When Drew Brees attempts to break Johnny Unitas' consecutive touchdown record on Sunday night against the San Diego Chargers, he will have some close friends watching in the audience.
The quarterback made a request to the NFL to allow suspended head coach Sean Payton, general manager Mickey Loomis and assistant head coach Joe Vitt attend the game, which was granted earlier this week.
"I am excited for our team and for them," Brees said in a text message to ESPN's Pat Yasinkas. "It adds another element to what we hope to be a very special night."
The NFL's released a statement, saying: "Drew Brees requested permission for Sean Payton, Mickey Loomis, and Joe Vitt to attend Sunday night's game in which Drew will attempt to set the record of 48 straight games with a touchdown pass. Commissioner [Roger] Goodell has granted that permission. Coaches Payton and Vitt and Mickey Loomis will be permitted to watch the game in a private area of the stadium and will have no contact with the team."
The three were suspended for their roles in the Saints' bounty scandal with Payton getting banned for the year, Loomis for eight games and Vitt for six games. Payton will attend the game, while Vitt and Loomis may not.
Brees is attempting to throw for a touchdown in his 48th straight game, which would break the record held by Unitas since 1960. According to ESPN.com, the last time Brees didn't throw a touchdown pass in a game was in October of 2009.
Last week he tied the record in the Saints' 28-27 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
"Obviously, I'd like to be talking about it after a win," Brees said of the record following the 28-27 loss. "But certainly it's significant to even be in the same realm as a guy like Johnny Unitas."
It's fitting for Brees that the game comes against his former team, the Chargers, in front of the men (Payton, Loomis) who gave him a shot after San Diego handed the reins to Philip Rivers in 2006.
Brees was coming off shoulder surgery before the 2006 season and the Saints were one of the only teams willing to sign him. He made good on their investment, delivering a Super Bowl championship and breaking numerous NFL records, including Dan Marino's single-season passing yards record last year.
But for all the good that Brees has brought the Saints, the team hasn't had much of it this year and is staring at the possibility of starting 0-5 for the first time in nearly two decades.
According to ESPN.com, the Saints became the sixth team to start 0-4 after winning 13 games the previous season. The article also says that the San Diego Chargers once made the playoffs after starting 0-4, coming in the 1992 season.
"It's been many years since I've been around Drew but he's treating today like they're 4-0," San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers said. "He's very steady. And that's how you bounce back from a situation like they're in. In a Drew Brees team with what they've been though, you can't ever count them out of anything. We'll get their best and we've got to prepare to make sure that we give them our best."
Brees has faced his former team only once, playing against the Chargers in London's Wembley Stadium in 2008. He had a great game, passing for 339 yards and three touchdowns as the Saints won 37-32.
The key for the Saints on Sunday night will be stopping Rivers. New Orleans is rated as one of the worst defenses in the league, giving up over 400 yards and 30 points per game.
"We have to find a way to affect the quarterback more," first-year defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said.
San Diego will try exploiting the weak defense through the air and on the ground, where the Chargers have had great success in recent weeks. Over the past three games the team has rushed for over 120 yards per game.
The Chargers defense has been much improved this season, including the play of linebacker Donald Butler, who was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his game against the Chiefs in week four.
San Diego comes into the game at a confident 3-1, but a desperate team is a dangerous one, and Brees will do all he can to try to put a one in the win column for the Saints on Sunday night.
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