Falcons vs. Saints: New Orleans Was Right to Let Drew Brees Chase Record

The New Orleans Saints players, fans and the millions of people watching at home last night got to witness something special when Saints quarterback Drew Brees broke Dan Marino’s single-season passing yards record. 

It’s why Saints coach Sean Payton was not in the wrong when he decided to let Brees go for the record late in the fourth quarter with his team up 38-16. 

From Profootball Talk, Payton addressed if he was letting Brees throw just so he could get the record. 

"

Saints coach Sean Payton clearly wanted to get the record on Monday Night Football. He admitted so after the game.

“Typically, would I be throwing it there? The answer would be probably not. In fact, the answer would be ‘I wouldn’t be.’ But I thought it was appropriate that we get the record. And we did it,” Payton said, adding how much he respected the Falcons.

"

Payton was right in letting Brees go for the record on a national stage when there were no other games going on so he could have focus on him. If Payton calls for running plays to let the clock drain, then the coach is getting killed for not supporting his quarterback.

However, from that same Profootball Talk piece, some of the Falcons players felt a bit slighted by Brees going for the record. 

Falcons coach Mike Smith said only positives about Brees after the game, but Prisco writes via team sources that Smith wasn’t happy with Payton’s decision to go for it.

“That’s just who they are,” the Falcons player said. “We’ll see them down the road. We won’t forget any of it.”

For the Falcons to get bent out of shape because of Brees breaking the record that late in the game is silly. They could have stopped Brees on a 3rd-and-9 during that drive, but instead let Brees complete a 12-yard pass to Marques Colston for a first down. 

They could have stopped Brees during his other two completions, but they didn’t.

Instead, the Falcons secondary let Brees go 3-5 for 32 yards and a touchdown to break Marino’s record. 

The Falcons can be upset all they want to because they were blown out on the road last night. However, they cannot be upset because of Payton calling for Brees to have his moment when he means so much to the city of New Orleans.

Brees deserved to have the spotlight and attention he got when he broke the record, no matter if the Saints were up one or 22.

The Falcons can be upset, but Payton was completely right when he turned Brees loose to break the record.

Follow @tjmcaloon