Ten years have passed since the last Super Bowl for the New Orleans Saints. Flashbacks of the greatness of that Black and Gold team will endure forever. The unforgettable regular season. The playoff run that went through Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings. And last but not least, the long awaited championship for the city of New Orleans. That was then and this is now. Many of fans would love to flip back the history books and go back to that one moment. The moment where Drew Brees was at the top of the world and his best ever. Supposedly…
The one moment where the whole world looked at us. The Saints were the best team in the NFL. Now in 2018, Brees looks to be the older twin brother or a clone of something that usually comes in through science fiction. But make no mistake, this is no movie. Drew Brees may turn 40 on paper in January, but he sure looks to be that 30-year old hungry for his first championship.
At Age 40, Drew Brees Is Looking 30 Years Old
Drew Brees Turns Back the Clock to 2009
That’s impossible. There is no way any human can just turn back the clock ten years. much less an NFL quarterback. There were flashes by Joe Montana. Perhaps, John Elway pulled some of that magic later in his career. If you’re not convinced, take a look at some of these stats.
Take a look at the numbers from 2009 and the current day. First, the Saints record is 8-1. Now the Saints play as a team, make no mistake. And there’s plenty of season left. But the trend is heading towards a 13-3 record or better. Actually, Brees led the Saints to a 13-2 record while the starters rested in the last game in 2009.
This one stat may be the one that’s hard for anyone to comprehend. In 2009, Drew Brees threw for 34 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. A great season to say the least when the touchdowns outnumbered interceptions by a 3:1 ratio. Through nine games this year, Drew Brees has 21 touchdowns and only ONE interception. If Brees continues, the totals would hit somewhere near 37 touchdowns against only TWO interceptions. Simply unimaginable. Absolutely inconceivable.
And there’s more. Some may overlook this one underlying number, but it’s just as important as the other evidence. Touchdown percentage is eerily similar to some of his best years as a Saints quarterback. Touchdown percentage is defined as, touchdowns thrown when attempting a pass. Digging deep into Brees’ career shows that 2009, 2011, 2018, and the 2004 season playing for the San Diego Chargers were some his best years.
In 2011, the touchdown percentage for Drew Brees was 7.0%. Currently, he stands at 6.9%. In 2009, that percentage was 6.6%. Many of the years where the Saints finished under .500 his percentage varied from 3.5 to 5.0%. It may seem like a small detail but every detail matters.
History Can Repeat Itself
There’s plenty of evidence that Brees is becoming more effective with age. Not to mention, the eerie similiarities that stand out in 2018 to the Super Bowl year in 2009. While it’s likely that Brees won’t break any of his previous yardage marks in other years, there is proof that the balanced offense is more conducive to winning another championship.
While the 289 yards per game doesn’t seem stellar in 2018, the success has proved positive in the past. In 2017, Brees averaged only 270 yards and in 2009. He averaged 292.5 yards a game. In like manner, those years were some of the best years as a team. Moreover, in 2006 Brees brought the Saints to the NFC Championship and threw for an average of 276.1 yards a game. Balanced offenses lead to wins, it’s as simple as that.
Regardless, the usual regression at 40 years old as an NFL quarterback may not come for Brees. In fact, the best may be yet to come. Enjoy it Saints fans. There will never be another Drew Brees.
