In his column from this morning, SI.com's Don Banks says one of the NFL's most hallowed records is destined to fall in 2008: namely, Dan Marino's record for passing yards in a single season.
Banks says New Orleans signal-caller Drew Brees will eclipse the 5,084 yards Marino logged during Miami's magical Super Bowl campaign in 1984, after the longtime Dolphins' quarterback saw his marks for single-season touchdown passes and career touchdown passes fall by the wayside in recent years.
Through six games, Brees has thrown for 1,993 yards, a 332.2-yard per game pace that would give him 5,315 yards at season's end -- or 231 more than Marino. Through his first six games of 1984, Marino had thrown for 1,848 yards, or 308 per game.
Yeah, we hate those on-pace projections too, to a certain degree, but this time we're allowing it because Brees is going to finish the job (and besides, he was my preseason pick for league MVP, so there's that.) And like Marino with Miami in 1984, Brees will have the benefit of good weather to throw the ball in down the stretch. In the Saints' final 10 games, they'll play half of them in domes (three in the Superdome, one in Atlanta, one in Detroit), and they should also have good weather this week in Carolina and in Week 13 at Tampa Bay.
That leaves only three games that could be climatically challenging for the Saints passing game: Their Week 8 game against San Diego in perpetually rainy London (remember last year's Dolphins-Giants Mud Bowl in Wembley in Week 8?), a Week 11 trip to Kansas City, and a Week 15 Thursday night game in the windy and probably frosty confines of Chicago's Soldier Field.
The Saints are not going to have a dominant running game at any point in 2008, so they will keep throwing the ball (late in blowout wins aside). And also working in Brees favor is that at 3-3, New Orleans will likely need every win it can get, prompting it to fully play the season out through Week 17, rather than rest him and other key starters in late December.
What do you think? Should Marino be worried about Brees' prolific start? Or do you think his stratospheric record is safe?
Marisa Miller
Ana Beatriz Barros
Mavs Dancers
College Football, Top 25 Review
Comments (16) Add A Comment
I think Brees has it. Bush can't run, and Brees has a stable of passing threats of all shapes and sizes. He will get the record.
Redwing19: MARCH…
Ottawa, ON
Total Comments (3158)
I don't think they will. They will chke towards the end of the season. Im not hating thats just my opinion; I've liked Brees since he was Boilermaker in West Laffayette.
Crean n' Crimson-…
Total Comments (459)
i actually like Brees..he has a good arm
Fishwain31
Total Comments (221)
if they can keep that off-line healthy i think they can shake the NFL up this year
Fishwain31
Total Comments (221)
I really don't think that he's going to break the record, at least this season. He may be averaging 332.2 ypg right now, but as the season goes on their opponents are going to make a point of doing a better job covering recievers and will force the run more.
nyr35
Total Comments (472)
If he breaks the record I will be surprised...
I'm Rick James ****
Total Comments (973)
It will be fun to watch that's for sure.
I think Brees is the most important pickup in Saints history. What a class act and a great QB.
LSUDYNASTY
Total Comments (481)
um no, the saint's suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck
OhioDore
Total Comments (44)
He would be breaking the record wearing a Dolphins uniform, had the bums in the front office at Miami picked him instead of Daunte Culpepper two years ago. One of their worst mistakes in these past years!
LG Molina
Total Comments (2)
No team rely on their QB to win games more than the Saints do. They will keep asking Brees to put up big numbers week after week, and he's been able to do that with relative ease. Chances are good that he will break the record.
gupsphoo
San Mateo , CA
Total Comments (34)
He won't touch it. Marino's 1984 season required a consistency that hasn't been seen before or since, regardless of how many quarterbacks end up throwing for 49+ touchdowns. It's easier to set the pace early in the season, as many have done before Brees, but to continue it for the length of a grueling 16 games is another story. With a record as far out there as 5,084 yards, if you are not on your game every single play, it's just not a possibility. Rich Gannon will attest to that.
MarinoFan
Philadelphia, PA
Total Comments (5)
He won't touch it. Marino's 1984 season required a consistency that hasn't been seen before or since, regardless of how many quarterbacks end up throwing for 49+ touchdowns. It's easier to set the pace early in the season, as many have done before Brees, but to continue it for the length of a grueling 16 games is another story. With a record as far out there as 5,084 yards, if you are not on your game every single play, it's just not a possibility. Rich Gannon will attest to that.
MarinoFan
Philadelphia, PA
Total Comments (5)
I'm going with the over on this one...Brees has been automatic.
SafetyBlitz
Calabasas , CA
Total Comments (1091)
right now defensive coaches are watching tapes and making adjustments for Brees
the answer is no
LF
Irvine , CA
Total Comments (442)
MarinoFan is right Brees will get somewhat close possibly 4700 or 4800 but will not reach 5000 and get a shot at breaking Dan's record. Defense Coordinators did everything they could against Dan that year and he blew them out of the water. His single season yardage record will stay at the top for quite a while.
FavreMVP4evr
Total Comments (48)
Has anybody really been watching brees and the Saints. Brees has no Arm strength (that's right I am a Saints fan and I said it!!). He underthrows his recievers and takes to long to get rid of the ball. The coaches calls lately have sucked as well. Right now I have one word for Brees and all you USC fans may be able to understand this word.
OVERRATED
leeJr1
Baton Rouge , LA
Total Comments (13)
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