It only took a trip to Kansas City for the New Orleans Saints to
end their winless streak on the road.
Drew Brees, directing the NFL’s top-ranked offense, threw for 266 yards and one
touchdown against the league’s worst defense, and the Saints beat the
injury-wracked Chiefs 30-20 on Sunday.
Lance Moore had eight catches for 102 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown
strike. It was the first victory in five road games for the Saints (5-5), who
haven’t played in their own stadium since Oct. 12 and had to count a win in
London over San Diego as a home game.
Tyler Thigpen’s second touchdown pass to Dwayne Bowe brought the Chiefs (1-9) to
within seven points with 13:54 left. But Brees led the Saints on a
time-consuming, 12-play drive that was capped by Garrett Hartley’s third field
goal, a 35-yarder, to make it a 10-point game with 3:28 to go.
A moment later, Thigpen was intercepted by Usama Young, ending a string of 161
straight passes without a pick. The former seventh-round draft pick, making his
fifth start, was 19-of-38 for 235 yards and two TDs. He was also sacked four
times, including twice by defensive end Jeff Charleston...more
Scoring Summary
NO - KC
1st Quarter
5:31
KC
TD
Tyler Thigpen passed to Dwayne Bowe to the left for 6
yard gain (Connor Barth made PAT)
0 - 7
0:29
NO
FG
Garrett Hartley kicked a 30-yard field goal
3 - 7
2nd Quarter
11:23
NO
TD
Deuce McAllister rushed up the middle for 1 yard gain
(Garrett Hartley made PAT)
10 - 7
3:31
KC
FG
Connor Barth kicked a 20-yard field goal
10 - 10
0:00
NO
FG
Garrett Hartley kicked a 23-yard field goal
13 - 10
3rd Quarter
13:53
NO
TD
Drew Brees passed to Lance Moore to the right for 47
yard gain (Garrett Hartley made PAT)
20 - 10
7:41
KC
FG
Connor Barth kicked a 21-yard field goal
20 - 13
3:15
NO
TD
Pierre Thomas rushed to the left for 1 yard gain
(Garrett Hartley made PAT)
27 - 13
4th Quarter
13:54
KC
TD
Tyler Thigpen passed to Dwayne Bowe to the left for 5
yard gain (Connor Barth made PAT)
27 - 20
3:28
NO
FG
Garrett Hartley kicked a 35-yard field goal
30 - 20
Team Statistics
NO
KC
First Downs
22
19
Passing
15
14
Rushing
7
4
Penalty
0
1
Third Down Efficiency
6-12
5-14
Fourth Down Efficiency
0-0
1-2
TOTAL NET YARDS
369
330
Total Plays
64
66
Average Gain Per Play
5.8
5.0
NET YARDS RUSHING
103
124
Rushes
28
24
Average Per Rush
3.7
5.2
NET YARDS PASSING
266
206
Completions-Attempts
25-36
19-38
Yards Per Pass Play
7.4
4.9
Times Sacked
0
4
Yards Lost to Sacks
0
29
Had Intercepted
1
1
PUNTS
2
4
Average Punt
48.5
33.3
PENALTIES
2
6
Penalty Yards
8
40
FUMBLES
1
2
Fumbles Lost
0
0
TIME OF POSSESSION
29:36
30:24
Pregame Previews, Storylines,
and News
New Page 1
Preview:
The New Orleans Saints
were considered favorites to
contend for the NFC South title
before the season began, but
inconsistent play has left them
at the bottom of the division.
The Saints look to get back to
.500 and pick up their first
road win of the year Sunday when
they visit the struggling Kansas
City Chiefs, who are expected to
have Larry Johnson back in the
lineup. New Orleans (4-5) isn't
out of the playoff picture yet,
but it trails every team in the
NFC South by at least two games
and is three back of first-place
Carolina...more
Prediction: Chiefs QB Tyler
Thigpen. He throws touchdowns, he catches them and he has pumped some life into KC.
On the other side of the field, Drew Brees is having a sensational year, averaging
325.7 yards per game in the air. The Chiefs aren't
very good on the pass defense (24th), and they're
downright horrible against the run (32nd). If Reggie
Bush (knee) plays, he's a starter in any fantasy
league. To counter the Chiefs bring back Larry
Johnson this week. As good as the New Orleans' attack is, the defense (25th overall) has this team sub-.500. The
over-under should be around 250 for this game with
these two defenses. Look for a shootout. Saints 31 - Chiefs 27
Video Preview: Charley
Casserly and Jason Horowitz preview a matchup in which the Saints look to get
back to .500 when they visit the struggling Chiefs, who are expected to have
Larry Johnson back in the lineup
11.2
20.5