Next challenge for almost 41-year-old Drew Brees is Vikings defense

Drew Brees would have broken the single-season completion percentage record for a fourth time in eight years had he been able to sit out Sunday's game at Carolina.

And that, folks, is a mark that fell just two times in 67 seasons from 1945 to 2011.

With a bye and home-field advantage still on the line last week, Brees suited up with his completion percentage at .753. Then, by his lofty standards, the future Hall of Famer had an imprecise day, completing 63.3% of his passes (19 of 30) with three touchdowns, no interceptions and a 123.3 passer rating in the Saints' 42-10 rout of the Panthers.

So the poor man who broke his passing thumb, had surgery and missed five games ended up completing…