"For Drew Brees, for Sean Payton's New Orleans Saints, it was an impressive message.

There were two ways of looking at a 49-24 rub-out of the New York Giants that ended with Mark Ingram strolling 35 yards down the sideline into the end zone.

Yes, the now 8-3 Saints oozed the confidence of a ball club prepared to wage holy war in a drive to the upper echelon of post-season play.

Also yes, the manner in which the now 6-5 Giants were soundly whipped was the kind of whipping that not only dampened the team's playoff hopes, but could also wind up costing Coach Tom Coughlin his job.

The Giants had no answer for Brees, who passed for 363 yards and four touchdowns and ran for a fifth."