Saints running back Alvin Kamara tied the NFL record for touchdowns score in a game Friday as he found the end zone six times with his final score coming late in the fourth quarter.
Kamara could have surpassed the mark was last hit by NFL-great Gale Sayers had another had Sean Payton opted for a different play a little earlier. Payton called a run for Taysom Hill, who score from a yard out, with four minutes to play.
“I was thinking about our best play there, it was fourth down, and we felt that was a play that would be tough for them because obviously, it's a quarterback design run with an extra guy,” Payton said. “But late in the game, I was mindful of it. A lot of these players, I'd say most of these players have no idea how good Gale Sayers was and growing up in Chicago, certainly you were familiar with his ability and I was happy. Listen, it was a big deal.”
Kamara who said his position coach told him what the record was after he’d scored his third touchdown resigned to the fact that he might not able to tie the historic mark when Hill was able to score.
But then Drew Brees connected with rookie tight end Adam Trautman for a 41-yard completion.
“Sean (Payton) gave Taysom (Hill) the one touchdown when I had five,” Kamara said. “I wasn't really worried about it. I was just like, shoot it's all good, whatever, we're right there, I'm second at least. And then (Adam) Trautman went and caught that ball and Drew (Brees) gave him a good ball and he didn't score. I was looking for him to score, but in the back of my mind, I'm like alright, this might be my chance.
“And Sean (Payton) was like, go. So, I just told the O-line, I was like, get me in there. Let's get it. And we were able to get it. We had the celebration planned out, man. It's a great moment. I wouldn't want to do it with another group."
Kamara praised the Saints offensive line for helping him reach the endzone six times.
“I didn't really have to do too much,” he said. “Man, those guys did a great job and the receivers did a great job setting the edge and coming across and doing the dirty work.”
“Man, it just feels good to have one of those days, just for the team, just for offensive morale. So, like I said, I always say this, I'm not focused on personal goals and yards and stuff like that, as long as the team's having success, then personal success will come."