Brees Named NFC Offensive Player of the Week

Quarterback Drew Brees has been named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for games played the 16th week of the 2011 season (December 22, 24-26), the NFL announced Wednesday.

Brees threw for 307 yards and passed Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino (5,084 in 1984) for the most passing yards in a single season in NFL history with 5,087. The Saints defeated Atlanta 45-16 and clinched the NFC South division with the victory.

He had four touchdown passes and reached the yardage milestone on a nine-yard TD pass to RB Darren Sproles in the fourth quarter.

In his 11th season from Purdue, this is Brees' 15th career Player of the Week Award and third this season (Weeks 7 and 12).  

Since joining the Saints in 2006, Brees has won 13 Player of the Week Awards, the most in franchise history.

Brees, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, recorded his NFL-record 12th 300-yard game of the season and tied the league mark with his sixth consecutive 300-yard passing game (Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve Young, Kurt Warner and Rich Gannon.

Brees, who had 5,069 passing yards in 2008, owns two of the three 5,000-yard passing seasons in NFL history.

He has 41 touchdown passes and is the sixth quarterback in NFL history to pass for at least 40 TDs in a season.