Since Drew is about to beat all 32 teams in the league, that time he beat the Saints

November 7, 2004: Chargers 43, Saints 17

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These clearly are not the San Diego Chargers ofthe recent gloomy past.

They can pass. They can catch. They can play defense. And even with LaDainian Tomlinson hurting, they can win big.

In routing the New Orleans Saints 43-17 on Sunday, they even showed a bit of a swagger.

"We go on the field and say, 'We can beat these guys,' " quarterback Drew Brees said. "That's our attitude. It's such a dramatic difference from last year. We're almost disappointed that the bye's coming because we just want to keep going."

It was San Diego's highest-scoring game since beating the Miami Dolphins 45-20 on Dec. 27, 1993. The Chargers have scored 85 points in consecutive games.

Brees, the quarterback the front office didn't want coming into this season, threw four more touchdown passes -- three to tight end Antonio Gates -- and the Chargers (6-3) won their third straight game and for the fifth time in six games.

Brees has thrown nine touchdown passes in two straight blowout wins, pushing his season total to 18, against just three interceptions. Last year he threw 15 interceptions and 11 touchdowns, was benched for five games and pulled from two others.

Brees was 22-of-36 for 257 yards on Sunday. Last week he threw a career-high five TD passes in a 42-10 win over Oakland. He hasn't thrown an interception in three straight games, and in six of the last seven.

"If you have a quarterback you have confidence in, you always believe that you can win the game," coach Marty Schottenheimer said.

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Aaron Brooks was 16-29, 173 yards, 1 td, 1 pick. Deuce with 63 yards on 16 carries and a td.



Saints go 8-8, miss the playoffs. Chargers 12-4, lose to the Jets in the wild card game.