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Wednesday 18 december 2019
Brees sets NFL all-time TD mark as Saints crush Colts 34-7

By BRETT MARTEL in a loss to the 49ers a week
AP Sports Writer earlier.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Drew Meanwhile, Colts defend-
Brees trotted along the ers had no answer for Mi-
sideline holding his helmet chael Thomas, who caught
and a Hall of Fame-bound 12 passes for 128 yards,
ball in his left hand while us- including a 15-yard touch-
ing his right hand to wave down. Thomas' eighth
and blow kisses to an ador- game this season with at
ing Superdome crowd. least 10 catches give him
Another milestone, another 133 for the season, which
memory, for an undersized is also the fourth-highest
and once underestimated single-season total in NFL
player who has broken just history.
about every significant re- With four more catches,
cord a quarterback can Thomas will pass Antonio
break — and doesn't look Brown and Julio Jones for
anywhere near done at second most in a season.
age 40. He needs 11 to eclipse Mar-
Brees became the NFL's all- vin Harrison's record of 143
time leader in touchdown from 2002.
passes, throwing for four Tre'Quan Smith caught a
scores to lead the New Or- 21-yard touchdown pass
leans Saints to a 34-7 vic- New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) scrambles to pass in the first half of an NFL football for New Orleans.
tory over the Indianapolis game against the Indianapolis Colts in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 16, 2019. The completion was Jordan Wilkins scored the
also Brees' 27th of the game on 28 passing attempts.
Colts on Monday night. Associated Press Colts' lone TD on a 1-yard
"It was special, everything run in the fourth quarter.
about the night," Brees Frank Reich said. "When he completing 28 of 29 (96.6%) ing to give yourself the best FLUID RECORD
said. "It just kind of makes gets like that. I don't know against Arizona last season. chance in the postseason." While Brees holds the ca-
your whole life and career that anybody can stop "He had a hot hand, obvi- The Colts (6-8) were elimi- reer touchdown pass re-
flash before your eyes, be- him." ously," Saints coach Sean nated from playoff conten- cord for now, the Patriots'
cause I never thought I'd Now in his 19th season, Payton said. "Guys were tion after losing their fourth Tom Brady is only three be-
have a chance to be part the 6-foot Brees — a 2001 making plays, but that's straight and sixth out of hind at 538.
of something like this." second-round draft choice awfully difficult to do." seven. "It's a fluid record," Payton
The scoring strike that — came into the game al- The victory kept the Saints They were also left strug- said.
broke Peyton Manning's re- ready holding NFL records (11-3), who'd already won gled to explain their lack of "There's still another quar-
cord of 539 career touch- for completions with 6,792 the NFC South, in the run- competitiveness in a game terback in New England, so
down passes came in the and yards passing with ning with Seattle (11-3), San they needed to win. that will go back and forth
third quarter, when Brees 72,577. Francisco (11-3) and Green "I wish I knew all the an- as long as those two are
hit tight end Josh Hill for a He built on those numbers Bay (11-3) for one of the swers," Colts linebacker playing."
5-yard score. Brees' next while also setting a record top two seeds in the NFC Darius Leonard said. "I hate The next-closest active
pass in the game was the for completion percentage playoffs. losing more than I love win- player is Rivers with 395.
541st scoring toss of his ca- in a game. He completed "There's a lot at stake right ning." Brees wasn't about to un-
reer, a 28-yarder to reserve 29 of 30 passes — 96.7% — now relative to these Jacoby Brissett struggled at derestimate Brady's ability
QB and utility player Tay- for 307 yards before being games when you look at times with accuracy and to keep pace.
som Hill that put the Saints relieved by Teddy Bridge- the top of the NFC," Payton finished 18 of 34 for 165 "He's such a stud. He's got
up 34-0. water in the fourth quar- said. yards against a Saints de- a lot of rings and records,"
"He's done that to a lot of ter. That broke the mark "It's about winning and win- fense looking for redemp- Brees said of Brady. "He's
defenses," Colts coach Philip Rivers had held since ning and winning and try- tion after allowing 48 points awesome."q

Steelers sticking with Hodges

at quarterback

By The Associated Press ly not make those same mistakes twice,"
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers Tomlin said.
are sticking with rookie quarterback Dev- Tomlin pointed out his decision was much
lin "Duck" Hodges. in line with his thinking after Mason Ru-
Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that dolph's bumpy night in a loss to Cleveland
Hodges will make his fourth straight start on Nov. 14, a game in which Rudolph
on Sunday when the Steelers (8-6) visit tossed four interceptions before getting
the New York Jets (5-9). Hodges threw into a brawl with Browns defensive end
four interceptions in a 17-10 loss to Buffalo Myles Garrett that ended when Garrett
last weekend, including picks on each of ripped off Rudolph's helmet and hit the
Pittsburgh's final two drives. Tomlin said quarterback in the head with it. Rudolph
the undrafted rookie free agent — who is started the next week against Cincinnati
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Devlin Hodges calls signals 3-1 as a starter — had earned the right to but was pulled early in the second half
during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo bounce back. in favor of Hodges, who threw a 75-yard
Bills in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. "It's reasonable to expect him to learn touchdown pass to James Washington
Associated Press from those negative experiences and ap- on his third snap to spark Pittsburgh to a
ply it to this next opportunity and hopeful- victory.q