Setting Records is a Brees

Seriously, has there ever been a better play to take over a significant record than what Drew Brees did Monday night?

I remember watching when Steve Young threw deep to Jerry Rice in between three Raider defenders during the opening Monday Night Football game Sept. 5 (my birthday), 1994. I've seen that highlight 100 times and still get goosebumps.

I remember the run where Barry Sanders beat the single-season rushing record. It was a 2- or 3-yard dive in the middle of a scrum. Nothing spectacular. A couple plays later, of course, he breaks through for like a 50-yard gain to really separate himself on that record.

But tonight (Oct. 8, 2018), Brees set a monumental record in the coolest way possible. Needing just 35 yards to surpass Peyton Manning, head coach Sean Payton calls up a beauty of a play. Brees pump faked, then threw a shot downfield for a 62-yard scoring bomb right before halftime. After the touchdown, the Saints huddled around and starting cheering with No. 9 as he just made history. He later greeted his family, who were on the sidelines waiting for it to happen. Some guy with white gloves who works for the Pro Football Hall of Fame gave him a plaque, then took the ball, which is well on its way to Canton.

It was quite the spectacle! I'm glad it was in front of his home fans on a Monday night (which absolutely was NO coincidence that the NFL scheduled the game for that night). WhoDat nation is simply blessed to have such a stand-up guy be the face of their franchise. I don't care who you are, you had to be happy for Brees when he led that team to its first Super Bowl appearance and SB in franchise history after Hurrican Katrina ravished the city.

But now that Brees is king of the passing yards, the question must be posed: Is he the greatest? You know, for someone as prolific and successful as Brees, it's kind of odd how infrequently I hear people, especially talking heads on sports show, mention him as the greatest of all time. I understand that's a tough list to make, and most people know that Joe Montana is the greatest, while a lot of the others cling to Tom Brady. But Brees is constantly one of the greatest. He's consistent and as accurate as any quarterback ever. He makes my top 10 list for sure.

Where I think people may question Brees being the greatest is how he played on the road in the playoffs. He definitely struggles most seasons. The numbers for Brees, like Manning, may be higher because he's played eight home games in a dome, and at least one road game in a dome (he plays at Atlanta every year), and probably one or two others most years. Not to mention that it's just easier than every to throw in today's league. Sorry, you're never going to convince me of greatness simply by throwing numbers achieved in today's league.

But for me, Brees is one of the greatest, and he may even be one of the most underrated of the greatest QBs to play this game.

NOTES:

There was another awesome record-setting play in the NFL as Graham Gano tied the NFL record for longest field goal made. He connected on a 63-yard yard kick as time expired to WIN THE GAME against the Giants. Wow, that's crazy cool.