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Words fail to describe how masterful Drew Brees' performance against the Patriots was on Monday night.
But numbers do.
The folks at Cold, Hard Football Facts have crunched the numbers and produced an argument that Brees' five-touchdown manifesto was "the greatest regular-season passing performance in modern NFL history."
And researchers at ProFootballReference.com support the contention.
(Warning: These sites aren't recommended for the "math challenged.")
Yes, statistics can be twisted. And yes, numbers can lie. But it's hard to argue with a couple unearthed by the Cold Hard Football Facts crew:
First, they saliently note that Brees' "perfect game" was the most impressive of the 22 perfect passer efficiency ratings recorded by NFL quarterbacks since 1960. Taking into consideration the opponent, the stage and the stakes, they argue successfully it's the best of the best passing performances in league history.

"And," the blog noted, "perhaps nobody had produced a 'perfect' effort in a game in which he needed to play near flawlessly to prove that he deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as the greats of the game."
That's a great point.
Brees needed to rise to the occasion and did, in magnificent fashion.
Another staggering number: Brees' average of 16.1 yards gained per pass attempt. Brees is only the fifth player since 1960 to average more than 16 yards per pass attempt in a game (min. 20 attempts).

Here's the entire list, in chronological order:
--Sonny Jurgensen, Eagles vs. Cowboys (Nov. 25, 1962): 13 of 21 (61.9 percent), 342 yards, 16.3 YPA, 1 TD, 2 INT, 82.0 passer rating.
--Johnny Unitas, Colts vs. Falcons (Nov. 12, 1967): 17 of 20 (85.0 pct), 370 yards, 18.5 YPA, 4 TD 0 INT, 158.3 passer rating.
--Joe Namath, Jets vs. Colts (Sept. 24, 1972)
15 of 28 (53.6 pct), 496 yards, 17.7 YPA, 6 TD, 1 INT, 123.5 passer rating.
--Charley Johnson, Broncos vs. Chiefs (Sept. 21, 1975): 12 of 20 (60.0 pct), 329 yards, 16.5 YPA, 3 TD, 2 INT, 104.2 passer rating.
--Drew Brees, Saints vs. Patriots (Nov. 30, 2009): 18 of 23 (78.3 pct), 371 yards, 16.1 YPA, 5 TD, 0 INT 158.3 passer rating.
That makes Brees the first NFL player in 34 years to average more than 16 yards per attempt and, as noted, three of the four quarterbacks who did it before him are in the Hall of Fame.
In other words, Brees' performance Monday night was nonpareil, as good as quarterbacking gets. I'm not sure everyone who saw it truly appreciates how good it was.

LINKBACK

Rugby Saint II

Perfect, just perfect....The best game of all time.

neugey

I'm suprised Dan Marino isn't on that list. Or Kurt Warner during the Rams heyday.

Speaks volumes about Brees and the big play ability of our receivers. What a clinic!

G504

Can't speak for Marino, but I remember Warner & the Rams throwing a ton of screens & short passes & their receivers (unlike ours) would go down immediately to avoid a hit. So while he had a ton of 16+ passes, I'm not surprised he had more under 16 yards.
But anyway, yeah Brees is the best in the game right now.

FireVenturi

Cant get any better than perfect right?

SaintPez

Holy crap! those old QBs Sonny and Johnny U rated like that in those days? Give up the props to them. In doing so, we give up the props to our Drew!

WHODATNJ

Simply Amazing

SmashMouth

We are truly blessed to have him as a QB and to be able to watch him play. I remember the days of Joe Montana, even though it was tough in that he always found a way to beat us, you had to respect and admire his play. Brees and P. Manning are at the top of the QB mountain right now!

Boutte

Brees reminds me so much of Joe Montana. Imagine Rice in this offense.

RockyMountainSaint

What is really telling is after the game when Susie Kolber asked Drew how it felt to play a perfect game he said. It was far from perfect.

Wonder if he has A.D.D.?

Total "Super Freak!