Drew Brees will turn 39 years old next week, but you certainly wouldn’t have known it watching the first half of Sunday’s Saints-Panthers NFC playoff contest.
Over the game’s first two quarters, Brees completed 13 of 18 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns, for a 151.4 passer rating that is just short of perfect. He had nearly as many passing yards in the first half as Jaguars and Bills’ quarterbacks had combined in their entire game (235) earlier in the day.
Brees’ first big strike Sunday came late in the first quarter, when he found Ted Ginn on a deep ball, springing Ginn for an 80-yard touchdown that gave New Orleans a 7-0 lead.
Ted Ginn: Still fast.
80-yard touchdown gives the Saints a 7-0 lead over the Panthers.pic.twitter.com/XoTuRQzUyB
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) January 7, 2018
Later, he hit tight end Josh Hill for his (and his team’s) second touchdown of the day.
TE TD!#SaintsGameday | #CARvsNO https://t.co/6OGUD5qNtC
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) January 7, 2018
And minutes later he found Michael Thomas to set up the Saints’ third score.
You know what they say…you @cantguardmike! #SaintsGameday | #CARvsNO https://t.co/g5zPYGC7V8
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) January 7, 2018
Thanks to Brees’ artistry (and the Panthers’ inability to convert long drives into touchdowns) the Saints lead the Panthers 21-9 at halftime.
Lost slightly amid big seasons from Tom Brady, Carson Wentz and Russell Wilson was the fact Brees put together one of his best ever campaigns in 2017. With help from a prolific rushing attack that kept Saints opponents honest, the future Hall of Famer led the NFL in completions (386) and yards/attempt (8.1), while setting an NFL single-season record for completion percentage (72 percent). That performance earned him a Pro Bowl nod, and if Sunday’s first half is an indication, it could earn him a long stay in the postseason.
