METAIRIE, La. — Has anyone ever had to work so hard for his first NFL touchdown?

New Orleans Saints receiver Nick Toon had to wait three years to finally reach the end zone. When he finally did, he had to fight his way through four Pittsburgh Steelers defenders on his way in for the 11-yard score in Sunday’s 35-32 victory.

“I’m happy for him. Especially since that wasn’t just any old catch and waltz in the end zone,” said quarterback Drew Brees, who threw a short pass in the third quarter before Toon did all of the work — stiff-arming cornerback Ike Taylor, spinning away from Taylor and safety Troy Polamalu, then absorbing two big hits near the goal line from end Brett Keisel and linebacker Lawrence Timmons.

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A quick observation of quarterback Drew Brees and how he played in the New Orleans Saints‘ 35-32 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 13:

It was Brees’ best performance of the season, and the timing was uncanny.

Brees

Brees threw five touchdown passes with no turnovers just hours after the NFL Network reported that the Saints “believe they can see the finish line” with the 35-year-old quarterback, and they’re ready to go shopping for his understudy high in next year’s draft.

Brees dismissed the report Monday on Fox Sports Radio as having “absolutely no validity” and echoed coach Sean Payton by saying it was just a reporter “trying to make a splash.”

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