Drew Brees Sneaking Up On Unitas' TD Streak

by Bruce Raffel on Dec 7, 2011 11:00 AM EST

Over 50 years ago, Baltimore Colts legendary QB Johnny Unitas had his consecutive games touchdown streak stopped. Unitas had thrown at least one TD pass in 47 consecutive games. Over the past five decades, no one has come close to matching or topping this incredible record. Until now.

New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees threw three TD passes on Sunday night to give him 39 consecutive games with at least one TD pass. He is alone in second place chasing Unitas' record which has stood since it ended in 1960. The previous closest any other QB had gotten was Brett Favre (36) in 2004 and Dan Marino (30) in 1987.

New England Patriots QB Tom Brady also has an active streak going, with 28 consecutive games throwing at least one TD pass. However, For Brady to break Unitas' streak, he would have to do this in 20 more regular season games and with only four more remaining in the 2011 regular season and 16 games in 2012, it would be 2013 before that could happen.

If he continues his streak, Brees can tie Unitas in game four of the 2012 regular season and break it in game five. As well as the Saints QB is playing, it sure seems possible, but a lot of things must go right for it to continue and while Brees is one of the best QB's in the game right now, count this writer as one who prefers to see Johnny Unitas' name stand atop this record forever.

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Pretty sure Brees gets it. That offense is too explosive and while they have an effective running game now, they won’t ever just rely on the run for any game.

On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu

by AV23 on Dec 7, 2011 11:42 AM EST reply actions

Would be great if we play them in the Superbowl and don’t allow him the TD. They have 4 games left, and it looks like they will have to play 4 more if they want to win a Superbowl, so his 47 game to tie the record would be the Superbowl. Ravens play them, we shut down their offense, and the streak for Brees stops at 46.

Flacco has to trust his receivers to make catches, but shouldn’t throw towards coverage. He needs to attack deep more often, but shouldn’t hold onto the ball so long. He needs to show more awareness in the pocket and move to extend plays, but nothing good comes of him leaving the pocket. He should run with the ball if nobody’s open, but he definitely can’t run with the ball.

Flacco should have the awareness of Roethlisberger, the elusiveness of Vick, the control of the offense of Manning, the leadership of Brady, the accuracy of Brees, and the arm strength of … Flacco? - Ampallang

by Mr MaLoR on Dec 7, 2011 12:44 PM EST up reply actions

Does the streak

count playoff games?

You come at the king, you best not miss.

by organizedchaos52 on Dec 7, 2011 12:53 PM EST up reply actions

I would think so.

by Mr MaLoR on Dec 7, 2011 1:00 PM EST up reply actions

Doesn't appear to.

If you count playoff games, he’s at 43 straight.

You come at the king, you best not miss.

by organizedchaos52 on Dec 7, 2011 2:24 PM EST up reply actions

yeah I think most records don’t count both regular season and playoffs together. They are almost always separated.

On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu

by AV23 on Dec 7, 2011 2:43 PM EST up reply actions

No

Post Season not included. These are regular season games and unfortunately, I do not believe we play the NFC South next season.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Dec 8, 2011 10:15 AM EST up reply actions

Well, maybe the Colts will play them and Peyton (or Andrew Luck) will actually do one useful thing with their miserable lives.

Cam Cameron - the creator of the Prevent Offense™, and best-selling author of "150 Short Runs Into the Line on 3rd and 10"

re: Big Ben - "God can have his soul. His ass is mine." - Terrell Suggs

by GrumpyOldBird on Dec 8, 2011 10:39 AM EST up reply actions

Or look at it this way

If he breaks the record, it’ll be counted as going against the Indianapolis Colts…

Cam Cameron - the creator of the Prevent Offense™, and best-selling author of "150 Short Runs Into the Line on 3rd and 10"

re: Big Ben - "God can have his soul. His ass is mine." - Terrell Suggs

by GrumpyOldBird on Dec 7, 2011 11:43 AM EST reply actions

Wouldn't it be great if

we could play them the game before he tied Unitas’ streak – and we shut him down!?

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Dec 7, 2011 11:53 AM EST reply actions

Can’t really stop that offense, just hope to slow it down.

On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu

by AV23 on Dec 7, 2011 11:59 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah, but remember

We could be talking about a completely different team two years from now. If all stays the same, he breaks it. But how often does all stay the same in the NFL?

Cam Cameron - the creator of the Prevent Offense™, and best-selling author of "150 Short Runs Into the Line on 3rd and 10"

re: Big Ben - "God can have his soul. His ass is mine." - Terrell Suggs

by GrumpyOldBird on Dec 7, 2011 12:42 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, but he is only 8 games away and next year the only potential free agents are colson and I believe meachem. You would have to think they will re-sign Colston for sure if not both. Jimmy Graham is turning into arguably the best pass catching tight end in the NFL and I just don’t see a team completely shutting that offense down for 60 minutes.

On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu

by AV23 on Dec 7, 2011 1:28 PM EST up reply actions

You know, I apologize

I only skimmed the story (as I usually do) and saw Brady’s timeline and subbed it for Brees. Yeah, it’s unlikely that much will change with the Saints by game 5 next year.

Cam Cameron - the creator of the Prevent Offense™, and best-selling author of "150 Short Runs Into the Line on 3rd and 10"

re: Big Ben - "God can have his soul. His ass is mine." - Terrell Suggs

by GrumpyOldBird on Dec 7, 2011 4:15 PM EST up reply actions

It happens I do the same thing.

On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu

by AV23 on Dec 7, 2011 4:56 PM EST up reply actions

Jimmy Graham

has over 1000 receiving yards so far in 2011. Insane!

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Dec 8, 2011 10:15 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah him and Gronkowski are setting the league on fire and both only in their 2nd years. What a talented TE draft that was with Jimmy, Gronk, Hernandez, Dickson and Pitta.

On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu

by AV23 on Dec 8, 2011 10:51 AM EST up reply actions

he’s lucky tonya harding isn’t an NFL QB

by Evan Skev on Dec 7, 2011 3:09 PM EST reply actions

Comparing what Unitas did...

to any quarterback in the modern era is f-ing retarded. Unitas did it when pass interference calls didn’t exist basically.

"The ball always seems to find Ed Reed...The man is a menace"

by UMBC Oriole fan on Dec 7, 2011 3:25 PM EST reply actions

Or roughing the passer, or holding, or reviews etc. etc.. Yeah, very different era.

Actually, I’m surprised that since the NFL’s change to a pass first, pass last, pass all the time, only the thrown touchdown is exciting league, that the record wasn’t obliterated years ago.

Cam Cameron - the creator of the Prevent Offense™, and best-selling author of "150 Short Runs Into the Line on 3rd and 10"

re: Big Ben - "God can have his soul. His ass is mine." - Terrell Suggs

by GrumpyOldBird on Dec 7, 2011 4:18 PM EST up reply actions