Giants Tie NFL Record for Most Points in a Loss, After a Punter Facemask Penalty Sets Up Saints' Game Winner
By Jason Lisk
Why do we tolerate some of the other ridiculousness of the NFL? Because it can jump up and provide sheer ridiculousness on the field, like today’s Giants-Saints game. Twice today, the Saints had two touchdown leads only to see them evaporate. Drew Brees threw 7 touchdown passes; Eli Manning threw 6. It is the second game in NFL history to feature two quarterbacks throwing 6 TD passes. Amazingly, matching the Saints-Cardinals in 1969 when both Billy Kilmer and Charley Johnson did it.
The Giants, meanwhile, tied the 1963 Houston Oilers for the most points scored in a loss, matching the 52-49 scoreline from December 22, 1963 against the Oakland Raiders. It was the highest scoring game in the NFL since the 2004 game between the Bengals and Browns finished 58-48, and the second highest scoring game in the Super Bowl era behind that contest.
Drew Brees looked poised to break Norm Van Brocklin’s single game passing record of 554 yards, with 511 after his 7th touchdown pass tied it with less than a minute left in regulation. Then, the Giants punted with just seconds remaining, it was fumbled, Willie Snead picked it up, and the facemask penalty on Brad Wing put the Saints in position to try a long field goal.
Kai Forbath made the only field goal of the day to end a wild, wacky game that will go down in the NFL record books.