On November 1, 2015, the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans echoed with celebration. Every single viewer at home got to see one of the best matchups in NFL history. In a high-octane battle, Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints faced off against Eli Manning of the New York Giants. The game showcased both quarterbacks at their best, combining for an astonishing 855 total passing yards and a staggering 101 points.
That first half live contest played out in an all-star NBA game sort of style, both teams countering one another with touchdown after touchdown, drive after drive. The game turned out to be an exciting, dramatic conclusion. The Saints won 52-49, courtesy of a stunning 50-yard field goal that went through the uprights as time ran out.
Brees and Manning traded punches all game long, each signal caller enjoying success and momentum in their offenses over the other. With 13 touchdown passes and more than 1,200 yards of offense in the game, the explosiveness of the matchup was on full display.
Brees was one of the greats that night, leading a 70-yard touchdown drive that included a 53-yard touchdown pass to Marques Colston. On Wednesday, the team prepped one of their more strategic plays — call it “Canon” — for the field. It was meant uniquely to beat that Giants’ defensive shell coverage. Commenting on the accuracy needed for the throw, Brees stated,
“If you go watch the highlight, I have to throw this ball and drop it in this bucket basically in this big box fade area, and you’ve got the guy covering Cooks running at it.” – Drew Brees
The emphasis on the Saints’ offense remained the same with Brees moving the team down the field on most drives. Willie Snead got the Saints on the board first with a touchdown on a flea-flicker play. After Snead’s dazzling touchdown, the Saints had an unusual three-and-out on their next possession.
Manning answered on the very first play, launching a 38-yard bomb to star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to jump-start his touchdown drive. The Giants sustained success on the scoreboard both early and late in the game. Against each other Manning matched Brees throw-for-throw, back and forth in an amazing show of quarterbacking greatness.
That’s all well and good, as the game went on even Drew Brees’ brilliance would be disarmed. He addressed the injury to cornerback Damian Swann. Swann departed the game after he was injured on a 9-yard touchdown strike to tight end Josh Hill. Regardless of this unfortunate misstep, Brees was still hell-bent on finding ways to make plays work.
Brandin Cooks, yet another important cog on that Saints’ team, recently shared what their mentality was coming into that game.
“We just thought to ourselves, ‘Well, let’s go score some more points.’” – Brandin Cooks
Linebacker Jonathan Casillas put the game in almost surreal context, saying,
“Tried to block everything from my brain. It was 7-on-7 where the ball doesn’t touch the ground.” – Jonathan Casillas
Even into the final minutes of the game, that ceaseless tug-of-war style scoring showed no signs of stopping. With mere seconds left on the clock, Brees orchestrated his last long drive downfield. The drama was thick as they prepared for what would be the game winning field goal.
With time running down, Saints kicker Kai Forbath was getting ready for his chance at immortality. The snap was there and the placement immaculate. When Forbath’s kick sailed through the uprights it sealed an indescribably exhilarating victory for New Orleans.
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