• E-Mail
• Print
• Larger
• Smaller

Published: Monday, Oct. 08, 2012 / Updated: Monday, Oct. 08, 2012 03:32 AM

With Payton, Vitt and Loomis on hand, Brees passes Unitas

NEW ORLEANS -- 

Drew Brees set an NFL record with touchdown passes in 48 straight games, breaking the mark set by Johnny Unitas a half-century ago.

The record-setting scoring strike was a 40-yard pass to Devery Henderson against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday night.

Unitas set the record between 1956 and 1960 and no one had come within 10 games until Brees began to close in late last season.

Coach Sean Payton, assistant head coach Joe Vitt and general manager Mickey Loomis — all three suspended in the NFL’s bounty investigation — were permitted by the NFL at Brees’ request to attend the game. Unitas’ son, Joe, also was present.

Chiefs unhappy

over fans cheering Cassel’s head injury

KANSAS CITY, Mo. Members of the Kansas City Chiefs angrily spoke out Sunday against thousands of fans who cheered when quarterback Matt Cassel left a 9-6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens with a head injury.

Cassel has been the focus of frustrated fans for the past couple years. Some had even hired an airplane to fly over Arrowhead Stadium with a banner asking for him to be benched.

The angst reached a tipping point when Cassel, who committed four turnovers against Baltimore, was hammered by the Ravens’ Haloti Ngata while completing a pass in the fourth quarter.

Cassel remained on his back for several minutes while fans began to cheer. He eventually got to his feet with some help and walked off the field under his own power.

“It’s 100-percent sickening,” Chiefs tackle Eric Winston said. “I’ve never, ever — and I’ve been in some rough times on some rough teams — I’ve never been more embarrassed in my life to play football than at that moment right there. I get emotional about it because these guys, they work their butts off. Matt Cassel hasn’t done anything to you people.”

Briefly

•  Kansas City has committed 19 turnovers through its first five games, the most this early since New Orleans had 21 to start the 1997 season.

•  Chiefs backup quarterback Brady Quinn, the former Notre Dame standout, played for the first time since Dec. 20, 2009, with Cleveland.

•  Baltimore is averaging 310.5 yards in two road games and 457 yards in four home games.

•  Colts receiver Reggie Wayne finished with 13 catches for a career-high 212 yards — the second-highest total in Colts history behind Hall of Famer Raymond Berry in 1957.

•  Green Bay lost running back Cedric Benson (ankle), defensive tackle B.J. Raji (ankle) and tight end Jermichael Finley (right shoulder).

•  Indianapolis defensive end Robert Mathis left with a knee sprain and did not return after trying on a brace.

•  Packers receiver Donald Driver played in his 197th career game, breaking a tie with Bart Starr for second in team history.

•  The Giants are 9-0 in games that Ahmad Bradshaw has rushed for 100 yards or more.

•  Cleveland is 0-5 for the first time since its return season to the NFL in 1999 and have lost 11 straight dating back to last season, matching the franchise record.

•  Giants coach Tom Coughlin tied Bill Parcells for regular-season coaching victories with the franchise at 77 and trails only Steve Owen (153).

•  Miami hasn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher for 19 consecutive games, their longest streak since 2002-03 (20 games).

•  Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu left in the first quarter after re-aggravating a strained right calf and outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley left with a strained hamstring shortly thereafter.

•  Steelers tight end Heath Miller became the eighth player in franchise history to top 4,000 career receiving yards.

•  Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III was diagnosed with a concussion and had a cut on his chin after taking a shot to the facemask.

•  N.Y. Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora’s son was hospitalized and then released Sunday after an asthma attack.

•  Vikings rookie safety Harrison Smith was ejected after a tussle between Minnesota and Tennessee players for shoving an official at the end of the play. It drew an automatic 15-yard penalty and disqualification.

•  A former Bengals cheerleader reached a plea deal in the sex abuse case against her. Multiple media outlets reported that she is charged with having sex with a 17-year-old student when she was a teacher in northern Kentucky. She will be in court Monday in northern Kentucky.

•  Chicago has returned five interceptions for TDs in the last three weeks, the first time since 1950 the Bears have done so in three consecutive games.

•  Buffalo became the first team to give up at least 550 yards in consecutive games in the same season since the 1950 New York Yanks.

•  Minnesota is on its first three-game winning streak since November 2009.