We've reached Day 46 in our countdown to the New Orleans Saints
' season opener, which makes this 46-yard Aaron Brooks touchdown pass an easy choice for the Saints Play of the Day. Brooks found speedy wideout Albert Connell downfield for a game-changing score, catching Bills defensive back Ken Irvin in close coverage at the goal line. Connell deserves a lot of credit for winning on the jump ball, too. You can see it for yourself right here.Brooks came through in a big spot against the Buffalo Bills -- the Saints trailed 6-0 at halftime, and now they were facing 3rd and 15 near midfield early in the third quarter. This 46 yarder flipped the script, and the Saints went on to rout the Bills in Buffalo, winning the day 24-6. Brooks threw two more
touchdown passes to tight end Cam Cleeland and running back Ricky Williams, but his first score was what turned the game around.
That 2001 season started with a lot of promise after winning their first playoff game the year before and going 4-2 out of the gates, but head coach Jim Haslett couldn't keep his team together. They hit 7-5 at midseason and a four-game losing streak to close the year sunk their playoff hopes, and future Pro Football Hall of Fame left tackle Willie Roaf was traded in the offseason. Haslett never did get them back to the postseason, but the brightest era in team history was waiting right around the corner.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: This 46-yard Aaron Brooks TD pass is the Saints Play of the Day
