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Brees throws four TDs in Saints' win over Seahawks

Nov 22, 2010 - 3:41 AM New Orleans, LA (Sports Network) - Drew Brees threw for a season-high 382 yards and four touchdowns, leading New Orleans in a 34-19 victory over the Seattle Seahawks at the Superdome.

Brees completed 29-of-43 passes and was picked off twice for the Saints (7-3), who have won three straight to remain one game behind Atlanta in the NFC South. The Falcons beat St. Louis on Sunday.

Marques Colston and Robert Meachem each caught a pair of touchdown passes in the win. Colston finished with 113 yards on eight receptions, while Meachem hauled in three balls for 50 yards. Jimmy Graham had five catches for 72 yards.

Chris Ivory was the leading rusher for New Orleans with 99 yards and a score on 23 carries. Reggie Bush had been questionable, but did not suit up for the eighth consecutive game with a leg injury.

"I felt like both offenses moved the ball pretty well," Brees said. "I felt like, defensively, our guys did a great job of holding them to field goals and getting a couple big turnovers. The thing that disappoints me is that we put up (nearly) 500 yards of total offense, and we were inside the 10-yard line three times and came away with nothing."

Matt Hasselbeck completed 32-of-44 passes for 366 yards and a score for the Seahawks (5-5), who still hold a one-game lead over St. Louis in the NFC West. Mike Williams recorded six receptions for 109 yards in defeat, while Ben Obomanu hauled in five balls for 87 yards and a touchdown.

"I thought the Saints...played a great football game on offense," said Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll. "We couldn't slow them down the way we needed to, and we weren't able to eliminate the easy opportunities for them. I'm really impressed with (Brees)."

After Olindo Mare's 20-yard field goal staked Seattle to an early lead, the Saints scored a touchdown on five consecutive possessions to take control.

Brees orchestrated a 12-play, 80-yard drive that gave the Saints a 7-3 lead after Ivory's one-yard plunge into the end zone, though the Seahawks cut their deficit to 7-6 when Mare kicked a 43-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter.

New Orleans moved down the field again, and Brees' perfect 23-yard touchdown pass to Colston provided an eight-point advantage. On the 10th play of the 80- yard series, Colston caught the ball at the seven-yard line, absorbed two simultaneous hits and stretched his arm beyond the goal line for the score.

Seattle went three-and-out, and a catch interference penalty on the punt put the Saints at the opposing 42 to start. Brees capped the eight-play drive with a three-yard touchdown pass to Meachem for a 21-6 contest with just under six minutes until halftime.

The Seahawks got to within eight again when Obomanu caught a two-yard touchdown pass from Hasselbeck a tick past the two-minute warning, but the Saints responded with a perfect 54-second drive that amassed 75 yards.

A roughing the passer call helped put New Orleans near midfield, and a 25-yard pass play to Ladell Betts placed the Saints at the Seattle 27. Two plays later, Brees put a perfectly placed ball on Colston's shoulder for a 22-yard touchdown pass. The extra point attempt was aborted, and it was 27-13.

Mare made it an 11-point game at halftime with a 43-yard field goal as time expired.

Brees made it five straight touchdowns to begin the second half, finishing a six-play drive with a 32-yard touchdown pass to Meachem for a 34-16 contest.

The Saints had another opportunity after a Marshawn Lynch fumble, but Brees was picked off at the goal line. Garrett Hartley later missed a 27-yard field goal attempt in an attempt to widen New Orleans' lead early in the fourth quarter.

Seattle had 1st-and-goal from the six-yard line with a bit over seven minutes left, but had to settle for Mare's 20-yard field goal for a 34-19 contest.

The Seahawks appeared to recover the ensuing onside kick, but Lawyer Milloy was ruled to be out of bounds and did not re-establish himself before making contact with the ball.

New Orleans ran out all but 22 seconds from there.

Game Notes

The Saints converted on 11-of-15 third down opportunities. Seattle went 7- for-12...The Seahawks were penalized eight times for 79 yards, compared to three for 24 yards for New Orleans...The Saints have won six of the 11 all- time meetings with Seattle.