Rewriting the Record Book

Drew Brees is, rightly, garnering a ton of attention as he is making his way toward the top of two important NFL records. The New Orleans Saints quarterback is 1,496 passing yards shy of the NFL’s career passing yardage record and 51 touchdowns short of tossing the most in NFL history. Peyton Manning, who currently holds both records (71,940 yards and 539 TDs), says Brees is deserving of capturing both crowns.

Brees, an 11-time Pro Bowler, has thrown for 4,000 or more yards every year he has been with the Saints and averaged 4,905 passing yards per year over the past five seasons. So, assuming all goes as planned, the only question is how many games it will take him to break the yardage record this year. Most think it will likely happen during the Saints’ Week 5 Monday Night Football matchup with the Washington Redskins on Oct. 8.

Brees will likely need two seasons to catch Manning’s record of 539 TDs. He has averaged 32.8 touchdowns per year over the past five seasons, but last year with a more balanced passing and rushing attack, he threw for 23 touchdowns, his lowest total as a Saint. His career high was 46 in 2001.

While the Greatest Saint will likely have to wait a season for the NFL TD record, he should become the franchise leader in the number of games played in black and gold. With 190 games played for New Orleans, he trails only Morten Andersen (196) and Rickey Jackson (195) for that honor. He should move into first place at the end of October on the road against the Minnesota Vikings in Game 7.

But while Brees will be in the spotlight early in the season, he’s not the only Saint who is expected to rewrite records this year.

Although running back Mark Ingram II is suspended for the first four games for performance enhancing drugs, the former first round draft pick out of Alabama is on course to challenge for a couple of franchise records.

He needs to run for 247 yards and six touchdowns to supplant Deuce McAllister as the Saints’ all-time leader in both rushing categories. That should be attainable considering he had career highs last season in rushing yards (1,124), attempts (230), TDs (12), yards from scrimmage (1,540), receptions (58), and receiving yards (416).

Ingram could also move his way into second place for most touchdowns scored by a Saint. He currently has 48 TDs from scrimmage, good enough to be tied for sixth all time with retired wide receiver Eric Martin. The former Heisman Trophy winner needs eight to pass McAllister for second. Former WR Marques Colston holds the record for most Saints touchdowns with 72.

Even with the reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, running back Alvin Kamara, expected to pick up where he left off last season, with Ingram out for the first quarter of the season expect the team’s offensive balance to shift toward a heavier passing attack in the first four games. When Ingram returns, it will likely shift back to a more balanced attack, if not more heavily dependent on the run considering the power-runner will have fresh legs and four fewer games of intense contact on his body.

Rushing Records

New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram II could become the franchise’s career leader in rushing yards and touchdowns during the 2018 season, moving past Deuce McAllister in both categories.