Drew brees’ streak breakdown

A game-by-game breakdown of the 47-game streak with a touchdown pass by Drew Brees, who Sunday equaled the NFL record set by Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas from 1956-60 (number in parentheses indicates TD length):

2009

Date Opponent Score TDs/Receiver(s)

Oct. 18 N.Y. Giants W, 48-27 Shockey (1), Meachem (36),

Moore (12), Colston (12)

Oct. 25 Miami W, 46-34 Colston (10)

Nov. 2 Atlanta W, 35-27 Colston (18), P. Thomas (1)

Nov. 8 Carolina W, 30-20 Meachem (54)

Nov. 15 St. Louis W, 28-23 Bush (15), Meachem (27)

Nov. 22 Tampa Bay W, 38-7 Meachem (4, 6), D. Thomas (11)

Nov. 30 New England W, 38-17 P. Thomas (18), Henderson (75),

Meachem (38), Dinkins (2), Colston (20)

Dec. 6 Washington W, 33-30 Colston (40), Meachem (53)

Dec. 13 Atlanta W, 26-23 Bush (6, 21), Colston (3)

Dec. 19 Dallas L, 24-17 Moore (7)

Dec. 27 Tampa Bay L, 20-17 Meachem (30)

2010

Date Opponent Score TDs/Receiver(s)

Sept. 9 Minnesota W, 14-9 Henderson (29)

Sept. 20 San Francisco W, 25-22 Bush (6), D. Thomas (3)

Sept. 26 Atlanta L, 27-24 Shockey (2), Moore (80, 16)

Oct. 3 Carolina W, 16-14 Moore (4)

Oct. 10 Arizona L, 30-20 Shockey (1), Meachem (35)

Oct. 17 Tampa Bay W, 31-6 Moore (41), Meachem (42), Evans (4)

Oct. 24 Cleveland L, 30-17 D. Thomas (11), Colston (8)

Oct. 31 Pittsburgh W, 20-10 Colston (16), Moore (8)

Nov. 7 Carolina W, 34-3 Shockey (7), J. Graham (19)

Nov. 21 Seattle W, 34-19 Colston (23, 22), Meachem (3, 32)

Nov. 25 Dallas W, 30-27 Moore (12)

Dec. 5 Cincinnati W, 34-30 Meachem (52), Colston (3)

Dec. 12 St. Louis W, 31-13 Colston (5, 17), Moore (31)

Dec. 19 Baltimore L, 30-24 J. Graham (18, 1), Moore (15)

Dec. 27 Atlanta W, 17-14 J. Graham (6)

Jan. 2 Tampa Bay L, 23-13 J. Graham (4)

2011

Date Opponent Score TDs/Receiver(s)

Sept. 8 Green Bay L, 42-34 Meachem (31), Henderson (29),

J. Graham (5)

Sept. 18 Chicago W, 30-13 Henderson (79), Meachem (4),

Sproles (12)

Sept. 25 Houston W, 40-33 Meachem (2), J. Graham (27), Moore (16)

Oct. 2 Jacksonville W, 23-10 J. Graham (1)

Oct. 9 Carolina W, 30-27 Collins (1), P. Thomas (6)

Oct. 16 Tampa Bay L, 26-20 Colston (38)

Oct. 23 Indianapolis W, 62-7 Colston (14, 4), Sproles (6), J. Graham (4, 2)

Oct. 30 St. Louis L, 31-21 Moore (8)

Nov. 6 Tampa Bay W, 27-17 Moore (3), Sproles (21)

Nov. 13 Atlanta W, 26-23 J. Graham (21), Meachem (33)

Nov. 28 N.Y. Giants W, 49-24 Moore (4, 10), J. Graham (5, 29)

Dec. 4 Detroit W, 31-17 Meachem (67), Moore (20), Sproles (6)

Dec. 11 Tennessee W, 22-17 Colston (35, 28)

Dec. 18 Minnesota W, 42-30 Moore (5, 47), J. Graham (1),

Sproles (13), Gilmore (2)

Dec. 26 Atlanta W, 45-16 Colston (8), J. Graham (9),

Meachem (24), Sproles (9)

Jan. 1 Carolina W, 45-17 Colston (15, 42), J. Graham (19),

Collins (1), Sproles (9)

2012

Date Opponent Score TDs/Receiver(s)

Sept. 9 Washington L, 40-32 J. Graham (20), Moore (33), Sproles (2)

Sept. 16 Carolina L, 35-27 J. Graham (1)

Sept. 23 Kansas City L, 27-24 Moore (9), J. Graham (1),

Collins (6)

Sept. 30 Green Bay L, 28-27 Colston (20), Sproles (6), Morgan (80)

Facts about the streak

  • The streak began on Oct. 18, 2009 vs. the New York Giants.
  • The streak started after back-to-back games without a touchdown.
  • The New York Jets are the last team to not allow a Brees’ TD pass (Oct. 4, 2009).
  • Players with the most TDs during the streak (Marques Colston, 22; Lance Moore, 20; Robert Meachem and Jimmy Graham, 19 each).
  • During the streak, there have been 13 games when Brees had just one TD.
  • The streak was extended with a fourth-quarter touchdown on four occasions.
  • The closest the streak came to ending was Oct. 30, 2011 (Game 35) when Moore caught an 8-yard TD with six seconds to play in a 31-21 loss at St. Louis.
  • Brees tied Johnny Unitas’ record on Sept. 30, 2012 with a 20-yard TD pass to Colston at Green Bay.
  • Brees has actually thrown a TD in 53 consecutive games — including the playoffs — but the NFL doesn’t count postseason games for record-keeping purposes.

Compiled by Sheldon Mickles

By the numbers

  • 114 — Touchdown passes during Brees’ streak.
  • 17.2 — Pass attempts (counting sacks) per TD during the streak.
  • 101.2 — Brees’ passer rating during the 47-game streak.
  • 15 — Players with at least one touchdown during the streak.
  • 33-14 — Saints’ record during the streak.
  • 18,929 — Days Unitas’ record stood until Brees tied it.

Compiled by Sheldon Mickles