Saints' Drew Brees breaks Peyton Manning's mark for most career TD passes
New Orleans QB already owns completions, passing yards records
Drew Brees became the NFL's all-time leader in touchdown passes, throwing for four scores to lead the New Orleans Saints to a 34-7 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Monday night.
"It was special, everything about the night," Brees said. "It just kind of makes your whole life and career flash before your eyes, because I never thought I'd have a chance to be part of something like this."
The 40-year-old Brees came into the game already holding NFL records for completions with 6,792 and yards passing with 72,577 — and built on those numbers by also setting a record for completion percentage in a game. He completed 29 of 30 passes — 96.7 against Arizona last season.
"He had a hot hand, obviously," Payton said. "Guys were making plays, but that's awfully difficult to do."
5️⃣4️⃣0️⃣<a href="https://twitter.com/drewbrees?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@drewbrees</a> is the all-time leader in passing touchdowns! 👏 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Saints?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Saints</a><br> <br>📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvsNO?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvsNO</a> on ESPN<br>📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app<br>Watch free on mobile: <a href="https://t.co/sWmUbeqQpz">https://t.co/sWmUbeqQpz</a> <a href="https://t.co/U04iyNHtRx">pic.twitter.com/U04iyNHtRx</a>
—@NFLThe victory kept the Saints (11-3), who'd already won the NFC South, in the running with San Francisco (11-3) and Green Bay (11-3) for one of the top two seeds in the NFC playoffs. The Colts (6-8) were eliminated from playoff contention after losing their fourth straight and sixth out of seven.
"There's a lot at stake right now relative to these games when you look at the top of the NFC," Payton said. "It's about winning and winning and winning and trying to give yourself the best chance in the post-season."
Jacoby Brissett struggled at times with accuracy and finished 18 of 34 for 165 yards against a Saints defence looking for redemption after allowing 48 points in a loss to the 49ers a week earlier.
Meanwhile, Colts defenders had no answer for Michael Thomas, who caught 12 passes for 128 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown. Thomas' eighth game this season with at least 10 catches give him 133 for the season, which is also the fourth-highest single-season total in NFL history.
Congrats drew!! Couldn’t be more deserving. Passing Peyton in anything is an incredible achievement and your records will be tough to beat! But it’s worth trying 😉
—@TomBradyWith four more catches, Thomas will pass Antonio Brown and Julio Jones for second most in a season and needs 11 to eclipse Marvin Harrison's record of 143 from 2002.
Tre'Quan Smith caught a 21-yard touchdown pass for New Orleans.
Jordan Wilkins scored the Colts' lone TD on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter.