Record-breaking Brees sees Saints claim top

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees broke a 27-year-old NFL record on Monday to help his side to a 45-16 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

The 32-year-old topped Dan Marino’s single-season passing record of 5084 yards with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Darren Sproles with just two minutes and 51 seconds remaining in the game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

The pass, his last for the game, meant he completed 23 of 39 for 307 yards and four touchdowns, lifting him to 5087 yards for the season with one game still to play – breaking the record of Miami Dolphins legend Marino that had stood since 1984.

A field goal from Matt Bryant and a touchdown from Julio Jones saw the Falcons to a 10-7 lead at quarter time, but Brees clicked into gear in the second term and two touchdown passes – to Marques Colston and Jimmy Graham – moved the Saints 21-10 up at half-time.

From there the home side were never headed, and Brees capped of his sensational season with just under three minutes remaining that sealed the NFC South title for the Saints.

As Sproles slammed the ball into the end zone turf, Brees was swamped by team-mates who rushed from all corners of the field to celebrate.

The win moves the Saints to a 12-3 record ahead of their final game of the regular season against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, while Atlanta dropped to 9-6 before their clash with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the same day.