WhoDat!656

NOTES, QUOTES

--After fielding the worst defense statistically in NFL history in 2012, the Saints have turned things around in a big way in ranking fifth in fewest yards and points allowed going into Week 13.

While those are two important statistics, the Saints are tied for first in another key area -- sacks -- going into Monday night's big showdown with the Seattle Seahawks.

The Saints already have 37 sacks, seven more than they had when they tied for 25th a year ago, and are averaging 3.4 sacks per game. Defensive end Cameron Jordan, a third-year pro, has a career-high 9.5 sacks, while outside linebacker Junior Galette has recorded six.

Going into this week's play, the Saints are tied with Baltimore, Green Bay, Kansas City and Buffalo for the league lead.

--Despite losing their first game in November to the New York Jets, 26-20, the Saints rebounded nicely by winning their final three games in the month.

They beat the Dallas Cowboys (49-17), San Francisco 49ers (23-20) and Atlanta Falcons (17-13) in a span of 12 days to finish the month with a 3-1 record.

That stretch continued some solid play for the Saints in the month as they've won 19 of their past 23 November games dating back to 2008. They won 14 consecutive November games from 2009 to 2012 -- losing their last two last season before winning three of four this year.

--Since the arrival of Sean Payton and Drew Brees in 2006, the Saints have had great success in prime-time games -- particularly on ESPN's Monday Night Football.

Counting a 38-17 blowout of the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 30, the Saints have won nine in a row on Monday night and are 11-2 since Payton took over.

The Saints, who play the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night, are 17-17 all-time on Monday Night Football and are 20-8 in all prime-time games in the Payton-Brees era.

--When Brees fired a 3-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Josh Hill in a Nov. 17 game with the 49ers, he added another name to a long list of teammates he's thrown scoring passes to.

Brees now has 272 touchdown passes with the Saints, which have been distributed to 30 players. Counting his first five seasons with the San Diego Chargers, Brees has thrown at least one touchdown to 45 different players.

--In their most recent game with the Falcons, the Saints had no giveaways in a 17-13 win.

They're 3-0 this season and 25-1 since Payton took over in 2006 when they don't turn the ball over. Throw in a pair of error-free playoff games and the Saints are 27-1 with no giveaways since the start of the 2006 season.

BY THE NUMBERS: 9 -- Consecutive wins for the Saints on ESPN's Monday Night Football going into this week's showdown with the Seattle Seahawks. The Saints' last Monday night loss came on Oct. 6, 2008 when they dropped a 30-27 decision to the Minnesota Vikings.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We seem like we're in a great spot right now. Our offense can really do it all: go out there, run the ball, execute, pick up first downs on the ground and also in the air. We just feel like we are in a great position now and just (need to) stay focused." -- Saints RB Pierre Thomas, on his team's improving running game.

Y! SPORTS

"A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."

foreverfan

Its going to be a cold night in Seattle for Seattle fans.

hagan714

i have a saints fan that just moved in next door. finally some one to yell with.

Rugby Saint II

Sweet! I know the feeling of representing in enemy territory.