Brees Hits Milestone as Saints Nip Ravens 24-23

Drew Brees threw his 500th career touchdown pass on Sunday.

But it was #501 that got the Saints over the top.

The New Orleans Saints won their fifth straight game Sunday when Justin Tucker missed the first extra point of his career with :24 left, allowing the Saints to leave Baltimore with a 24-23 win over the Ravens.

Brees' milestone came at the end of a 75 yard, eight play drive with 1:53 left in the second quarter on a one yard pass to tight end Benjamin Watson that gave the Saints a 7-3 lead.

The Saints took the opening kickoff and took more than ten minutes off the clock but came up empty when Alvin Kamara fumbled on a pitch from Taysom Hill on fourth down inside the Baltimore five yard line, ending the 20 play drive that featured three fourth down conversions, including a fake punt.

In the second quarter, the Ravens went on a long drive of their own, moving 63 yards on 17 plays, taking 7:23 off the clock. Tucker's 31 yard field goal gave the Ravens a 3-0 lead with 6:04 before halftime.

The Ravens took the lead after Brees threw #500, on a one yard run by Lamar Jackson with :04 left til halftime. The drive was highlighted by a 56 yard pass from Joe Flacco to John Brown as the Ravens took a 10-7 lead into the locker room.

Baltimore increased its lead in the third quarter on an eight yard pass from Flacco to TE Mark Andrews. The drive was 10 plays, 61 yards. But the Saints came right back with a 15-play drive, culminating with a two yard run for a touchdown by Alvin Kamara to get the Saints within 17-14. It was the first touchdown scored on the Ravens' defense in the second half this season.

The Saints took their first lead with 4:59 to play on a five yard touchdown pass from Brees to Michael Thomas. Brees converted a fourth and one on the 12 play, 56 yard drive that consumed 6:18 in possession time.

After the Saints stopped Baltimore on downs, New Orleans drove the football to the Ravens' 22 yard line and Wil Lutz kicked a 39 yard field goal to give the Saints a seven point lead.

But the Ravens came right back with an 81 yard drive in six plays with Flacco hitting John Brown from 14 yards out to get the Ravens within a point and it looked like the game was headed to overtime before Tucker's inexplicable miss.

Brees completed 22-30 passes for 212 yards and the two touchdowns. Brees still has not thrown an interception this season. Kamara had 64 yards on 17 carries to lead the New Orleans ground game. The Ravens had been the only NFL team Brees had not beaten.

Flacco was 23-39 for 279 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Alex Collins led the Ravens on the ground with 38 yards on eleven carries.

New Orleans travels to Minnesota for a Sunday night game next week.