Brees, Saints Magnificent in Historic 43-19 Demolition of the Redskins

On a night when quarterback Drew Brees had a chance to become the NFL all-time leader in total passing yards, the New Orleans Saints (4-1) were facing a game Washington Redskins squad (2-2) to try and solidify their hold of the lead in the NFC South. The Saints not only delivered the win, Drew Brees became the NFL’s all-time passing leader indeed, now ahead of both Brett Favre and Peyton Manning. This was one of those magical prime time Superdome nights, reminiscent of 2009-2011. These 2018 Saints have the look of a team that will contend.

Here is how it all happened:

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1st HALF

The Saints won the toss and deferred the option to the second half. The much-maligned defense held the Redskins to a three-and-out on their first possession, and Drew Brees marched the offense down the field for a Mark Ingram rushing touchdown. This was Ingram’s first touchdown of the season, in his return to action after being suspended the first four games of the year. Despite Wil Lutz missing the extra point, the Saints were leading 6-0 minutes into the game.

The Redskins would respond with a long field goal drive that saw Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore injured in a friendly collision with linebacker A.J. Klein. Lattimore would be leave the game to be evaluated for a concussion.

Leading 6-3, the Saints would take over with Drew Brees only 51 yards away from surpassing Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre as the second all-time leader in total passing yards in NFL history. On the drive, the Saints would be aided by two crucial Redskins penalties to move into the red zone, where Brees found tight end Josh Hill for a touchdown, giving the Saints a 13-3 lead. On the drive, Brees would indeed pass Brett Favre and become second in NFL’s history in total passing yards.

The Redskins would drive into Saints territory on their next drive, but settle once again for a field goal, this time a 53-yarder by Dustin Hopkins to trim the Saints lead to seven at 13-6.

On the ensuing drive, the Saints would get deep into Redskins territory with a beautiful 52-yard pass from Drew Brees to Cameron Meredith. Mark Ingram would cap the drive with his second rushing touchdown of the night and of the year, to give the Saints a 20-6 lead.

The Saints defense would stiffen on the next drive, putting pressure on Alex Smith and forcing the Redskins into a three-and-out.

The next Saints drive would total exactly one play, a 62-yard bomb to rookie wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith, a pass that put Drew Brees in the annals of the NFL as the all-time passing leader, surpassing New Orleans native Peyton Manning. At halftime, Brees had 71,990 career passing yards, 50 more than Manning’s career mark. The Saints would however miss the two-point conversion and extend their lead to 26-6.

After another Redskins punt, the Saints would have a chance to put the nail in the Redskins coffin, but a fumble by Cameron Meredith in Saints territory would kill the Superdome’s buzz. The Redskins would immediately capitalize, with Alex Smith rumbling into the end zone for a touchdown that trimmed the Saints’ lead to 26-13.

2nd HALF

The Saints would start the second half exactly the way they started the first, with Drew Brees finding Tre’Quan Smith for the rookie’s second touchdown of the night, giving the Saints a 33-13 lead.

With the Redskins having a rather promising drive inside the Saints 30-yard line, Justin Hardee, in for the injured Marshon Lattimore would pick Alex Smith off on a 4th and 2 play and return the pick to Washington’s 4-yard line. Taysom Hill would cap the Saints’ opportunity by running into the end zone for a 40-13 New Orleans lead, with about 6 minutes left in the third quarter.

On the next drive by the Redskins, the Saints defense would once again bend but not break, and Marcus Davenport would record his second sack of the night, stripping Alex Smith of the ball. A.J. Klein would return the fumble to the Redskins’ 48-yard line.

The Saints ensuing drive would stall near the Redskins 27-yard line and Wil Lutz would convert his first field goal of the night, a 44-yarder to give the Saints a 30-point lead at 43-13.

On their next drive, the Redskins would find success passing the ball deep for the first time in the evening, getting into the end zone on a rushing play from the one-yard line. The Redskins would miss the extra point, but trim the Saints’ lead to 24, at 43-19.

On New Orleans next drive, the Saints smartly bled the clock, driving into Redskins territory by milking all of the 10-plus remaining minutes of the game, and eventually taking a knee in merciful fashion on a defeated Washington Redskins defense.

The Saints Win 43-19 and now go into their bye week at 4-1, hoping to have injured cornerback Marshon Lattimore (who left the game with a likely concussion) healed for the stretch run starting at Baltimore in two weeks.

Who Dat!

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Here is a quarter by quarter timeline of the game:

1st Quarter

• Redskins start the game with the ball at their 25-yard line
• Saints hold the Redskins to a three-and-out
• Saints get the ball at their 36-yard line
• Saints get into the red zone on a screen to Mark Ingram
• Mark Ingram rushes into the end zone for a touchdown
• Wil Lutz misses the extra point
• NO: 6 - WAS: 0
• Redskins takes over at their 25-yard line after a touchback
• Redskins get into the Saints red zone converting two long third downs
• Sheldon Rankins sacks Alex Smith on 3rd and goal
• Dustin Hopkins converts a short field goal
• NO: 6 - WAS: 3
• Saints take over at their 25-yard line, with Brees 51 yards away from the passing record
• Saints gain two first downs as the quarter ends

2nd Quarter

• Brees gets sacked on 3rd down, but a Redskins penalty bails them out
• Saints get in the red zone on a long pass to Michael Thomas
• Brees finds Josh Hill for a touchdown
• NO: 13 - WAS: 3
• Redskins take over at their 25-yard line
• Washington easily gets into Saints territory
• Redskins stall and Dustin Hopkins makes a 53-yard field goal
• NO: 13 - WAS: 6
• Saints take over at their 25-yard line
• Brees finds Cameron Meredith for a 52 yards pass into the red zone
• Mark Ingram rushes in the end zone for his second touchdown of the night
• NO: 20 - WAS: 6
• Redskins return the ball to their 22-yard line
• Saints hold the Redskins to a three-and-out on a big hit by Marcus Davenport on Alex Smith
• Saints take over at their 38-yard line
• Brees find Tre’Quan Smith for a 62-yard bomb touchdown!!!
• Saints miss the two-point conversion
• NO: 26 - WAS: 6
• Redskins take over near their 40-yard line after the kickoff return
• Saints defense stiffens again and forces another punt
• Saints take over at their 17-yard line
• Cameron Meredith fumbles the ball and the Redskins return it deep in Saints territory
• Redskins quickly move into the red zone
• Alex Smith runs into the end zone for a touchdown
• NO: 26 - WAS: 13
• At the half, the Saints lead by 13

3rd Quarter

• Saints start with the ball and get into Redskins territory
• Brees finds rookie wideout Tre’Quan Smith for a 35-yard touchdown
• NO: 33 - WAS: 13
• Redskins take over at their 40-yard line after a penalty on Craig Robertson
• Redskins get deep into Saints territory
• On 4th and 2, Justin Hardee intercepts Alex Smith
• Hardee returns the pick to the Redskins’ 4-yard line
• Taysom Hill runs into the end zone for a touchdown
• NO: 40 - WAS: 13
• Redskins take over at their 25-yard line
• Washington converts a 4th and 1 at their 30-yard line to stay alive
• Redskins get into Saints territory as the quarter winds down
• On 4th and 10, Marcus Davenport sacks Alex Smith who fumbles
• A.J. Klein recovers the fumble and returns it at the Redskins’ 48-yard line
• Saints drive into Redskins territory as the quarter ends

4th Quarter

• Saints stall and Wil Lutz converts a 44-yard field goal
• NO: 43 - WAS: 13
• Redskins start at their 25-yard line
• Washington gets into the Saints red zone on a 42-yard pass to Maurice Harris
• Redskins rush into the end zone for a touchdown and misses the two-point conversion
• NO: 43 - WAS: 19
• Taysom Hill returns the kickoff to the Saints 22-yard line
• Saints bleed the clock as they drive into Redskins territory and finish the game
• Saints Win, Saints Win!
• Final Score: NO: 43 - WAS: 19