Brees tops himself with best performance of the year in Baltimore

When we were young, we always played the “can you top that game?”

When it came to who batted first or last, we would grip a bat, place one hand above the guy from the other team on the bat and when we got to the top, we would one-up the other guy by using a claw grip to crown the knob of the bat.

It was all about having the last say, about being first.

For Drew Brees, it is always about having the last say, about being first. He is not perceived first by very many national observers for various reasons.

You have heard the scoffers frequently.

He is not big enough. He does not have the big arm. He does not have the mobility. He plays indoors. He played on too many .500 and sub .500 teams. He simply does not have the “wow” element in his game.

Pat Mahomes has the “wow” factor. He has nothing short of sensational thus far this year. It is easy to see why Sean Payton, among others, really liked him coming out of Texas Tech.

Aaron Rodgers love is always evident, particularly from the national media. Of course, it is legitimate. Rodgers is a terrific quarterback and his latest last quarter drive for a victory had everyone gushing over him as being the best in the business.

Tom Brady remains the benchmark for all quarterbacks in the history of the game. Like Drew Brees, the story is still unfolding as Brady, like Brees, continues to stop the aging clock with magical performances.

Jared Goff is a very good young player and running an unbeaten team.

Even someone named Ryan Fitzpatrick wowed everyone for two weeks with incredible numbers and performances.

Carson Wentz was perhaps heading for the NFL MVP trophy a year ago before going down with an injury.

In the NFC South, Cam Newton and Matt Ryan have already won NFL MVP trophies.

Matthew Stafford can make all of the throws.

Ben Roethlisberger is still a huge presence in the game.

Russell Wilson and Philip Rivers are excellent players.

Then, there is Brees.

Through six games, Brees has completed 77.3 percent of his passes which leads the NFL. He has 13 touchdown passes with no interceptions. His Quarterback Rating of 121.6 leads the league. His team is 5-1 and has won five straight games. In the only loss, he guided the Saints to 40 points. The Saints are averaging 34 points per game.

While Brees was masterful in the loss to the Buccaneers, in the road win at Atlanta and in the drubbing of Washington, his performance Sunday may have been his best of the season.

It came on the road. It came outdoors in cool weather and quite windy conditions. It came against the top-ranked defense in the NFL.

Against a team that had not allowed a touchdown in the second half all season long, Brees put up 17 points in the fourth quarter. He completed 22-of-30 passes (73%) for 212 yards and two scores.

John Harbaugh called some of the plays Brees made “ridiculous.”

Terrell Suggs, an exceptional player, recognized the brilliance of Brees as well.

“They just executed,” Suggs said “They’re the No. 1 offense, and they’ve got one hell of a quarterback.”

Eric Weddle said much of the same.

“He extended some plays, we had him wrapped up and he was just finding a way to make a play,” Weddle said. “Not many guys can do that in the history of the game. You have to tip your cap to the best ever.”

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The saga of Brees and his incredible career continues.

He became the fourth quarterback to reach 500 touchdown passes in his career, joining Peyton Manning, Brett Favre and Tom Brady. The fact that a sensational person in Ben Watson caught the milestone pass is special for Brees, who values Watson as much, if not more than any teammate he has never had and why not? Both are pure class.

Watson wanted Brees to keep the ball. Brees wanted Watson to keep the ball. Does that surprise you?

“That’s the type of guy he is,” Watson said. “He is always there for his teammates and always wants to do stuff for his teammates. I said ‘I’m not taking it. You take it.’”

That is Brees the man.

Brees is now one of just three quarterbacks in NFL history to beat all 32 teams in the league, joining Manning and Favre with that distinction. Those are two more all-time greats who get more attention and plaudits than Brees does.

Somehow, you know that this is just fine with Brees. He burns with passion and a competitive spirit second to none. While he is not concerned about how he is perceived, he is concerned with being the very best he can be and winning another championship. The very best he can be is among the very best ever.

“Drew is absolutely unbelievable,” Saints guard Larry Warford said afterwards. “One of the greatest competitors in the game. He never gives up. It is a blessing to have him leading the team.”

Given the circumstances, Brees’ play at Baltimore was, in fact, his best performance of what is becoming a special season for him and his teammates. Now, it is time for him to top that.