Saints’ Thomas: ‘We have a thing’

NEW ORLEANS — As Drew Brees sermonized his teammates in a pregame huddle, Michael Thomas hung on every word from his quarterback.

Thomas seemed mesmerized as Brees pumped up the Saints, never taking his eyes off the Saints star.

Then, Thomas ripped apart Philadelphia’s defense with 12 receptions for a team playoff record of 171 yards and the winning 2-yard touchdown as New Orleans beat the defending champion Eagles 20-14 Sunday to advance to the NFC championship game.

Brees targeted Thomas a whopping 16 times, and on most of those passes Thomas was wide open. Philly’s defense, particularly its secondary, has been ravaged by injuries, so trying to slow down an All-pro receiver who led the NFL with 125 catches this season was far too great a task.

“We just keep going,” Thomas said. “When we come out there, we feel like no one can stop us. I just feel like we keep building every week. We have a thing, and it’s hard for the other team to stop.”

Gerald Herbert The Associated Press Saints quarterback Drew Brees throws an interception on the first play from scrimmage in Sunday’s NFC divisional-round game in New Orleans. The Saints beat the Philadelphia Eagles 20-14.