CINCINNATI — Apparently the New Orleans Saints offense was just getting warmed up during the first half of the 2018 season.
The Saints (7-1) are well on their way to an eighth consecutive victory after scoring touchdowns on their first five possessions for a 35-7 halftime lead at Cincinnati. The Saints finally settled for a field goal on their first possession of the second half.
The Chiefs are the only other team to score on its first five possessions this season (Week 3 vs 49ers).
Drew Brees was 18 of 20 passing for 214 yards and three touchdowns in the first half — including two to receiver Michael Thomas. Mark Ingram had 99 yards of scrimmage and a touchdown. And Alvin Kamara had 79 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns.
The 35 points was the most the Saints have scored in the first half of a road game since 2003, according to ESPN Stats & Information. But it was the second straight game where they reached 35 before halftime (they did the same in last week’s 45-35 home win against the Los Angeles Rams).
The Saints are getting used to hot starts. They have now scored a touchdown on their opening possession in six of nine games this season. And this was the second time the Saints scored a TD on their first four possessions (also Week 5 vs. the Washington Redskins).
The rest of the NFL combined has three such games, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Brees reached 21 TD passes on the season in the first half — and 509 for his career, moving him ahead of Brett Favre for second place on the NFL’s all-time list (Peyton Manning is first at 539).
Kamara now has 14 touchdowns on the season and nine multi-TD games in his two-year career. Only Todd Gurley has more since the start of the 2017 season.
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