Perfectionist might be the correct word to describe New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees.

WWLTV

Quarterback Drew Brees passes to runningback Reggie Bush.

In fact, he’s something more than that.

Despite going 26-of-30 and throwing for 320 yards and three touchdowns in New Orleans’ 34-3 win over Oakland on Sunday, Brees could recall only one thing when asked about his game.

His four incompletions.

“I could tell you all my incompletions,” said Brees, the NFL’s NFC Offensive Player of the Month for Septemeber.

It’s safe to say he’s helping keep the Saints’ heads above water. He had a quarterback rating of 144.4 Sunday, or 14 points below perfection.

“Drew’s hot,” said receiver Lance Moore, who caught seven of Brees’ passes for 97 yards in Sunday’s win.

“It makes it fun. It makes it easy. We don’t have to worry about the ball not being there on time or the ball being in a funny place. It’s easier to go out and make plays.”

Brees’ first incomplete pass came with less than two minutes to play in the first half. He tossed high to running back Reggie Bush and the offense lived to play another down.

But while fans see Brees’ accomplishments on Sundays, it’s what he does during the week that sets him aside, teammates said.

“What’s apparent to most people is what he does Sunday,” Saints right tackle Jon Stinchcomb said. “It’s really the work he puts in throughout the week. You’re not going to beat him into the offense and you’re not going to outlast him. He’s the first in and the last to leave. I’m sure that’s why he’s so efficient on Sunday.

“Nobody holds themselves to a higher standard than what he holds himself to.”

Brees completed 16 straight passes to begin Sunday’s game and appeared like he was doing what he wanted to with the football.

“Brees was fantastic,” Raiders cornerback DeAngelo Hall said. “Each time we thought we got a good pass rush on him he would just deliver the ball on the money.”

Said New Orleans head coach Sean Payton, “Any time you win like that and you play like he did from an efficiency standpoint, it is outstanding and it is a big part of us winning.”

It’s not like Brees was only throwing to one player, either. He completed passes to nine different receivers.

“I think all those guys understand the importance of their specifics within the route,” Payton said. “He will find the holes in the coverage and the weaknesses in the coverage and there is not many times where he doesn’t.”