So, everyone wants to mong stats? I can mong stats, too.

I was idly wondering how Drew does after having monster games, and said to myself, "Fool, just look it up." So I did, and I wish I hadn't.

Just for fun, let's define "monster game" as pretty much what he had last week against Minnesota. Only five other games since 2006 fall into that category: 42-17 over Dallas in 2006; 51-29 over Green Bay in 2008; 48-27 over the Giants and 38-17 over New England in 2009; and 62-7 over Indianapolis this year. Yeah, uh-oh: on that last one, we all remember what happened the next game. And sure, it wasn't all Drew's fault...not even nearly. Still...

In those five monster games, Drew had passer ratings of 140.8, 157.5, 156.8, 158.3 (perfect), and 144.9. All were blowout wins. The following weeks, things didn't go so well.

Drew followed up his victory over the Cowboys with a 59.9 rating in a 10-16 home loss against the Redskins. He followed up the 2008 shellacking of the Packers with a 60.2 bomb in a loss (in the rain) at Tampa. His giant night against the Giants was followed by the incredible comeback victory against Miami...when his passer rating was only 58.9 (he threw three picks). He followed up his perfect game against the Patriots with a pretty good (102.3) performance against Washington (another improbable victory). And finally, this year, after destroying the hapless Colts, he played with very little hap against the Rams and posted a mere 73.0 rating in the loss.

All in all, in the week following a monster game, Drew's average looks like this: 42 attempts, 27 completions, 61.5 completion percentage, 315 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions, 73.7 passer rating. That's almost exactly his stat line from St. Louis. The game against the Rams was not an aberration...it's what you should expect from Brees the week after a "monster" game.

I hate to be the one to bring this up, I really do. And I hope Drew can break the pattern. But I'm now officially worried. I don't think we can win against the Falcons if Drew Brees plays like Christian Ponder (season passer rating, 72.3).