New York Giants vs. New Orleans Saints ● Monday, November 28, 2011
Saints Postgame Notes
• Monday's victory improved the Saints' record to 8-3 and extended New Orleans' lead in the NFC South to a full game over Atlanta (7-4).
• The Saints improved to 5-0 at home this season and, in the process, assured themselves of a winning home record for the fourth consecutive season. It's the first time the franchise has had four consecutive winning home records since 1989-92.
• The Saints are 13-2 in the month of November since 2008, the best record in the NFL in that span.
• Monday night's attendance of 73,068 is the largest ever to see a Saints game in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The previous high of 73,043 was set on Nov. 6 against Tampa Bay. The capacity of the Dome was increased by approximately 3,000 in a renovation completed prior to this season.
• The Saints finished with 577 total yards, the second-highest total in franchise history behind a 595-yard effort in 2006 against Cincinnati.
• Monday's game was only the third time in franchise history the team has topped the 500-yard mark while playing turnover-free. All three instances have been in primetime games under Sean Payton (2011 vs. Indianapolis; 2006 vs. Dallas).
• New Orleans is now 18-0 under Payton when not committing a turnover.
• The Saints defense did not allow a first-half touchdown for the third consecutive game. New Orleans has outscored its last three opponents 48-12 in the first half.
• The Saints won the toss and elected to receive. It was the first coin toss won by the Saints this season in 12 tries (11 games plus overtime at Atlanta).
• QB Drew Brees completed 24 of 38 passes for 363 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions and a passer rating of 129.6. He also had an 8-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. In his six years with the Saints, Brees has 45 300-yard games and 43 games with a passer rating of 100 .
• Brees reached the 350-yard mark for the sixth time this season, tying an NFL mark for the most 350-yard games in a season. Tom Brady had six 350-yard games in 2007. Brees had five 350-yard games in 2006 and 2008.
• Brees has thrown a touchdown pass in 38 consecutive games, the second-longest streak in NFL history. Johnny Unitas holds the NFL record of 47.
• Brees also extended his own NFL-record streak of games with 20 or more completions to 31. The last time Brees failed to complete at least 20 passes in a game was two years ago this week against New England (Nov. 30, 2009); ironically, Brees had a perfect 158.3 passer rating in that game.
• Brees upped his season touchdown pass total to 27, the sixth consecutive season and seventh season overall in which he has thrown 25 or more TDs. Only Peyton Manning (13, 1998-2010) has a longer streak in NFL history, and the seven-season total ranks ties for third with Dan Marino (Manning 13, Brett Favre 11).
• Brees' TD run was the eighth rushing touchdown of his career and his first since 2009. Brees also had an 8-yard TD run almost four years ago to the day, on Nov. 25, 2007 at Carolina.
• Brees became the first quarterback in Saints history with four passing TDs and one rushing TD in a game. According to ESPN, Brees is the first quarterback in the 42-year history of Monday Night Football with 350 or more passing yards, four passing TDs and a rushing TD in one game.
• QB Chase Daniel's 9-yard completion on a fake field goal in the first quarter was his first pass attempt of the season.
• RB Mark Ingram led the Saints with 85 yards rushing, including a career-long 35-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
• WR Marques Colston's 50-yard reception in the second quarter was his longest since a 68-yard catch against New England in 2009.
• WR Lance Moore had his first two-touchdown game of the season and the fifth of his career.
• Moore has 27 career touchdown receptions, moving him into a tie for fifth place with Henry Childs on the Saints' all-time list. Moore entered Monday night tied with Quinn Early for sixth, each with 25 TD catches.
• Moore has four TD catches in his last four games. Prior to that, he had just one TD reception this season.
• TE Jimmy Graham caught his seventh and eighth touchdown passes of the season, moving him into second place on the single-season list among Saints tight ends. Only Henry Childs (nine, 1977) has more.
• K John Kasay topped the 100-point mark this season with his first extra point. It marks the eighth time in his career, but the first since 2008, that Kasay has topped the century mark.
• G Jahri Evans made his 91st consecutive start, tying the Saints record for most consecutive starts at the beginning of a career with Pro Football Hall of Famer Rickey Jackson (1971-87).
• With his third-quarter sack, DE Will Smith became the fourth player in franchise history to record 60 or more sacks. Smith has 60.5 sacks in his eight-year career with New Orleans.
• LB Will Herring's first-quarter interception was his first as a Saint and the second of his NFL career.
• Despite forcing 12 fumbles in his six-year NFL career, S Roman Harper's fumble recovery in the third quarter was only the second of his career.
