While quarterback Drew Brees was smashing the single-season record for passing yards, the New Orleans Saints’ running backs were putting together an impressive season of their own.

In fact, it may surprise you to find out the Saints’ running game finished sixth in the NFL, gaining 129.9 yards per game. On a per carry basis they checked in at fourth in the league with a 4.9-yard average.

“It’s a huge part of our offense,” Brees said. “Typically, I’d say when you look at an offense, it would probably be hard to be top ten passing and rushing because there are only so many plays in a game and so you’re running it more you’re throwing it more. I think it’s great that we’ve been able to sustain the efficiency in both and create for the other, especially when you look at the overall yardage, both passing and rushing. It’s pretty unique.”

Perhaps the biggest reason the New Orleans’ rushing attack doesn’t get the proper attention — aside from Brees dominating the headlines — is because the team doesn’t have a traditional featured back. Instead they had a committee of four players sharing the load over the course of the season, ranging from 79-122 carries.

In terms of carries, the Saints were led by rookie Mark Ingram, yet he had the lowest yardage per carry (3.9) of the four players. New Orleans will be without Ingram on Saturday after the team was forced to place him on IR with a toe injury.

Picking up in Ingram’s absence is Chris Ivory. 

Ivory, who burst onto the scene last year as an undrafted rookie out of Tiffin University, missed the first seven weeks this year while recovering from  lisfranque and sports hernia surgeries. Since returning to the lineup, he has rushed for 374 yards on 79 carries, including a 127-yard performance in the Saints’ Week 17 win over the Carolina Panthers. 

In addition to Ivory, the Saints have Pierre Thomas (562 yards, 110 carries) and the always-explosive Darren Sproles. 

A versatile free agent pick up from San Diego, Sproles has effectively replaced Reggie Bush in the Saints offense. He finished the regular season with 1,303 total yards, 86 receptions and a ridiculous 6.9 yards per carry. 

New Orleans Saints tailback Mark Ingram (toe), linebacker Jonathan Casillas (knee) and defensive end Turk McBride (ankle) have all been declared out for Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans. Everyone else is listed as probable, including linebacker Jonathan Vilma, who was held out of the team portion of practice Friday to rest his recovering knee.

Ingram’s absence will almost certainly mean that tailback Chris Ivory will be activated in his place Sunday. Ivory will likely handle much of the short-yardage working load and some of Ingram’s early-down snaps, while fellow tailbacks Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles could also see increased touches.

For the first time all season, the New Orleans Saints’ top four tailbacks are all healthy, which gives them a “good problem” heading into Monday night’s game against the New York Giants. Saints Coach Sean Payton would not reveal how they plan to handle it, though.

“Whether we go with three or four (active on game day) is yet to be determined,” Payton said.

In the past, Payton has said it would be hard to keep four tailbacks active and in the rotation on game day, though he hasn’t ruled it out.

Chances are, Chris Ivory would be the odd man out if the Saints go with three tailbacks. Ivory played in two games while Mark Ingram was dealing with an ankle injury, but then Ivory was inactive in the Saints’ last game at Atlanta with his own minor hamstring injury.

Ivory, who was the Saints’ leading rusher last year as an undrafted rookie, insisted that he would understand if that was the coaches’ decision.

“It doesn’t bother me at all. If I’m inactive, that’s out of my hands,” Ivory said. “But I would like to be active. And I feel like I’m talented enough to be on the field. But you never know what these guys are gonna do. All four of us may be active.”

Ingram was the Saints’ leading rusher before his injury, but now the Saints’ top three tailbacks are remarkably close in rushing yards this year. Darren Sproles leads the team with 348 yards on 51 carries (an average of 6.8 yards per carry). Ingram, the short-yardage specialist of the bunch, has 340 yards on 93 carries (3.7). And Pierre Thomas has 340 yards on 72 carries (4.7). Ivory has 85 yards on 21 carries (4.0).

Ingram, a Heisman trophy winner at Alabama, insisted that he’s fine with sharing the workload – as long as the Saints are winning.

“It’s new … but I’m a team player, so whatever’s best for the team, that’s what I’m all for,” Ingram said. “So whatever my role is, whether I’m getting 17 carries or six carries, I’m just gonna make the best of every touch and try to help this team be successful in any way I can.

“At the end of the day, as long as were winning, I think everyone is happy. Winning is the key. Whatever I have to do to help this team be successful, that’s what I’m willing to do.”

New Orleans Saints cornerback Tracy Porter, who was immobilized and carted off the field Sunday after a violent collision in the Tampa Bay game, was back at the team’s Metairie facility Monday. Coach Sean Payton said all the signs thus far are encouraging.

Porter was taken to the hospital as a precaution after he tackled Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Williams low in the first quarter and then failed to get back on his feet. Payton said after the game that neurological tests were negative and within hours Porter was tweeting his thanks for the support of the Saints fans.

“Basically he’s dealing with some chest and upper back soreness from the collision,” Payton said. “But all the news with his injury is positive so that’s encouraging.”

Payton said a handful of other Saints players were nicked in New Orleans 27-16 victory over Tampa Bay but he did not elaborate. The team’s first injury report is due Wednesday.

At various times during the game cornerback Patrick Robinson and running back Pierre Thomas were treated on the sideline, but both returned to action. Offensive tackle Zach Strief, back in the lineup after spraining a knee ligament, did not suffer any aggravation, according to Payton.

In the second meeting of NFC South foes, the New Orleans Saints took a 27-16 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in the Superdome.

“It was good and important win. Being the more physical team helped us today,” said Saints coach Sean Payton. “Both teams are trying to do the things that statically have been the difference in this rivalry. Overall, we are pleased with the win.”

Saints quarterback Drew Brees went 27 of 36 for 258 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

New Orleans running back Chris Ivory finished with 67 yards on 15 tries. Pierre Thomas had a season-high 66 rushing yards. Darren Sproles added 42 yards.

Saints tight end Jimmy Graham led the receivers with six catches for 78 yards.