MINNEAPOLIS — The way Drew Brees is playing as the heart and soul of the New Orleans Saints, nothing is safe.
Not Dan Marino’s NFL season passing record, not Aaron Rodgers’ presumed league MVP award and perhaps not even the label for best team in the NFC.
Brees threw for 412 yards and five touchdowns Sunday, leading the surging Saints to their sixth win in a row, 42-20 over the free-falling Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome.
Brees completed 32-of-40 passes to help the Saints (11-3) overcome a slow and sloppy start to stay two games ahead of Atlanta in the NFC South. They turned the ball over twice deep in their territory in the first half, botched a surprise onside kick and had a 40-yard TD pass called back because of a penalty. But Brees threw two touchdown passes to Lance Moore and one to Darren Sproles, John Gilmore and Jimmy Graham in just over three quarters of work to keep the Saints steamrolling toward another NFC South title.
The 412 yards left Brees with 4,780 yards for the season, putting him 304 from Marino’s league season record set in 1984 with two games to play.
“I’m aware that we’re close,” Brees said of Marino’s record. “I just know if we keep doing what we’re doing, all of that stuff will take care of itself.”
REDSKINS 23, GIANTS 10
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Washington won for just the second time in 10 games and knocked New York out of first place in the NFC East.
Dallas (8-6) leads the division by a game with two to go, including one against the Giants on the final weekend.
If the Giants beat the Jets and Cowboys in their final two games, they will win the division.
EAGLES 45, JETS 19
PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia (6-8) has won two straight for only the second time this season and somehow still has a chance to repeat as a division champion despite underachieving most of the season. And the Eagles snapped the Jets’ three-game winning streak with ease.
CARDINALS 20, BROWNS 17 (OT)
GLENDALE, Ariz. — This was the Cardinals’ third overtime victory in seven games. Red-hot Arizona (7-7), winner of six of its last seven, trailed 17-7 entering the fourth quarter.
SEAHAWKS 38, BEARS 14
CHICAGO — Red Bryant returned an interception 20 yards for the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter and Seattle kept its faint playoff hopes alive.
BENGALS 20, RAMS 13
ST. LOUIS — Rookie A.J. Green had six catches and topped 1,000 yards for the season, and Cin- cinnati kept pace in the AFC playoff race.
