BCS Bullshit began) including Michael Vick running all over the carpet against Florida State, Tennessee’s upset of the Miami Hurricanes, and Dan Marino, Tony Dorsett, Herschel Walker, and several National Championship games. Pete Maravich and the New Orleans Jazz. Ali-Spinks in 1978. Two Super Bowls, both involving the New England Patriots, one starring Brett Favre, and one Tom Brady. The Saints first playoff victory over the Rams, and too many Saints games to count.
What made this one just as special? It was a culmination of sorts. The game it came closest to for me was the Cal Ripken record breaker, which I was lucky enought to attend. It wasn’t so much about winning and losing – that was decided early. It was a new pinnacle. It was Drew Brees saying thank you to a special sports nation and the nation thanking him right back. The magical hold he has on this fan base is earned. It’s earned in his hard work, his amazing preparation and his strict discipline. It’s in his community service and his accessible personality. He’s made all the right moves, living in uptown instead of Ormond or Mandeville and participating in the uniquely orleanian rituals from Mardi Gras to restaurant exploration. Drew Brees has done more than help win a Super Bowl. He’s become a part of the fabric of a region the way only a few stars do. Willie Mays, Stan Musial, Roberto Clemente, Walter Payton, Roger Staubach, Joe Montana. Icons. It’s when the stars align – the stars of talent, preparation, and execution and a man becomes iconic for a whole community. It’s been an amazing journey that every Saints fan should feel lucky to have participated in. That we would expect nothing less than the locker room speech that followed the game, captured by ESPN, is just another example of his class and commitment to victory in it's many forms.
Practically it was a climax of offensive excellence. Mickey Loomis is the provider, Sean Payton is the mastermind and Drew Brees is the executioner behind a perfect storm of an offense. It is an incredible collection of talent that Brees utilizes to this amazing point – we the nation, and Brees the quarterback, truly believe that every drive will result in a touchdown. We are drinking this in. We are the beneficiaries, the spoiled nation. But mostly, we are surprised – shocked when a defense slows the Saints offense down. Punting? An aberration.
Unfortunately there are minor technicalities ahead in the last week of the NFL season. Brees has broken the record, but not SET it. The setting will only occur at the end of play Sunday. Tom Brady is nipping at the heels of Marino and Brees, only 190 yards back. Brees and Brady both have baggage here. While they have playoff seeding to play for, they also have bad Game 16 injury-memories that they share with their coaches. Wes Welker, Jimmy Graham, Pierre Thomas, Malcolm Jenkins all went down in less than urgent games.
So this soap opera of record-making will unfold Sunday with team-by-team subplots.
The playoffs are looming. The remote chance of a first-round bye should be enough to send the Saints into a full battle mode this coming weekend. The opportunity the Patriots have to secure the first seed will certainly send them. The rapidly improving Panthers and probable rookie of the year Cam Newton will be another test for the also improved Saints defense. The defense, while still not getting the Sharperesque turnovers is bending a lot, but breaking a little. They are definitely playing well enough to support the offense deep into the playoffs, and the Saints have a chance to equal the 13-3 record of their Super Bowl run.
I have to tell you I don’t look forward to a third meeting with the Falcons. If the playoffs don’t motivate them, they can watch film of the record breaking to get them stoked up. Even worse, the Lions are just plain scary. In fact, here’s my personal fear meter in the trek to the Super Bowl:
1. Detroit
2. Green Bay
3. Atlanta
4. San Francisco
A very good Saints team will be looking to elevate to greatness for a month and as usual it will largely rest on the shoulders of their iconic #9.
January football – gotta love it. Here we go.
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