Passing numbers are up across the NFL this season as throwing the football dominates offenses more and more.

The average passer rating this season is 93.4 -- from 2002 through 2017, the average was 84.2.

From 1966 through 2017, the league saw 300-yard passing performances once every 3.8 games. This year, the average has fallen to once ever 1.4 games, with 57 300-yard performances in 78 games.

Eleven quarterbacks already have more than 1,500 passing yards. Six have thrown at least 12 touchdown passes through five weeks.

Drew Brees broke Peyton Manning's all-time passing mark of 71,940 yards in the second quarter of the New Orleans Saints' 43-19 win over the Washington Redskins on Monday night.

Brees set the record on a 62-yard touchdown pass to Tre'Quan Smith.

He needed 201 yards to surpass Manning's mark. He finished the game completing 26 of 29 passes for 363 yards and three touchdowns. He currently has 72,103 career passing yards.

"There's just so many people who are responsible for that," Brees, 39, said after the game. "Two of the people who are most responsible for my football career early on in my life are up in heaven. My mom and my grandfather. There were a lot of people I wanted to prove right tonight and make proud, and none more so than them. I know they're watching down on me at all times and my kids.

"Just so grateful, just so grateful for the opportunity to play this game and to play for so long," Brees continued. "To have teammates that I have, the New Orleans Saints organization, this great city and this great fan base, it's just truly been a dream come true. I'll be able to reflect on it maybe a little bit more when my career is done -- I still feel like there's work to be done -- but I'm just really, really proud and very grateful."

Tom Brady became just the third quarterback in NFL history to throw 500 career touchdowns passes in the second half of the New England Patriots' 38-24 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday night.

He reached the mark on a 34-yard connection with Josh Gordon in the fourth quarter.

"Things like that -- milestones and so forth -- there are so many people who contribute," Brady said about the achievement after the game. "So I just think of all the people that have really worked hard. The quarterback doesn't throw it to himself. He needs people who catch it and block and defense to make plays and coaches that coach. These are all great team awards. So, pretty cool."

Gordon was the 71st different receiver to haul in a scoring pass from Brady, which broke Vinny Testaverde's previous NFL record of 70.

Only two players have thrown 500 touchdown passes in NFL history, but two more players will join the club very soon.

Peyton Manning (539) and Brett Favre (508) lead the all-time touchdown list.

Tom Brady enters Week 5 with 497 scoring passes, while Drew Brees is at 496.

Brady and the New England Patriots will face the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday night, while Brees and the New Orleans Saints will play the Washington Redskins on Monday night.