We're 86 days away from the New Orleans Saints season opener versus the Arizona Cardinals. Our countdown to kickoff continues with Marques Colston's 86-yard touchdown catch from his rookie year against the Carolina Panthers.
Colston is one of the most underrated wide receivers in NFL history. He was a consistent threat in the mid-2000's and early 2010's. Despite his consistency, Colston never made a Pro Bowl. Underrated. It's the perfect word to describe Colston's career and also applies to our play of the day.
Colston was never known for being a burner. Speed was barely even a talking point around the wide receiver. At 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, Colston's size was a standout feature. Though typically known as a bigger, possession receiver, but he flashed his speed on this play.
Milestone moment for Marques Colston
86 yards is the longest reception of Colston's career and it came in his fourth professional game. He caught the pass from Drew Brees about 30 yards downfield before turning on the jets. The wide receiver sped past a pair of Panthers defenders with a poor angle.
From there, Colston had nothing but open grass in between him and the end zone. He pulled away slightly before scoring.
Unfortunately, the effort came in a failed comeback attempt. The Colston touchdown occurred with just over a minute left in the game. The Saints followed it up with a successful two point conversion, but there just wasn't enough time left. The Panthers recovered an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff and took a knee on the next two snaps to close the game.
Though it came in a loss, it's still a memorable occasion for Colston. He has the most receiving yards in franchise history, and this was the first time he ever crossed the century mark, in addition to being the longest reception of his career