NEW ORLEANS – Alvin Kamara was quick to defend the Minnesota Vikings on Friday, with a Christmas performance for centuries.
Kamara ran for six touchdowns – the highest in NFL history with the Chicago Cardinals’ Ernie Nevers in 1929 – while the New Orleans Saints won their fourth consecutive NFC South title with a 52-33 victory over Mercedes-Benz. Superdome.
According to the NFL Record and Fact Book, Nevers’ benchmark was equal to the league’s oldest record.
Kamara, who has been adorned in a pair of green and red Christmas-themed cracks that will likely attract a fine, is only the fourth player to score six TDs of any kind in a game, joining his Nevers, Dub Jones (1951) and Gale Sayers (1965), according to ESPN Stats and Information research.
“It’s crazy. Line O did a great job; I really didn’t have to do much. And the receivers did a great job setting the edge and coming in and doing the dirty work,” Kamara said. “I feel good to have one of those days, just for the team, just for the offensive morale. As I always say, I don’t focus on personal goals, courts and things like that. As long as the team is successful, then personal success will come “.
In the process, Kamara also set a franchise record with 21 touchdowns this season. He recorded a personal score of 155 meters in the race in a game, and now has a high career level of 932 meters speed and 1,688 meters hand this season.
He also set a career high with 83 catches in the season – ending his unusual series of exactly 81 catches in each of his first three seasons. Kamara was named to the fourth Pro Bowl in four seasons earlier this week.
Kamara said he became aware of this record when he asked coach Joel Thomas, after his third run in the first half.
“He came back to me and said six, and I was saying, ‘S —, let’s go,'” Kamara said.
He insisted he had no problem with coach Sean Payton deciding to let defender Taysom Hill score on a 1-yard goalkeeper at the end of the fourth quarter, when Kamara was still a short distance away.
“I was just like, ‘It’s okay.’ At least I’m second, “Kamara said.
But after a 41-meter catch by Adam Trautman, who put the Saints back on the Minnesota 3-meter line just before the 2-minute warning, Payton told Kamara to enter the field – and Kamara said that he said to the offensive line, “Take me there, let’s take it.”
They ended Kamara’s sixth TD with an angel-snow group celebration in the final area.
“It was a wonderful time,” Kamara said. “I wouldn’t want to do it with another group.”
Payton gave his impressions.
“Obviously, his performance was incredible,” Payton added. “I would say most of these players have no idea how good Gale Sayers was; but growing up in Chicago, you were certainly familiar with his ability.
“It was a big deal. He played fantastic today. And look, Minnesota was hit, too. They had a lot of new faces playing the linebacker. It was a little unusual year like that.”
New Orleans took advantage of Minnesota’s exhausted defense, running 264 meters – the Saints’ second-highest total since 1986.
Kamara’s cuts could attract interest in Canton, Ohio – and NFL offices because they don’t match the colors of the team’s uniform.
Kamara also wore Christmas-themed spikes during her 2017 debut season, which attracted a $ 6,079 fine that Kamara promised to give with a charitable donation. He said he would do the same this time.
“If she fines me, whatever it is, I will fit it and donate it to charity,” Kamara said. – You know, the Grinch is always trying to steal Christmas.
The Saints (11-4) still have an outside chance at NFC No. 1, but they will need help. They end their season in Carolina next week.
The Vikings (6-9) were eliminated from the playoff dispute in the defeat.
The Saints relied heavily on Kamara and the running game, while defender Drew Brees was still removing rust from his broken ribs and punctured lungs, which removed him from weeks 11-14. Brees threw two interceptions on Friday for the first time in the 2017 season, and had two more turns that were in danger of being picked up.
However, Brees finished with 311 yards, completing 19 of 26 passes.
The defense of the Saints was also slightly defeated in a short week. Last Sunday, they tied a franchise record with 92 snaps played in a 32-29 home loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and lost two key starters to injuries – safety Marcus Williams (ankle) and defensive end Trey Hendrickson (neck).