Saints 23 - 10 Jaguars
Final
  for this game

Saints top struggling Jags for third straight win

Oct 2, 2011 - 9:39 PM Jacksonville, FL (Sports Network) - Drew Brees threw for 351 yards and one touchdown, as the New Orleans Saints defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars, 23-10, at EverBank Field.

Brees completed 31-of-44 tosses and overcame two interceptions.

Darren Sproles gained 75 yards on seven carries and added five catches for 56 yards for New Orleans (3-1), which has won three games in a row following a loss at Green Bay in its season opener.

Rookie Blaine Gabbert, making his second career NFL start, finished with 196 yards on just 16-of-42 passing, one touchdown and one interception for the Jaguars (1-3), who suffered their third straight loss.

Jacksonville turned the ball over on downs at the New Orleans 38-yard line to begin the game.

The Saints needed nine plays from there to reach the end zone, and Jed Collins capped the drive by stretching across the goal line for a one-yard touchdown, the first of his career on his first carry.

New Orleans started its next series from its own four. The 12-play march bled into the second quarter and culminated in a one-yard TD reception by Jimmy Graham.

The Jaguars responded on the ensuing drive when Gabbert hooked up with Zach Miller for a 14-yard scoring strike.

Jacksonville linebacker Daryl Smith picked off Brees later in the frame and returned the ball to the New Orleans 13. Following three straight Gabbert incompletions, Josh Scobee kicked a 31-yard field goal to trim Jacksonville's deficit to 14-10 at halftime.

John Kasay, whose 53-yard field goal attempt in the first half sailed wide right, was good from 38 and 39 yards in the third quarter, increasing New Orleans' lead to 20-10. The second field goal came after Gabbert was picked off by Patrick Robinson.

Kasay booted his third field goal of the game, this time from 21 yards out, to put the visitors up 23-10 with 12:46 remaining in regulation.

Jacksonville moved the ball deep into enemy territory twice -- once on the heels of another Brees interception -- but the drives ended with Gabbert throwing incompletions on fourth down both times.

Game Notes

Brees has thrown a TD pass in 31 straight games, the third-longest streak in NFL history. He trails only Johnny Unitas (47) and Brett Favre (36)...The Jaguars suffered their first-ever loss in nine home games to a team from the NFC South...Graham caught 10 passes for 132 yards...Maurice Jones-Drew gained 84 yards on 11 carries for Jacksonville...The Saints had twice as many first downs (30) as the Jaguars.






Related News