Sep 23, 2008 - 4:15 PM
0 shoutsSan Francisco (2-1) at New Orleans (1-2), 1:00 pm EDT
NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- After a pair of heartbreaking road losses, Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints hope a return to the Louisiana Superdome can alleviate their woes.
Brees and the Saints attempt to avoid a third straight loss Sunday when they host the San Francisco 49ers.
New Orleans squandered a nine-point, fourth-quarter lead during a 29-24 loss to the Washington Redskins two weeks ago and followed that with last Sunday's 34-32 setback to the Denver Broncos after Martin Gramatica missed a 43-yard field goal with two minutes left.
"We had a chance and the opportunity, and it's disappointing," Saints coach Sean Payton said of the loss to Denver. "There is nothing else to say. He missed it."
Brees leads an explosive but injury-plagued, offense. The eight-year veteran has passed for 980 yards and five touchdowns with three interceptions.
The Saints lost another receiving weapon this week. Tight end Jeremy Shockey will miss about a month after undergoing sports hernia surgery. Marques Colston, the team's top receiver, already is out with a thumb injury.
New Orleans will have to depend on Reggie Bush even more. Bush, who leads the Saints in both rushing and receiving yards, has scored four total touchdowns (one rushing, two receiving and one on a punt return).
The 49ers do not share New Orleans' problems, having put together back-to-back wins.
J.T. O'Sullivan and offensive coordinator Mike Martz exacted some revenge on their old team last Sunday. O'Sullivan threw for 189 yards and two touchdowns as San Francisco cruised to a 31-13 victory over the Detroit Lions.
O'Sullivan, who won the starting job partly because of his familiarity with Martz's system in Detroit, finished 16-of-23 with zero interceptions in just his third career start.
"It was about winning this week," O'Sullivan said. "That's the reality for us. I'm excited about the way we played, but I still think we can get better."
Frank Gore rushed for 130 yards and a score on 27 attempts for San Francisco, which ranks seventh in pass defense this season.
From the Bleachers
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SAN FRANCISCO: 17
NEW ORLEANS: 31
Final
Sep 28 4:19 PM -
NFL
FG NOR
MARTIN GRAMATICA 31 YD
SAN FRANCISCO 17
NEW ORLEANS 31 0:27 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Sep 28 4:15 PM -
NFL
SAN FRANCISCO 17
NEW ORLEANS 28 4:07 LEFT, 4TH QTR
NOR BALL ON NOR 30 YD LINE
1ST AND 10
Sep 28 4:06 PM -
NFL
TD NOR
DEUCE MCALLISTER 1 YD RUN
(MARTIN GRAMATICA KICK)
SAN FRANCISCO 9
NEW ORLEANS 28 11:23 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Sep 28 3:38 PM -
SAN FRANCISCO: 9
NEW ORLEANS: 21
End of 3rd
Sep 28 3:28 PM -
NFL
FG SFO
JOE NEDNEY 38 YD
SAN FRANCISCO 9
NEW ORLEANS 21 10:18 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Sep 28 2:58 PM -
SAN FRANCISCO: 6
NEW ORLEANS: 21
Halftime
Sep 28 2:38 PM -
NFL
TD NOR
ROBERT MEACHEM 47 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES
(MARTIN GRAMATICA KICK)
SAN FRANCISCO 6
NEW ORLEANS 21 0:52 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Sep 28 2:32 PM -
NFL
FG SFO
JOE NEDNEY 49 YD
SAN FRANCISCO 6
NEW ORLEANS 14 1:44 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Sep 28 2:26 PM -
NFL
TD NOR
LANCE MOORE 32 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES
(MARTIN GRAMATICA KICK)
SAN FRANCISCO 3
NEW ORLEANS 14 3:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Sep 28 2:12 PM -
NFL
TD NOR
LANCE MOORE 5 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES
(MARTIN GRAMATICA KICK)
SAN FRANCISCO 3
NEW ORLEANS 7 9:31 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Sep 28 1:55 PM -
SAN FRANCISCO: 3
NEW ORLEANS: 0
End of 1st
Sep 28 1:41 PM -
NFL
FG SFO
JOE NEDNEY 47 YD
SAN FRANCISCO 3
NEW ORLEANS 0 7:22 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Sep 28 1:18 PM
