Brees' biggest contribution in his team's sixth straight victory was convincing coach Sean Payton to go for a touchdown with five seconds left in the first half instead of a field goal. Trailing 24-3, the Saints were six inches from the end zone, and Brees' 20-yard completion to Marques Colston was being reviewed to see if it was a touchdown. The field goal team was on the field.
"Initially, we were going for the field goal," Payton said, "but Drew was in my ear telling me that he would get it in."
With no timeouts, the ball would have been marked when the review was completed. It was determined Colston's knee was six inches short of the end zone.
The Dolphins provided the biggest assist by calling a timeout rather than forcing the field goal attempt.
"The field goal team was on the field, but the offense was huddled on the sideline," Dolphins coach Tony Sparano explained. "I thought that they might switch at the last second, and I wanted to have the right personnel."
Brees didn't deny being in Payton's ear. Tight end Jeremy Shockey saw it the same way. Brees didn't think the timeout made a big difference.
"We would have been lined up and spiked the ball," he said. "We would have had a chance to run the play anyway."
No matter how it happened -- and Payton wasn't sure of the sequence -- Brees got his way. He leaped forward and stuck the ball over the goal line to score, reducing the Saints' deficit to 24-10, he then vigorously spiked the ball, giving his team much-needed momentum.
