ESPN

Tom Brady and Peyton Manning came through with just enough big moments in Week 1 to lead their respective teams to victory, but at the moment, is Drew Brees the NFL's best quarterback?

If there was a time for Brees to make his move, it's probably right after throwing six touchdown passes, a record for Week 1, against the still-woeful Lions. But we somehow were still a little surprised to see the Saints signal-caller surge to the No. 1 spot in SportsNation's quarterback rankings yesterday. Brees has been posting big numbers for a long time now, and yet, as recently as March, he earned just more than 5,000 first-place rankings from SportsNation -- Brady and Manning each received more than 34,000.

Hey, if Roger Federer can lose a U.S. Open and Tiger Woods can take the collar in major events, perhaps anything is possible. Maybe Brees really is the best passer in the world.

• 68 percent of SN would rather give Brees a six-year contract than Philip Rivers.
• Your Rankings: Yeah, but where do JaMarcus Russell and Trent Edwards rank?
• Chat: Former Patriot Troy Brown, 1:30 ET | Hall of Fame QB Len Dawson, 3 ET

“

Even though we still have the worst history of any major professional sports franchise; The Saints are in a new era and I think Brees may get us to a SuperBowl. I loved how the Saints overcame a blocked kick, 2 long returns, an int, and two fumbles. Who Dat!

” -- njhaines

“

Brees is a monster & I hate the Chargers but definitely think they would've had a SB ring by now as well w/him..

” -- blair771999