Saints QB Drew Brees sets NFL records in MNF win over Colts

Dec. 17 (UPI) -- New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees set the all-time record for touchdown passes and a new mark for single-game completion percentage in a dominant win against the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football.

Brees completed 29 of 30 passes (96.7 percent) for 307 yards and four touchdowns in the 34-7 win Monday at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. He broke Peyton Manning's career touchdown record on a five-yard throw to tight end Josh Hill halfway through the third quarter. Brees moved his career total to 541 touchdown tosses on another throw to Tyson Hill on the Saints' next drive.

The Saints (11-3) did not allow a sack or have a turnover in the win. New Orleans out-gained Indianapolis (6-8) by 219 total yards. Indianapolis was officially knocked out of playoff contention after the loss. New Orleans had clinched the division before Monday's win, but is still fighting for a top seed and first-round bye in the NFC playoffs.

"You're just playing ball," Brees told reporters. "My goal is to be the best decision maker that I can be on every play and to get us into the best play, throw the ball where it needs to go, getting it into the hands of our playmakers, getting us in the end zone, converting third downs, keeping drives alive, playing complementary football with our defense."

The Colts punted on all four of their first-half possessions. The Saints got a 33-yard field goal from Wil Lutz on their first drive. Brees then found Michael Thomas for a 15-yard touchdown at the start of the second quarter. Brees connected with Tre-Quan Smith for a 21-yard score and the Saints got another Lutz field goal at the end of the second quarter for a 20-0 lead at halftime.

Brees led the Saints to a 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive to open the second half, finding Josh Hill for his record-breaking touchdown. Jordan Wilkins scored the only touchdown for the Colts, running in for a one-yard score with 3:58 remaining.

"There's just so much preparation that goes in [to games] now," Saints coach Sean Payton said of Brees. "For him to finish the way he did on the evening, we thought we would have some vertical throws with some of the scenes and we did. He was outstanding tonight."

Thomas had a game-high 128 yards and a score on 12 catches for the Saints. Jacoby Brissett completed 18 of 34 passes for 165 yards in the loss.

The Saints face the Tennessee Titans at 1 p.m. EST Sunday at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. The Colts host the Carolina Panthers at 1 p.m. Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

"We have won some and lost some," Colts coach Frank Reich said. "Every now and then something like this happens. It doesn't make it any easier to swallow. It is not acceptable. We learn from it and move on."