Big Day for Brooks Is Overshadowed

While New Orleans wide receiver Joe Horn was drawing all the attention, Saint quarterback Aaron Brooks made one of the best turnarounds of his career.

One week after losing three of his four fumbles, Brooks passed for five touchdowns, the best of his career, in a 45-7 victory Sunday night over the New York Giants.

Four of those touchdowns went to Horn, who certainly celebrated his second one in unique fashion, making a call on a cellphone hidden in the padding of a goal post after an acrobatic catch of a 13-yard scoring pass from Brooks.

It nearly turned Brooks’ exemplary performance into a footnote, although the Saint quarterback completed 26 of 35 passes for 296 yards. His touchdown pass plays to Horn were of 50, 13, seven and 18 yards.

The third of Horn’s nine catches made him the first player in New Orleans history with 70 or more receptions in four consecutive seasons.

Brooks’ other touchdown throw went to Jerome Pathon, who scored on a 26-yard play in the third quarter.

The five touchdown passes by Brooks gave him 83 for his career, third in franchise history behind Archie Manning (175) and Bobby Hebert (85).

It was the most points the Saints have ever scored at home. The victory kept New Orleans’ slim playoff hopes alive at 7-7.

For the Giants (4-10), it was the sixth consecutive defeat, further weakening Coach Jim Fassel’s hold on his job. New York has been outscored, 163-51, during the slide.

“It’s not going to get any easier when we’re playing teams that are either in the hunt or on the fringe of the hunt,” Fassel said.