WEEK 15 REVIEW

Drew Brees owns another NFL passing record after catching and then moving past Peyton Manning on the leader-board for career passing touchdowns. Starting the night tied with Tom Brady at 538 passing touchdowns, just one touchdown behind Manning, Brees ends the evening throwing four touchdowns and setting the new bar at 541 touchdowns. With two regular season games left for both Brady and Brees and both teams headed for the playoffs, it will be fun watching two of the greatest battle it out.

When Peyton Manning retired he sat firmly on top of the leader-boards for career passing touchdowns and career passing yards. He has many more accolades but those are big. Manning ended his amazing career with 539 passing touchdowns and he threw for 71,940 yards. Peyton currently sits at number 3 for passing yards behind Brees and Brady and will be moved into third position this season if Brady throws two more touchdowns in his final two games of the season which seems plausible.

During the pregame, there was an excitement in the air knowing Brees could possibly tie Peyton Manning’s record and perhaps become the NFL’s new passing touchdown leader during a home game in front of his loyal fans and family on Monday Night Football. Like a surgeon, Brees moved his team down the field when he connected with Tre’Quan Smith with 6:11 left in the second quarter, tying Manning for the most in league history at 539. Brees also passed Tom Brady with that pass. With just seconds left in the second quarter, Brees had marched his Saints down the field and into scoring position. Brees connects for a second touchdown with Tre’Quan Smith in the back of the endzone and everyone starts cheering and slapping hands but there was a flag. Turns out Smith was called for offensive interference and the points came off the board and with just 2 seconds left before the half, the Saints kicked the field goal and went into the locker room leading shutting out the Colts.

The halftime seemed like it was taking forever and we as fans were ready for some football. Soon enough, Drew was back on the field and moving his team with precision and accuracy. The record-breaking 540th touchdown pass came with 7:08 left in the third quarter when Brees hit tight end Josh Hill all alone in the end zone for a 5-yard score. Brees got the ball, took off his helmet, pointed to the crowd and blew kisses. He threw one more touchdown in the fourth quarter and ended the night with 4 passing touchdowns, the passing touchdown record and he completed 29-30 passes for 307 yards which is an astounding 97% completion rate. I think he was pretty pumped up.

With no indication either Brees nor Brady are planning to retire soon, we should enjoy the competition as they battle to be the all time leader and sit atop the leader board all alone. Brees is alone for now but Tom Brady is just one touchdown back from Peyton Manning’s previous record and right on Brees’ trail. I can’t wait to see where they finish. I’m not sure if there can be multiple GOAT’s but watching Manning set the bar so high and now it looks like both Brees and Brady will put some distance between themselves and Peyton which is just mind blowing.

In the last 100 years for the NFL, we have seen some amazing plays and talent galore. As a fan, I feel very lucky I got to witness the old schoolers like Jim Plunkett, then the 80’s crew with Elway and Marino and then the 90s with Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Philip Rivers and Drew Brees. Now with Mahomes and Lamar Jackson lighting it up, we will be entertained, thrilled and amazed for years to come.

QUARTERBACK LEADERS – WEEK 15 PLAYERS ON THE MOVE

• Drew Brees passed Peyton Manning to assume the #1 position on the all time leader-board with 541 Career Passing Touchdowns. At this point in his career, Drew Brees also occupies the #1 position on the all time leader-board with 76,884 Career Passing Yards. Brees’ 4 touchdowns moved him past Tom Brady who is in the #3 position behind Peyton Manning with 538 passing touchdowns.

• Ryan Fitzpatrick passed Jim Everett to take over the #42 slot behind Randall Cunningham with 205 Career Passing Touchdowns.
• Andy Dalton moved up 1 slot into a tie with Phil Simms at #45 for Career Passing Touchdowns with 199 Touchdowns.

• Aaron Rodgers passed Carson Palmer to take over the #13 slot behind Hall of Fame Quarterback Fran Tarkenton with 46,407 Career Passing Yards.

• Ryan Fitzpatrick moved past Mark Brunell to take over the #42 slot behind Hall of Fame Quarterback Sonny Jurgensen with 32,147 Career Passing Yards.

RUNNING BACK LEADERS – WEEK 15 PLAYERS ON THE MOVE

• Frank Gore moved past Hall of Fame Running Back Barry Sanders into the #3 slot behind Hall of Fame Running Back Walter Payton with 15,321 Career Rushing Yards.

• Mark Ingram joined Brandon Jacobs, Ahman Green and Hall of Fame Running Back Terrell Davis at the #33 slot with 60 Career Rushing Touchdowns.

WIDE RECEIVER LEADERS – WEEK 15 PLAYERS ON THE MOVE

• Julio Jones passed Antonio Gates and Hall of Fame Wide Receiver Don Maynard to assume the #28 slot behind Hall of Fame Wide Receiver Michael Irvin with 11,881 Career Receiving Yards.

• Jason Witten moved past Wesley Walker and Hall of Fame Wide Receiver Bob Hayes to join Marques Colston, Stanley Morgan and Jordy Nelson in the #25 slot with 72 Career Receiving Touchdowns.

DEFENSIVE LEADERS – WEEK 15 PLAYERS ON THE MOVE

• Von Miller entered the Top 25 at #25 for Career Sacks with his sack this weekend moving him past Neil Smith and Kevin Carter leaving him a half sack behind former fellow Denver Bronco Elvis Dumervil with 105.0 Career Sacks.

• Carlos Dunlap joined Karl Mecklenburg and Chad Brown at #49 with 79.0 Career Sacks.