OT - Drew Brees surpasses Manning for all time TD throws, 541 and counting
Drew Brees came into tonight‘s game with 537 touchdown passes. Tom Brady has 538 touchdown passes. Peyton Manning has 539. Brees has already thrown four touchdowns by the end of the 3rd quarter to surpass Peyton Manning and add an additional one to boot. As if that was not enough, he decided to go ahead and tie the NFL record for completion percentage in a game tonight. He is 28/29 for 309 yards. The NFL quarterback era is at its peak. Brees is achieving every significant passing record. But ole TB12 will always have those rings... ??????
December 16th, 2019 at 10:40 PM ^
*Touchdowns in the regular season
Total TDs goes to the person you're probably expecting
Kinda amazing to have Drew Brees as your QB and get to play the NFC South for more than a third of your season and still only go to one Super Bowl...
December 16th, 2019 at 10:44 PM ^
Not to mention - Brady is eager to catch and surpass him. Brady is 42, Brees is 40. But Brady may not be human, so bet against him at your own risk.
December 16th, 2019 at 10:59 PM ^
The only way this happens if Brady ends up playing a a year or two more than Brees. Brady looks rough this year, I don't think he catches or surpasses him with that offense in NE.
December 17th, 2019 at 7:07 AM ^
I hope Brady doesn’t follow Favre and “retire” to another team. Them bounce to yet another team, all the while trying to set personal records.
December 17th, 2019 at 9:40 AM ^
Favre had a great season with the Vikings, though, and almost got to a Super Bowl with them . I don't blame him trying to get away from that idiot hillbilly Packers fanbase
December 17th, 2019 at 12:47 PM ^
Favre never made a Super Bowl with the Vikings. I think he made it to the NFC Championship game and lost to New Orleans in OT.
December 16th, 2019 at 11:45 PM ^
The NFC South has historically been much stronger than the AFC East.
December 17th, 2019 at 8:51 AM ^
Yeah I thought that take was interesting as well. The Dolphins, Jets, and Bills have all been rather abysmal for Brady's entire career. None of those teams have sniffed the Super Bowl since Brady started. Carolina and Atlanta have both been to the Super Bowl and have generally been playoff contenders for Brees's whole career.
December 17th, 2019 at 9:47 AM ^
The Patriots are 17-5 against the NFC South during the Brady era and beat the Panthers and Falcons in the Super Bowl. The only division that has given the Pats any trouble is the AFC West and they still have a winning percentage of .660 against that division.
AFC South - 41-11 .788
NFC South - 17-5 .773
AFC East - 90-30 .750
NFC East - 18-6 .750
NFC West - 15-5 .750
AFC North - 34-12 .739
NFC North - 17-6 .739
AFC West - 33-17 .660
December 17th, 2019 at 11:58 AM ^
The Patriots having about the same winning percentage against a division as they do every other division does not mean the NFC South hasnt mostly been a better division over that span than the AFC East.
December 17th, 2019 at 11:51 AM ^
There's no asterisk on the record. The record is the record.
We don't have to take away from Brees just because Brady went to UM.
The NFC South has had a couple of 13-3 Atlanta, 12-4 Carolina, and a 15-1 Carolina team in it to have to compete with, instead of the Jets and Dolphins.
December 17th, 2019 at 12:46 PM ^
Brees and the offense has never been the problem in New Orleans. There was a period for a few years, between BountyGate and probably 2017ish, when their defense was atrocious and they had to try outscoring everyone to win. As good as Brees is, you can't always count on him to put up 35-40 points every Sunday. And when he can't, you need a defense that isn't a complete sieve.
The NFC South is also usually pretty competitive. The Panthers and Falcons each had a few years in the last decade or so when they rose up, put great teams on the field and made it to Super Bowls. Even the Bucs throw in a few winning seasons here and there. I'd say its one of the more competitive divisions in the league.
I think part of the reason you can attribute Brady having as many postseason TDs as he has is because he gets so many chances to get there. He plays in a division that minus a year or two with Rex Ryan in NY, and then this year with Buffalo, no one has ever been able to challenge him. The Bills, Dolphins and Jets are usually annual pushovers, and my guess is that you swap the Saints and Pats for their respective divisions, Brees probably has at least one more ring, while Brady probably has one or two less. Brady is great in his own right, but he oftentimes gets the path of least resistance to the playoffs.
December 16th, 2019 at 10:40 PM ^
He came in to throw one more completion, 29/30 - now the solo record holder for the highest completion percentage in a game as well. His all-time completion percentage? 67.5% - highest in NFL history.
December 17th, 2019 at 10:30 AM ^
Still remember his game against Drew Henson. They mapped out the throws on the field and they both threw all over and both had amazing games. I think Henson still came out with the W.
Of Brady, Henson, and Brees, I thought Brady would be solid career guy as career back up with a couple decent seasons where he managed an offense. Brees would not last long due to size and scrambling. And Henson would be elite.
woof on those predictions.
December 17th, 2019 at 11:51 AM ^
I was at the Purdue/Michigan game in 2000 at Purdue. Henson vs Brees. Purdue won 32-31. Great game - bad result.
December 16th, 2019 at 10:43 PM ^
Not sure what the NFL H2H record is between Brady and Brees, but TB was 1-0 in college.
https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/03/sports/college-football-michigan-grounds-purdue-air-attack.html
December 16th, 2019 at 10:46 PM ^
I remember that one well - attended as a freshman at Michigan!
December 16th, 2019 at 10:52 PM ^
I had to listen to the game on the radio and Gerald Ford was on ESPN radio that morning. The hosts was asking him his thoughts on the game and he immediately brought up the point spread, and of course said we would win. But having a former POTUS, who was up there in age, accurately reference the betting line was pure gold!
December 16th, 2019 at 10:55 PM ^
That’s cash money ?
Ford kept bringing it - a true Michigan man
December 16th, 2019 at 11:00 PM ^
Per my research: it's Brees 3, Brady 2. (Brees was 2-0 in San Diego and 1-2 with the Saints). All regular-season games.
Brees with the wins in 2002, 2005, 2009. Brady with the wins in 2013 and 2017.
December 17th, 2019 at 10:52 AM ^
That's one of those head-scratching stats, like Wayne Fontes having a lifetime winning record over both Jimmy Johnson and the Cowboys.
December 17th, 2019 at 11:53 AM ^
How is that head-scratching? Brees is an all-timer who has QB'd really good teams for the majority of his career. Thats not a good analogy.
December 17th, 2019 at 8:12 AM ^
Brees' visit to the Big House when I was a student ('99) was extremely unpleasant. I HATED that guy, in a "I really wish we weren't playing against him" sort of grudging respect.
It's rare that you can go from not knowing a guy even existed to saying "(barring injury) he's going to have a long career in the NFL" with absolute certainty, but Brees was one of 'em. Looking at the box score you'd think Michigan got the best of him and yeah they did (38-12 ain't exactly a collar-tugger), but watching it live was a different story. He was staring at a horde of blue-clad berserkers all day. Michigan's front 7 shredded Purdue's O-line like they were barely there yet we just could not get that guy on the ground. Down after down, all game, a giant angry paw would be Drew Brees' face, only for him to flick a pass with surgical precision (not all were caught thank FSM). He had the kind of day where an average college QB would get an effin' passing Rutger but instead he kept it competitive for well over a half. He clearly had NFL QB chops even back then. I mean, he goes to the NFL and basically does the exact same thing because yeah, nothing is stopping a guy that can do that.
Michigan pulled away late but gottdamn he made us sweat because even when it was 21-6 he gave you that vibe that he could take over the game the second Michigan's defense let up. Like with Tom Brady, I wasn't going to predict he was a HoFer back then, but I wasn't in the least bit surprised that Tom Brady and Drew Brees became longtime NFL starters.
December 16th, 2019 at 11:06 PM ^
Drew Brees holding a GOAT sign makes me want to puke. He is great, but there is only one GOAT.
Brees has the advantage of playing most of his career indoors. His stats outdoors are nowhere near what Tom Brady's outdoor stats are.
If Brady had played indoors, he would already have over 600 TDs.
If Brady leaves NE after this year, lets hope he chooses an indoor team where he can pad his stats like Brees, Manning and Statsford have.
December 16th, 2019 at 11:11 PM ^
Brees also had to play on a lot worse teams. He may have a lot more Super Bowls if his defense hadn’t been consistently shit.
Also Johnny Unitas is the greatest of all time. Literally changed the game of football, everyone is just an iteration of him.
December 17th, 2019 at 12:37 AM ^
Brees had WAAAAY better WRs and TEs and RBs around him than Brady has in NE.
December 17th, 2019 at 8:35 AM ^
Brees had Tomlinson in his prime and look at the skill position players he's had in New Orleans. So offensively, he's had far better weapons over his career. Two years of throwing to Randy Moss doesn't change that.
December 16th, 2019 at 11:08 PM ^
Weird that Brady’s argument for best ever always comes down to a team accomplishment rather than based on his own stats. Brady is a top 5 qb playing with a top 5 coach. Brees or Manning would have just as many rings in the same situation
December 16th, 2019 at 11:43 PM ^
Tony Dungy and Sean Payton aren't exactly chopped liver.
December 16th, 2019 at 11:53 PM ^
Manning turned the ball over more than Brady. Brady has more attempts but 70-80 fewer ints. Same story in the playoffs, Manning and Brady both have 11 fumbles but Brady has more games and a lower int% and higher td%. In the NFL turnovers are killer.
Brees is the better argument but you have other variables: dome and supporting cast.
I would argue that Brady is the perfect QB for the Patriots system and you can’t just plug in a different QB and get the same result.
December 16th, 2019 at 11:56 PM ^
You aren’t actually serious, are you? Brady’s stats cover individual success as well as team performance.
I get it, you don’t think Brady is the best. There’s an argument to be made for that. The inverse is also true. But to say Brady’s argument “always comes down to a team accomplishment” is just factually incorrect.
December 17th, 2019 at 7:40 AM ^
This is the correct take. It's arguable. This is basically the QB rehash of the "Barry is GOAT RB" back-and-forth from yesterday.
December 17th, 2019 at 10:01 AM ^
But it does because Brady doesn't lead in any individual stat categories. His trump card is always the number of super bowls. Yes part of their success in super bowls is that he was smart with the ball but part of the reason he got to be smart with the ball is he could trust his defense unlike Manning or Brees. The Ravens won super bowls with Trent Dilfer and Joe Flacco in the same way Brady won his first three championships. Its part of the argument but its hard for me to say Brady is the GOAT when he doesn't actually lead any individual stats and his trump card is always the accomplishment of the team.
December 17th, 2019 at 8:19 PM ^
Joe Montana never led in statistical categories, yet was considered GOAT before Brady b/c of his Super Bowls. and he had a GREAT supporting cast. Statistically, Brady far exceeds Montana, as well as having more rings.
I get it - your standard is best passing stats. That's not the case for most folks. This is also why most people don't consider Emmitt Smith the GOAT RB despite his records for rushing yards and TDs, as well as whatever other records he has.
December 16th, 2019 at 11:14 PM ^
Brady will never pass Brees. Brees has too good of a supporting cast on offense at this point in their careers.
I honestly wonder if Brees gets to 100k passing yards when it’s all over. That would be about 5-6 typical seasons tops.
December 17th, 2019 at 8:38 AM ^
Does Brees throw the ball more than 15 yards downfield anymore? I don't think his arm has more than maybe two more years left.
December 17th, 2019 at 11:08 AM ^
I don't see him (or Tom Brady, unfortunately) lasting much longer. At some point both of those guys are going to fall off a cliff like Peyton Manning did. It's just a question of when. Even Tom Brady isn't likely to be playing at this level past 45.
Although at this point it wouldn't surprise me if the Pats won a Super Bowl even with an obviously fading Tom Brady, like Manning did his last season in Denver.
December 16th, 2019 at 11:43 PM ^
It's about time he stopped riding Lebron's dick to championships.
December 17th, 2019 at 12:09 AM ^
Bagmen. He was paid to play in college. NOT FAIR.
December 17th, 2019 at 10:09 AM ^
Good for Brees. I hope he and TB12 surpass all of Manning's records, except of course for number of trainers tea-bagged.
December 17th, 2019 at 11:59 AM ^
The amount of TB12 jock-holding here is amusing.
Congrats to Drew Brees on a well-earned record, it'll be fun seeing him and Brady both blow past the record and battle each other for it.
December 17th, 2019 at 12:32 PM ^
If only Brees had been medically cleared to play for the Dolphins. Saban probably stays there 3-5 years and doesn’t take the Bama job. Would change the whole landscape of college football.
December 17th, 2019 at 4:32 PM ^
We’re doing the McGuire and Sosa thing again...