I could hear the collective groan in the WGNO TV newsroom.
In the first half, a Drew Brees pass was intercepted and returned to the Saints one-yard line.
“I am not sure he (Brees) has it anymore,” said one colleague.
“He should retire,” said another.
Really?
Hogwash.
As September turned to October, Drew Brees was playing some of his best football.
In the last three games before the bye, Brees had completed 81 of 108 passes for 859 yards.
That’s a 75 percent completion percentage. Not bad for a quarterback, who for the first month and change of the season was missing the best wide receiver in the NFL.
Remember, Michael Thomas?
Yes, him. Injury and a scuffle with a teammate cost him four games. And, in the season opener against Tampa Bay, Thomas was a non-factor with three catches. That was before he went to the sideline with a high ankle sprain.
Drew Brees washed up?
The idea is almost laughable. In the last four Saints possessions against the Chargers, Brees produced two touchdown drives and the game winning field goal drive in overtime.
The game winning drive that Brees engineered was, according to Pro Football Reference his 7th game winning drive since the start of the 2018 season.
Brees has more game winning drives in his career than John Elway or Joe Montana or Brett Favre.
In the second half against the Los Angeles Chargers, Brees was 21 of 25, passing for 232 yards.
Good luck on trying to replace that kind of production. Yet, some Saints fans seem to long for the day.
Watch what you ask for.
A quick jog of the standings tells you the importance of the quarterback in the NFL.
Tampa Bay was, after five weeks, tied for the lead in the NFC South. Thanks, Tom Brady.
The Seahawks, with the MVP leader in the clubhouse, quarterback Russell Wilson, had won their first five games.
On a Monday night against the Vikings, Wilson led yet another game winning drive.
That’s what the greats do.
The Chiefs are Super Bowl champs. The Baltimore Ravens and the Green Bay Packers are serious contenders.
They have fine teams, led by superb signal callers.
And, so the do the Saints.
If New Orleans is going to contend for a title, their quarterback will have to have more second halves like he did against the Chargers. And, he is certainly capable.
Earlier this season, some scoffed as Drew Brees told reporters how terrific he felt.
“I feel borderline great,” said Brees.
And, he’s playing like it.
As the Saints headed to the bye week, time off was the only thing that would cool off their red hot 41-year-old quarterback.