NEW ORLEANS — Alvin Kamara went dashing through the Minnesota Vikings defense Friday with a Christmas Day performance for the ages.
Kamara ran for six touchdowns — tied for the most in NFL history with Ernie Nevers of the Chicago Cardinals in 1929 — as the New Orleans Saints clinched their fourth straight NFC South title with a 52-33 victory in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
According to the NFL Record and Fact Book, Nevers’ record was tied for the longest-standing record in the NFL.
Kamara is only the fourth player ever to score six TDs of any kind a game, joining Nevers, Gale Sayers (1965) and Dub Jones (1951), according to research by ESPN Stats and Information.
In the process, Kamara also set a franchise record with 21 touchdowns on the season. He also set a personal best with 155 rushing yards in a game and now has a career-high 932 rushing yards and 1,688 yards from scrimmage this season.
He also set a career high with 83 catches on the season — ending his unusual streak of exactly 81 catches in each of his first three seasons. Kamara was named to his fourth Pro Bowl in four seasons earlier this week.
The Saints (11-4) still have an outside chance at the NFC’s No. 1 seed, but would need some help. They finish their season at Carolina next week.
New Orleans took advantage of Minnesota’s injury-depleted defense by running for 264 yards — the Saints’ second-highest total since 1986. They had a total of seven rushing TDs, including a one-yarder by Taysom Hill in the fourth quarter.
The Saints leaned heavily on Kamara and the run game while quarterback Drew Brees was still shaking off some rust from the broken ribs and punctured lung that sidelined him from Weeks 11-14. Brees threw two interceptions Friday for the first time the 2017 season and had two other tipped passes that were in jeopardy of being picked.
Brees did finish with 311 passing yards, however, completing 19 of 26 passes.
The Saints’ defense was also a little beaten up on a short week. They tied a franchise record with 92 snaps played in Sunday’s 32-29 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, during which two key starters suffered injuries – safety Marcus Williams (ankle) and defensive end Trey Hendrickson (neck). Then they lost another when linebacker Kwon Alexander was carted back to the locker room Friday with an ankle injury.