Fansided

20 best quarterback seasons in NFL history

By Russell S. Baxter

PALO ALTO, CA - JANUARY 20: Joe Montana
PALO ALTO, CA - JANUARY 20: Joe Montana /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – NOVEMBER 30: Quarterback Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints throws a pass during warm ups before a game against the New England Patriots at the Louisiana Superdome on November 30, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints defeated the Patriots 38-17. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – NOVEMBER 30: Quarterback Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints throws a pass during warm ups before a game against the New England Patriots at the Louisiana Superdome on November 30, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints defeated the Patriots 38-17. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

18. Drew Brees, Saints (2009)

The team was in the fourth year of the Sean Payton/Drew Brees Era. However, after reaching the NFC title game during their debut year in 2006, the New Orleans Saints failed to make the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. However, 2009 would be a much different story in the Big Easy as the club got off to an impressive 13-0 start. The talk of an unbeaten season ended at home against the Dallas Cowboys. Regardless of the reasons, the Saints would drop their final games on the way to the playoffs.

Brees was impressive throughout the regular season. For the second straight year, he led the National Football League with 34 touchdown passes (he shared the lead with Chargers’ QB Philip Rivers in 2008), throwing for “only” 4,388 yards.

The difference from the previous season was an improved completion percentage (70.6 opposed to 65.0 in ’08) and just 11 interceptions, six fewer than the year before (17). He also did this in one fewer game than in 2008 as he and many of his teammates sat out Week 17 in preparation for the postseason.

In the playoff sweep of the Cardinals, Vikings, and Colts, the Saints scored a combined 107 points. Brees threw for eight scores and played turnover-free football. He earned Super Bowl XLIV MVP honors in completing a blistering 82.1 percent of his passes in the 31-17 win over Indianapolis.

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