In a game that was short on highlights but long on milestones, the New Orleans Saints' 9 - 0 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did much more than keep the Saints' playoff hopes alive. By shutting out Tom Brady, the Saints preserved the NFL quarterback record of consecutive games without a shut out loss held by retired Saint QB Drew Brees. Brees' mark of 304 remains safe.
Brady had 255 games without a shutout loss going into Sunday. His last was in 2006 against the Nick Saban coached Miami Dolphins. To put that streak in perspective, understand that there are no current defensive players in the NFL who were active in 2006. George W Bush was still in the Oval Office.
The shutout loss was Brady's first ever as home field QB. While the Saints lost to Tampa Bay in the Buccaneers' post season run to last year's Superbowl, they have recorded four consecutive regular season wins against the Buccaneers since Brady joined the team. This was also Brady's first career loss to a team that didn't score a touchdown. The Saints nine points came on field goals.
Saints Defensive End Cameron Jordan recorded two sacks and one forced fumble in Sunday's victory. Those two sacks give him 100 for his career. With Jordan at the sack century mark along with retired Saint Rickey Jackson, New Orleans now has two pass rushers who recorded 100 sacks with the team. Only the Colts (Dwight Freeney and Roberts Mathis) and the New York Giants (Lawrence Taylor and Michael Strahan) can make a similar claim.
The Saints accomplished these milestones without head coach Sean Payton who was absent due to a positive Covid-19 test. Also missing for the Saints were starting Offensive Tackles Terron Armstead and Ryan Ramszyk.
Buccaneers Chris Godwin, Mike Evans and Leonard Fournette left the game early due to injury. At age 44, Tom Brady leads the NFL in pass completions, pass attempts, passing yards and TD passes. The Buccaneers still hold a three game lead over the Saints in the NFC South Division race.
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