Drew Brees" 465-yard outburst paces New Orleans Saints past Carolina Panthers

Panthers vs. Broncos | Game Highlights (Week 1) | NFL

NEW ORLEANS -- Drew Brees is 37, which, in NFL dog years, is one paw away from dog heaven.

But the New Orleans Saints quarterback, a surefire Hall of Famer five years after he retires, simply isn"t finished yet.

Brees displayed his toughness, his brain and his accuracy in Sunday"s 41-38, 465-yard, four-touchdown passing performance against the Carolina Panthers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Those are commodities Brees has used throughout his 16-year NFL career.

One of Brees" nicest throws against the Panthers was his most physically expensive. Under pressure and holding a 31-30 lead, Brees took a shot in the face after he released the ball from defensive tackle Kawann Short that split his lip.

Brees still was able to get the ball away in time toward the left corner of the end zone, where tight end Josh Hill made a leaping catch for a touchdown and 38-30 lead. The personal foul against Short was assessed on the kickoff.

"(The hit) wasn"t that hard, but it looked like he just straight punched me in the mouth," Brees said. "That"s what it felt like, and that"s what it looked like on the Jumbotron, but I"ll take the 15 yards every time. We got the touchdown anyways, so we are all good."

Brees said after the Saints went 0-3 out of the gate and looked left for dead, he tried to model for his younger teammates the work ethic that"s needed to dig out of a self-imposed hole.

And now, suddenly, after two close victories, the Saints are 2-3 and in second place in the NFC South.

"These are defining wins, and these are ones that you can draw from as the season goes along and really get a lot of strength from," Brees said. "It also gives you great confidence and poise for when those situations arise in the future, because you"ve been there before."

Coby Fleener takes a Drew Brees pass for 50 yards and a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers. Photo by AJ Sisco/UPI

Brees" 50-yard TD pass to tight end Coby Fleener, which put the Saints up 31-17 in the third quarter, also has to give New Orleans a reason to feel the breaks are beginning to even out.

Brees appeared to be targeting wide receiver Willie Snead on the play, but Fleener undercut the route and snagged the ball out of the air, running the last 25 yards untouched.

Brees said there was confusion on the route, but he said Fleener was his intended target.

"Coby did exactly what he was supposed to do," Brees said. "We had a little bit of mix-up somewhere else, however. So, I"m throwing the ball to Coby just the way I wanted to, and all of a sudden I just feel this congregation of bodies (in the middle of the field). It kind of created this natural pick ... which worked out nicely."

Source: http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/NFL/2016/10/16/Drew-Brees-465-yard-outburst-paces-New-Orleans-Saints-past-Carolina-Panthers/2671476666427/

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Boston, mother enjoying Carolina Panthers" football season

Panthers Playoff Promo "Why do we Fall?" ᴴᴰ

Tre Boston"s mom Iris De Hoyos talks about his football career. Boston is a former North Fort Myers star that now plays for the Carolina Panthers. Video by Amanda Inscore and Craig Handel/news-press.com.

North Fort Myers grad, mother enjoying Carolina Panthers" year

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 28: Tre Boston #33 of the Carolina Panthers celebrates an interception return for a touchdown in the second half against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on December 28, 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. c*x/Getty Images)(Photo: Getty Images)

Carolina football player Tre Boston and his mom Iris De Hoyos felt it took awhile for the media and fans across the country to realize how good the Panthers could be this season. We dont mind that, said Boston, a safety.We actually like it. Sunday, the Panthers (15-1) will have their chance to show how good they are when theyll entertain the two-time NFC defending champion Seattle Seahawks (11-6) on Sunday in Charlotte, North Carolina. I knew they were for real, but they have continually had to prove themselves, De Hoyos said. Deion Sanders stayed loyal to the area and said things about Tre and the Panthers, but commentators, social media and sports networks were not believing. But they dont need to believe. The fans do and the team does. Boston, 23 and a North Fort Myers High graduate like Sanders, is in his second season with the Panthers. In seven starts, he has 29 tackles.

His mother who has rearedhim as a single parent works for the county in the 20th judicial circuit court. Shell make her ninth visit for Panthers games and its the first flight he has paid for. She said Boston has offered countless times to buy her flights and other things but she has refused. However, she keeps a close eye on his expenses after seeing how other pro athletes have frittered away their contracts and bonuses. The NFL stands for "not for long", she said, well aware the average NFL career is less than 3 years. We know what its like to go through hard times. Im proud of him and Im glad hes watching his money. When we went shopping, he pulled out his phone when he saw something he wanted to buy. He asked if a coupon he saw still worked.

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Iris De Hoyos is very proud of her son, Tre Boston, who plays for the Carolina Panthers.(Photo: Amanda Inscore/The News-Press)

Last season, the Panthers started 3-8-1 before winning their last four games to qualify for the playoffs, then beating the Arizona Cardinals 27-16 in the first round before falling to the Seahawks 31-17. This season, the Panthers won in Seattle 27-23 on Oct. 18 as they started 14-0. We have a great foundation, but when youre building stuff, it doesnt always go according to plans, Boston said. There are bumps in the road. We didnt have everything installed and we werent clicking on the right points. This year, we came back clicking. We got better and better each day and stayed humble and hungry. Last year we just wanted to get to the playoffs. This year, we just didnt want to get to the playoffs. We wanted to set that foundation. The Panthers are led by quarterback Cam Newton, who likely will be the NFL MVP. He passed for 3,837 yards with 35 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while he added another 636 yards rushing and 10 TDs. He has done this despite losing top receiver Kelvin Benjamin before the season began. Every year he has developed as a leader and every year gets better, Boston said. His pocket presence. This year hes killed people with his arm. Hes always been dangerous in the pocket. He made a play against the Saints where he threw across the field with that throwing motion the other way. Its amazing. We said, Wow, how did he make that throw? Hes a freak of nature. Newton also has gotten players to choreograph his dab, which is his touchdown celebration. Its not only us, its the world right now, Boston said. While thoroughly enjoying this season, De Hoyos said it has been exhausting with the 11-hour drives. One time, she attended a 1 p.m. game, left, then arrived home at 3:48 a.m., showered, ate, then arrived at work before 5 a.m. However, she loves the camaraderie with the players wives and mothers. She also loves the atmosphere. The fans are more hyped now, she said. When you go to the stadium, you can hardly hear. Its loud and proud. Theyre fun and they make you smile. The most amazing game was against the Colts. It poured down the whole game. Its cold. Nobody left. I love seeing my son fulfill his dreams. Its the most amazing feeling.

NFC Divisional PlayoffsWho: Seattle Seahawks (11-6) at Carolina Panthers (15-1)When: Sunday 1:05 p.m.TV: Fox

North Fort Myers grad and Carolina Panthers safety Tre Boston takes a selfie with third, fourth and fifth graders on Friday, following a talk he had with the Caloosa Elementary School children about life in Fort Myers.(Photo: CORY MULL/THE NEWS-PRESS)

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Source: http://www.news-press.com/story/sports/2016/01/16/boston-mother-enjoying-carolina-panthers-football-season/78634624/

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