Drew Brees could play a unique role in the Saints beating the rival Falcons in Week 12 without even taking a snap for New Orleans
The New Orleans Saints are well rested after their bye week, but there is plenty of work left to be done this season. Kellen Moore's team won their last game, led by Tyler Shough. Now, they will try to fend off an Atlanta Falcons team that is struggling and may be without their starting quarterback in Week 12.
For a game filled with plenty of emotion, that piece of the puzzle may only get turned up even further. Drew Brees has made his return to announcing NFL games, and it sounds like he may call this Saints-Falcons battle this weekend.
Drew Brees set to call Saints-Falcons matchup for FOX in Week 12
The former Saints QB is an option to be on call for the rivalry matchup after returning to the booth during the Saints' bye week. Brees was met with mixed reviews during his Week 11 performance for the New York Giants-Green Bay Packers game, but he deserves plenty of time to find his football and improve as a broadcaster. Would be a great opportunity for both Brees and Saints fans.
According to Crescent City Sports, Brees will reportedly be in the booth for New Orleans' Nov. 23 game against the Falcons in the Caesars Superdome. That will be finalized and confirmed on Wednesday when the FOX broadcast map is released online. Brees is set to announce alongside Adam Amin, his expected duo for the foreseeable future. Kristina Pink will handle the sideline reporting duties for FOX in those games with them.
With New Orleans as their quarterback, Brees went 16-9 against Atlanta. There were plenty of high-scoring matchups in the series with him as the Saints starter.
Overall in his career, Brees was 19-10 versus the Falcons. Brees totaled a passer rating of 97.1 with 8,695 yards, 54 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions in those matchups.
Now, he will look to bring the Saints a bit of good luck as he continues this new era of his football career. He is surely excited to get another chance in the booth after his first attempt was cut far too short. Make sure to check out the broadcast during this game and give him a listen for a bit of nostalgia.
Commanders’ Zach Ertz calls out field at Madrid’s Bernabeu Stadium
The Washington Commanders’ issues started long before their trip to Spain. After a 28-7 Monday Night Football loss to the Chiefs in late October dropped Washington to 3-5, tight end Zach Ertz delivered an urgent warning about the team’s inconsistency.
He told NFL.com’s Kevin Patra there were “too many highs and lows,” with the Commanders failing to execute in all three phases for a full game and the “clock… ticking” if they wanted to stay in the NFC race.
Now, even in Madrid’s iconic Bernabeu Stadium, the theme is still about execution, not excuses. As Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic relayed on X, Ertz said the turf in Madrid was “not ideal” and “had a lot of slippage,” but added that “you can’t blame it one on the field by any means.”
In other words, conditions were bad, but not a get-out-of-jail-free card for another painful finish.
The surface clearly bothered players, yet Ertz’s tone matched what he has been saying since the Chiefs’ loss: Washington has to find consistency regardless of venue. Earlier, he talked about good practice weeks not translating to four clean quarters, and about strong halves followed by letdowns.
The Bernabeu comments fit that mindset. Yes, the footing was rough. No, that does not erase missed chances, failed short-yardage calls, or the inability to close out winnable games.
Kicker Matt Gay embodied that burden after the overtime defeat to the Dolphins. Washington had a chance to win in regulation, but Gay missed a 56-yard field goal with 15 seconds left, then watched Miami prevail 16-13 in OT. Speaking via JP Finlay of NBC Sports, Gay said, “the ball did not go through. I let my team down today,” adding that he missed not just one but two kicks that could have changed the game.
He called the Bernabeu atmosphere “awesome,” then admitted the ending left him “pretty down” because the result was on his leg.
The Commanders are now 3-8, battered by injuries to Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin and leaning on Marcus Mariota while Dan Quinn takes over defensive playcalling. They held Miami to 16 points and still lost.
Between Ertz refusing to blame the turf and Gay putting the loss on himself, the message is loud enough: the margin is thin, the venue is no excuse, and Washington is running out of time to prove it can play a complete, disciplined game.
