Drew Brees Will Be New Orleans Saints’ X-Factor In Week 10

By Phillip Jacques on November 5, 2014

There’s little doubt that Drew Brees will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame when his playing days are over, but it’s also apparent that he is a different quarterback when he takes the field at the Superdome. As the New Orleans Saints look to keep their playoff hopes alive in the NFC South this weekend, Brees will need to navigate a tough San Francisco 49ers defense and be the X-factor that propels them to victory.

The difference between Brees at home and on the road over the past year and a half is night and day. In 11 home starts, Brees has thrown for 34 touchdowns against six interceptions. In 13 road starts, however, Brees has struggled to a pedestrian 20 touchdowns to go along with 14 interceptions.

Luckily for the Saints, they start a three-game homestand this weekend against a 49ers team that Brees has had success against in the past. In seven career starts against San Francisco, Brees is 6-1 with 16 touchdowns and only five interceptions. In four career starts against them at the Superdome, Brees is 3-1 while throwing for an average of 280.3 yards, with eight touchdowns and three interceptions.

The once-dominant 49ers defense has taken a step back this year due to injuries and suspensions. Patrick Willis and Aldon Smith have missed numerous games, and most members of the secondary have been and are still dinged up. After allowing a third-best scoring average of 17 points per game last season, the 49ers are in the middle of the pack this year, allowing 22.2 points per game.

The surging Saints are on a two-game winning streak and will look to ride that momentum to a key victory this weekend over the 49ers, and the best way to ensure that will happen is to unleash Brees on an injury-riddled defensive backfield and reap the benefits.

Phillip Jacques is a Pac-12 Football writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google