Saints: Five Numbers That Do Not Lie

“Someone said: “numbers never lie.” And that was a lie, because quite often, one can make numbers say whatever one wants. But sometimes, numbers do tell the truth.” - Anonymous Internet Blogger.

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The New Orleans Saints are 11-3 through 14 games, in a topsy-turvy 2019 season that saw quarterback Drew Brees miss the most games ever with injury in his Saints career. A season of “Teddy Teddy Teddy” and a confounding home-loss to the 5-9 Atlanta Falcons. A season of injuries galore and hopes that the third time is the charm.

With two games left in the regular season, here are five numbers that explain why the Saints are in the NFC elite and have a chance to reach their second-ever Super Bowl in February 2020.

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541

Hard not to start here: Drew Brees, the small quarterback from Texas whose state university did not want, who ended up being a two-time Heisman finalist at Purdue and was cast-away by the team that drafted him, just to win a Super Bowl with the team that wanted him.

Drew Brees is now the top quarterback in NFL history in touchdown passes with 541, and age 40, he doesn’t look to be slowing down at all. With Tom Brady, 42, at 538 career touchdown passes, the competition between those two figures to be epic to see which one of them will retire having thrown the most touchdowns in the history of the league.

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133

The number of receptions for the amazing Michael Thomas through 14 games. I am trying to stay amazed by what the Saints wide receiver does, in order not to take his greatness for granted. In truth, I am having a hard time doing it. When I am amazed, it’s when Thomas drops an impossible throw. And guess what? It’s happened only once this season, because Michael Thomas has had only one incomplete pass thrown his way that can be accurately described as a dropped ball.

With two games to go before the postseason, Thomas already has the fourth-most receptions in NFL history. He has the NFL record, Marvin Harrison’s 143 receptions well in his sights after catching 12 of the 12 passes thrown his way against the Colts for 128 yards and a touchdown. I am running out of superlatives. Getcha popcorn ready and enjoy the show.

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25

Against Indianapolis on Monday night, Drew Brees threw four touchdown passes and had no interception. That marked the 25^th time Brees has done that in his career, extending his own record which stood at 24, and was established against the San Francisco 49ers in week 14, when Brees threw five touchdown passes and no interceptions. Over the last two games, Brees has thrown nine touchdown passes with zero picks. Someone’s peaking at the right time.

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22

The number of consecutive completions by Drew Brees to finish the Saints’ 34-7 victory against the Colts. With 14:17 left in the second quarter, on 2^nd-and-11 from the Colts’ 33-yard line, Brees looked downfield but couldn’t find anyone open. He found his outlet in the flat, but rushed the swing pass to the right to Latavius Murray and the ball fell incomplete. Brees was 7-of-8 at that point of the game and would complete his next 22 passes, beating the NFL record of 21 consecutive completions in a single game established by Philip Rivers last season. Absolutely incredible.

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4.7

Did you see? That was the yard-per-rush average for running back Alvin Kamara on Monday night against the Colts. This is an incredible sign for the Saints. Kamara has lacked something since returning from his ankle injury: Burst? Fire? Hard to tell, but yesterday, the Saints’ versatile weapon showed flashes. He rushed 14 times for 66 yards and caught all five passes thrown his way for 23 yards. There were still plays he left on the field, but I have the sneaky and pleasant feeling that it is only a matter of time before we see the real Kamara stand up again. That would be great news for the New Orleans Saints and bad news for the rest of the NFL.