New Orleans, LA

The New Orleans Saints are establishing themselves as true Super Bowl contenders in the NFC and the main reason is Drew Brees.

Brees torched the New York Giants Monday night, extending the Saints' win streak to three and reminding everyone in the NFC that the Green Bay Packers have a worthy challenger.

The Saints offense was clicking on all cylinders Monday, rolling up 577 total yards. It was the second highest total in franchise history behind a 595-yard game in 2006 against Cincinnati.

Brees completed 24 of 38 passes for 363 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions and added an 8-yard touchdown run as well. In his six years with the Saints, Brees has 45 300-yard games and 43 games with a passer rating of 100.

"The time he has been in our system, we're on year six now and he's throwing the ball with great rhythm and anticipation," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "He would tell you that we are doing a good job of protecting, we had the balance we're looking for in November and December; I thought we ran it well tonight, we ran it very well. Those are all things that are good allies for a quarterback, but he made some fantastic throws tonight."

Brees reached the 350-yard mark for the sixth time this season Monday, tying an NFL mark for the most 350-yard games in a season. He has also thrown a touchdown pass in 38 consecutive games, the second-longest streak in NFL history behinf the NFL record of 47 by Johnny Unitas.

"I think what it comes down to is we have a lot of confidence and we play very aggressive," Brees said. "We put a value on going down and getting points. Is there risk involved? Yes. When you do it as much as we do with the mentality we do, you make it part of the way you operate."

Right now the Saints are operating at a high level. New Orleans is 8-3 and in first place in the NFC South. Just a game back of the San Francisco 49ers for the No. 2 seed in the NFC, New Orleans is starting to emerge as a real threat to get back to the Super Bowl.

That all sounds good, but there is still a lot of football to be played and don't expect Brees to let off the throttle down the stretch.

"I expect perfection. I understand that's impossible to achieve," Brees said. "Deep down, I know there's some things I can do better."

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