[TheRealVille]

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has broken Dan Marino's 27-year-old record for passing yards in an NFL season.

The 32-year-old's final pass in the 45-16 home win over Atlanta Falcons saw him pass Marino's mark of 5,084 yards for Miami Dolphins in 1984.

Brees ended the game with four touchdowns and 307 yards as the Saints clinched the NFC South title.

"Honestly, I was trying not to think about the record," he said.

"I knew we were close. I got [rushed] by the offensive lineman and I figured at that point, 'Ok, I guess we finally broke the record or they wouldn't be hoisting me up like this.'

"So many people contributed to this and I'm happy for them."

SINGLE SEASON PASSING RECORD

Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) 5,087 yards in 2011*
Dan Marino (Miami Dolphins) 5,084 yards in 1984
Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) 5,069 yards in 2008
Kurt Warner (St Louis Rams) 4,830 yards in 2001
Tom Brady (New England Patriots) 4,806 yards in 2007
*2011 regular season yet to finish
Brees's nine-yard pass to Darren Sproles with two minutes 51 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter not only confirmed Saints's seventh successive win but eclipsed one of the longest-standing individual records in NFL history.

Marino tweeted his congratulations to Brees, saying: "Great job by such a special player."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/american...339375.stm