Forget Vick's flash, streaking Saints loving hot Brees
ATLANTA -- The coaches will talk about schemes and blitzes and coverage and formations and all that stuff Monday when they evaluate the New Orleans Saints' 31-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
But I can save them all the analysis and sum up why the game went the way it did. Here goes: One team can pass the football; the other can't.
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| Saints QB Drew Brees goes over 300 yards passing for the fifth consecutive game. (US PRESSWIRE) |
Michael Vick continued to show he's the best single-wing quarterback in the league, rushing for 166 yards against the Saints, second in league history behind the 177 he had in a game in 2002. It makes for wonderful highlight material, his zigzagging through a defense bringing a roar from the crowd every time he takes off, but it doesn't win games. Plus, it puts this high-price investment at risk far too much.
"He's going to be hurting bad Monday," said one Saints player.
So what does win? Look at the other team Sunday, where Drew Brees, a short quarterback with a not-so-great arm, threw for 349 yards and two touchdowns and no interceptions. It was the fifth consecutive 300-yard passing game for Brees, putting him on pace for the second-most passing yards in league history.
His passing has the Saints at 7-4 in the NFC South, one game ahead of the Carolina Panthers and two in front of the Falcons. The Saints continue to be one of this season's best stories.
"The quarterback is spectacular," Saints coach Sean Payton said after the game.
Funny thing is, he was talking about Vick. And he's right. He is spectacular to watch, his ability to escape pressure and turn a bad play into an amazing one. No one before him has ever done it like he does, but it's also a curse, since the legs are always an option.
Give me a quarterback like Brees who can read the field, make all the throws and check down to an open receiver when needed. In fairness to Vick, he did have passes dropped, including a couple of potential big plays, but he still is reluctant to wait in the pocket and make throws. He rarely checks down.
By contrast, Brees seems to always have an outlet when he's pressured, somebody he can get it to if the receivers are covered and the pressure is bearing down on him.
"Drew is very smart," Saints receiver Joe Horn said.
He's also an MVP candidate. Not bad for a guy coming off major shoulder surgery when he signed with the Saints. I admit it: I questioned the move. I thought Brees was a system passer who excelled for the Chargers because of the people around him.
