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New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has faced the Atlanta Falcons 21 times in his NFL career, and only one contest came as a member of the San Diego Chargers. Brees has a 15-6 career record against the Falcons (15-5 with Saints), and has put up 6,421 yards on 556 completions (68.1 percent), 38 touchdowns, and 22 interceptions. Let’s take a look at the top five performances from Brees over the years.
November 26, 2006 - Saints 31, Falcons 13
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We start with Brees’ highest rated game as a passer against the Falcons. In a shellacking of Michael Vick and company, Brees would go 21-for-30 (70 percent completion) for 349 yards and two touchdowns (Devery Henderson and Terrance Copper). Brees averaged 11.6 yards per attempt en route to a 131.1 QB Rating.
The Saints defense frustrated Michael Vick so much that he felt compelled to flip off the Falcons faithful at the end of the game after an abysmal passing effort.
December 12, 2007 - Saints 34, Falcons 14
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Brees and the Saints had a disappointing 2007 campaign, but this Monday night matchup against the Falcons gave them back some life. The then 5-7 Saints marched in to the Georgia Dome and essentially wrecked the slumping ‘Dirty Birds’. Brees got off to a hot start after finding David Patten for the game’s first score, but the Falcons would answer right back - and that’s where it kind of ended.
Brees would help the team score 24 unanswered points while connecting with Marques Colston twice while Roman Harper return an interception for a Saints touchdown in the third quarter to go up 31-7. Brees would finish with a 116.7 QB Rating after going 28-for-41 for 328 yards and three scores.
December 26, 2011 - Saints 45, Falcons 16
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Leaving this historic Brees performance off the list would be absolute madness, as it was the game where he surpassed Dan Marino’s single-season NFL passing yard record. Brees tossed for four touchdowns, two interceptions, and 307 yards while finishing 23-for-39. However, it was the 9-yard touchdown pass to Darren Sproles we’d all remember with just three minutes to go in the game.
Brees stamped his place in the record books, and the powerful 2011 Saints offense would score over 40 points in each of their last three games.
December 13, 2009 - Saints 26, Falcons 23
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In their 13th victory of the season, Drew Brees could do no wrong. After going down 6-3, Brees would pilot the Saints to two touchdown drives capped off by passes to Reggie Bush and Marques Colston. The Saints would add an early third quarter score from Brees to Bush, and it seemed like it the team would cruise to victory after being up 23-9.
The Falcons would surge back and eventually tie things up at 23 early in the final quarter, but Brees and company would provide the go-ahead score after an eight minute drive. Brees’ day finished with 296 yards and three touchdowns after going 31-for-40 (122.5 QB Rating).
November 11, 2012 - Saints 31, Falcons 27
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After starting the season 0-4 on top of being without head coach Sean Payton, the New Orleans Saints caught fire by winning five of their next six games. The Falcons ended up being the team’s fourth win of the season, and it was largely due to Drew Brees.
The Saints would fall into an early 10-0 hole, but Chris Ivory’s spectacular 56-yard touchdown run would ignite the team. Brees would find Jimmy Graham twice and Marques Colston once on the day as part of his three touchdown passes. He’d finish 21-for-32, 298 yards, three touchdowns and a pick (113.8 QB Rating).