NEW ORLEANS – Alvin Kamara ran for the defense of the Minnesota Vikings on Friday with a performance for all eternity on Christmas Day.
Kamara played six touchdowns – the biggest draw in NFL history with Ernie Nevers of the Chicago Cardinals in 1929 – while the New Orleans Saints won their fourth consecutive NFC South title with a 52-33 victory in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
According to the NFL Record and Fact Book, Nevers’ landmark was tied with the league’s oldest record.
Kamara is only the fourth player to score six TDs of any kind per game, joining Nevers, Gale Sayers (1965) and Dub Jones (1951), according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
In the process, Kamara also set a franchise record with 21 touchdowns this season. He set a personal record with 155 running yards in one game and now has a career record of 932 running yards and 1,688 yards of scrimmage this season.
He also set a career record with 83 catches in the season – ending his unusual streak of exactly 81 catches in each of his first three seasons. Kamara was nominated for his fourth Pro Bowl in four seasons earlier this week.
The Saints (11-4) still have an outside chance at NFC seed # 1, but will need help. They end their season at the Carolina Panthers next week.
The Vikings (6-9) were eliminated from the playoff dispute in defeat.
New Orleans took advantage of Minnesota’s injury-depleted defense running 264 yards – the Saints’ second highest total since 1986. The Saints had a total of seven hurried TDs, including a 1-yard by Taysom Hill in the fourth period.
The Saints relied heavily on Kamara and the racing game while quarterback Drew Brees was still shaking off some rust from his broken ribs and punctured lung that kept him out of weeks 11-14. Brees intercepted twice on Friday for the first time since the 2017 season and had two other deflected passes that were in danger of being withdrawn.
Brees finished with 311 passing yards, however, completing 19 of 26 passes.
Santos’ defense was also a bit beaten in a short week. He tied a record for the franchise with 92 crackles played in his 32-29 home loss on Sunday to the Kansas City Chiefs, during which two key players suffered injuries – safety Marcus Williams (ankle) and defensive side Trey Hendrickson ( neck). The Saints lost another starter when linebacker Kwon Alexander was taken to the locker room on Friday because of an ankle injury.