Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts / Photo: Newscom

Colts head coach Jim Caldwell said the team was disappointed but ready to move on after the loss:

“It’s been a long time, obviously. But like anything else, I think our guys will be able to adjust to it and we’ll move on. It is always disappointing when you lose, regardless of the circumstances. The most important thing for us is to make sure we are operating on all cylinders come the playoffs. That’s key. That’s important. And that’s our focus. The most important season is the one coming up.”

While quarterback Peyton Manning may have had limited duty in today’s loss (14-of-21 passing for 192 yards), he did become the fourth player in NFL history to pass for at least 50,000 yards. Peyton joins Brett Favre, Dan Marino and John Elway as the only quarterbacks to do so. Impressive.

Sources: NFL.com, Colts.com

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Colts Bench Starters, Lose First Game

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints / Image: Zuma Press

Source: NewOrleansSaints.com

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Drew Brees Explodes on Detroit Lions

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year today. Drew was a great choice. All he did was re-write the Saints’ record books this season. He became just the second player in NFL history to throw for 5,000 yards in a single season and he had a team-record and league-leading 34 touchdown passes. Naturally, he spoke of team first:

“I don’t come out from week to week and say I have to throw for 300 (yards). I don’t think about that. It’s really about what I can do to help this team win. Certainly in this offense, being the quarterback, you’re in the driver’s seat. You have the opportunity to control every play and have it in your hands. Every play is about me making good decisions and putting it in a guy’s hands who is open or our playmakers working to their strengths. That’s my job.”

This choice is a little odd considering Drew didn’t get one MVP vote, but he deserves the award. It seems like Drew gets a little better each season. His 5,069 yards passing this season came up just 15 yards short of the all-time record held by Dan Marino. Even if the Saints didn’t make the playoffs, that is called having one heck of a season, especially when you consider the number of injuries the Saints had on the offensive side of the ball (Marques Colston, Reggie Bush, Jerome Shockey). Drew finished with 22 votes. Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson had nine votes each. Philip Rivers had six votes.

Sources: NewOrleansSaints.com, NFL.com, Photo: Newscom

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Drew Brees Offensive Player of the Year

Brett Favre is at it again. It seems like every time he takes the field, he breaks a new NFL record. Brett threw for 227 yards and two touchdowns this afternoon, passing (literally) Hall of Famer Dan Marino to become the NFL career leader in yards throwing. He now has 61,405 yards. Can you even begin to comprehend how many that is? It’s the equivalent of almost 35 miles of passing. And that’s with people trying to stop him. Of course, Brett will say the only thing that mattered was his Green Bay Packers’ 33-14 win over the St. Louis Rams:

“I say every time this happens that I’m honored. I would much rather win. I’m tickled to death that I’ve had a chance to break these records and be a part of all these wonderful things ….. I’ve said this all along: I’ve never considered myself to be in the same league as Dan Marino. What a great passer, maybe the greatest passer ever.”

At the time, little did Brett and the Packers know how big this win was. With the Cowboys losing to the Eagles in one of today’s late games, Green Bay is now tied with Dallas for the NFC’s best record. The Cowboys still hold the head-to-head tie-breaker, but it sure will make things more interesting as we head into the final two weeks of this 2007 NFL season. Dallas will close with two road games (at Carolina and Washington) while the Packers travel to Chicago and then host the Lions to end their regular season.

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Brett Favre in Record Books Again, Packers Secure First-Round Playoff Bye With Win

More Brett Favre news here at EMQB. A week ago he became the NFL’s winningest quarterback. A couple days later my interview with Brett. This weekend, he ties Dan Marino for the all-time touchdown record with three TD passes in a 31-24 win. The guy is just amazing and playing some of his best football. Look at his final numbers against the Bolts: 28 of 35 for 369 yards and those three TDs. The record-tying toss, the 420th of his legendary career, was a 57-yard game-winner to Greg Jennings. I know after talking with Brett that he’s rejuvenated and excited about this year’s Packers team and I can see why after the 3-0 start.

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Brett Favre Ties All-Time TD Record