No elite receivers for Drew Brees, yet passing attack of New Orleans still ranks top five in the league

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There is no doubt that Drew Brees will end up in Canton when his career is finished. His accolades as a passer are elite and have taken players who were nowhere close to the level of player he was and made them legitimate threats in the Saints system. Brees has continued that trend this year, as the New Orleans Saints boast the fifth-best passing attack while ranking in the bottom half of the league in passing attempts this year.

Statistically, Drew Brees and Kirk Cousins are having similar seasons to this point. Both are completing over 65 percent of their passes, Cousins has over 2,400 yards through the air, Brees has 2,398 yards, Cousins has 14 touchdowns to five interceptions, and Brees has 13 touchdowns to four interceptions. The drastic difference between the two is the sack totals, as Brees has only been sacked eight times to Cousins’ 23.

Of course, the top dog in New Orleans is receiver Michael Thomas, but there are big-play guys in rookie running back Alvin Kamara, and third-year wideout Brandon Coleman. Brees has a bigger, and to me, a better version of Darren Sproles in Alvin Kamara who has quickly become one of the top versatile backs in the NFL this year. Brees is also surrounded by a respectable ground game, that is top three in the NFL and has also made it easier for Brees to dissect a defense.

The Redskins front seven will have a significant test ahead of them this week.  A unit who was unable to touch the quarterback last week will have to find a way to get home against one of the better and most decisive quarterbacks in the NFL. The Redskins need to disrupt his pocket up front, making him move around and step outside his comfort zone. Brees is a quarterback who scrambles to throw, not to run, so it is imperative that Josh Norman and Bashaud Breeland have recovered from last week’s game against the Minnesota Vikings. Montae Nicholson is expected to be back against the New Orleans Saints, and he provides exceptional speed and a big hitters’ presence in the secondary. A win against the Saints on the road is a massive task for the Redskins, and to stand a chance at all, it will be on the defense to make some plays and stops to allow the offense some extra opportunities to score.