Tom Brady was in record-setting form on Sunday, guiding the New England Patriots to a crushing 59-0 National Football League triumph over the Tennessee Titans.
Brady threw five of his six touchdown passes in the second period — an NFL record for one quarter — building a record halftime lead of 45-0.
The final margin of victory equaled the biggest since the NFL merged with the American Football League in 1970. In 1976, the Los Angeles Rams blanked Atlanta 59-0.
PHOTO: AFP
“Every week we’re learning something more about ourselves and what we can do,” said Brady, who was playing his sixth game since returning in the wake of a knee injury suffered in last year’s season-opener.
Brady’s milestone second quarter included touchdown passes to Randy Moss of 40 and 28 yards, to Kevin Faulk of 38 yards and to Wes Welker of 30 and 5 yards.
In the first series of the third quarter, Brady threw a 9 yard touchdown pass to Moss before rookie Brian Hoyer took his place.
PHOTO: AFP
“Back to his old self,” said Welker, who caught 10 passes for a career-high 150 yards.
Titans defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch said the footing on a field glossed with snow was “no good.”
Brady said he didn’t notice any problem.
“We had good footing, and it was fun to be a part of it,” he said.
The largest margin of victory since the NFL began in 1920 came in the second week of that season, when the Rochester Jeffersons beat non-league opponents Fort Porter 66-0.
SAINTS 48, GIANTS 27
Drew Brees tossed four touchdown passes to help New Orleans win the battle of undefeated teams by crushing the New York 48-27 on Sunday.
The Giants’ (5-1) top-ranked defense marched into the Big Easy having allowed just 211 yards a game but was shredded by Brees, who completed 23 of 30 pass attempts to help the Saints rack up 493 yards in total offense and improve to 5-0.
Brees used all his weapons, with seven different players recording touchdowns, while the New Orleans defense ruined Eli Manning’s homecoming, harassing the New York quarterback who was playing his first game in the stadium where he grew up cheering his father, former Saints quarterback Archie Manning.
In other NFL action, it was:
• Vikings 33, Ravens 31
• Panthers 28, Buccaneers 21
• Texans 28, Bengals 17
• Steelers 27, Browns 14
• Raiders 13, Eagles 9
• Cardinals 27, Seahawks 3
• Bills 16, Jets 13, OT
• Falcons 21, Bears 14
• Packers 26, Lions 0
• Chiefs 14, Redskins 6
• Jaguars 23, Rams 20, OT
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