Brees elevates performance in clutch in Saints’ comeback win
NEW ORLEANS » Drew Brees had been intercepted, knocked around and held without a touchdown pass for most of what nearly went down as one of his more forgettable performances in a Saints uniform.
Then came a stint of virtual perfection that helped produced a memorable comeback.
Brees completed all 11 passes during New Orleans’ final two drives of regulation for 164 yards and two touchdowns. If not for that, the Saints (8-2) could hardly expect to be celebrating their eighth straight victory.
“We’re very much in then moment with this team, and season, and just finding different ways to win,” Brees said. “We can say we made the plays we needed to make at the right time.”
Hard to argue with that, particularly as it pertained to the Saints’ 38-year-old, record-setting QB. His late-game completions included downfield strikes of 29, 25 and 24 yards to tight end Coby Fleener, 17 yards to Michael Thomas, 18 yards to Ted Ginn Jr.
“You understand you need chunks, so you can’t just dink and dunk,” Brees said. “We had to score fast.”
Brees’ late brilliance left Washington to wonder how it let a victory slip away after being in control for most of the first 55 minutes.
“It stings everybody involved with the Washington Redskins, that’s for sure,” Redskins coach Jay Gruden said. “We just have to bounce back.”