Brees Sets Record, Saints Get First Win
Published at
Harry How/Getty Images(NEW ORLEANS) — Drew Brees broke a record that has stood for over 50 years, and his New Orleans Saints got win No. 1.
Brees broke Johnny Unita’s mark of consecutive games with a touchdown pass by throwing one in his 48th straight game, and the Saints defeated the San Diego Chargers, 31-24 on Sunday night.
Unitas had previously held the record from 1956-60 with 47 consecutive games. “I guess you really couldn’t have written a better script for tonight,” Brees said. “To break the record, to get the win, and the fashion in which we won — really a complete team effort all the way around.
Brees tossed four touchdowns, including the game winner to Marques Colston with 8:50 left in the fourth quarter. His first strike, a 40-yarder to Devery Henderson, broke the record that Brees celebrated with his offense while the Saint’s home crowd cheered the quarterback’s name.
The Saints (1-4) got their first victory after the NFL handed down the suspensions follwing the investigation of a bounty program run by New Orleans. Their head coach, Sean Payton, who is suspended for the entire season, was in attendance to see Brees break the record after being granted permission by the league.
For the Chargers (3-2), they saw 24-14 third quarter lead turn into a loss. “I can’t tell you how tough it is to lose a game like this,” quarterback Phillip Rivers said. “We were right there. We were up by 10 points and just didn’t get it done. We have a great team, a championship caliber team. But we have to win close games like this.”
Rivers finished 354 passing yards and two touchdowns with an interceptions for San Diego.
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio