NEW ORLEANS – Drew Brees had the Arizona Cardinals under his surgically repaired and splint-aided thumb.
Brees passed for 373 yards and three touchdowns in his first game since thumb surgery more than five weeks ago, and the New Orleans Saints won their sixth straight with a 31-9 victory Sunday.
"I definitely had some butterflies, maybe a little more than usual," Brees said. "A lot of it was just excitement. And then as game time approached, that just turned into gratitude — just grateful for the opportunity to get back out there again. I'm grateful for this team. I'm grateful for just this moment."
Brees was accurate and looked composed, even when his pass blocking collapsed. He completed 34 of 43 passes, was not sacked and threw one interception.
With backup Teddy Bridgewater filling in, the Saints (7-1) had won all five games since Brees' ulnar collateral ligament surgery on Sept. 18. But coach Sean Payton said during the past week that the 40-year-old Brees had been medically cleared and that there were no misgivings about playing the NFL's all-time leading passer as soon as he felt ready.
"As soon as I could grip it and rip it, then I wanted to play," Brees said. "I love the game. I love my teammates. I want to get out there with them."
With top running back Alvin Kamara sidelined by ankle and knee soreness, former Vikings running back Latavius Murray had his second straight productive performance. He rushed 21 times for 102 yards and a touchdown and caught nine passes for 55 yards and a score. A week earlier in Chicago, he rushed 27 times for 119 yards and two TDs.
"It felt like he was a great outlet and was getting us a lot of positive yards," Brees said. "The touchdown catch, it was a great all-around play by him to get open and then turn what is normally a 7-yard gain into a [15-yard] touchdown."
