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Brees throws three TDs as Saints top Niners

Sep 28, 2008 - 10:41 PM NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- A date with the San Francisco 49ers proved to be the perfect tonic for Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints.

Brees passed for 363 yards and three touchdowns while the Saints forced three turnovers in Sunday's 31-17 victory over the 49ers.

It marked the fifth straight time that New Orleans (2-2) defeated San Francisco in this series between former NFC West rivals. The Saints are 8-2 in their last 10 meetings with the Niners.

"We wanted to get back on track," Brees said. "San Francisco was playing as good as anyone in the league, so we had our work cut out for us. I felt like we played a great all-around game."

"I'm pleased with our effort today," Saints head coach Sean Payton added. "I thought that we played inspired. I thought our guys played hard on both sides of the ball."

The Saints entered this contest reeling from back-to-back disappointing losses in which they yielded a combined total of 63 points.

But after a sluggish start, the Saints erupted for 21 points in the second quarter en route to a 21-6 halftime lead.

"This is a must-win first quarter of the season," said Saints running back Reggie Bush, who was limited to a season-low 38 yards from scrimmage. "We needed this win bad just because you don't want to start the season 1-3. We started last year 0-4, and 1-3 isn't much better."

Most of the fireworks were provided by Brees, who completed 39-of-48 passes despite playing without injured stars Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey.

"We want to continue to get better each time out," Brees said. "You never know whose opportunity it's going to be. It's one of those things where every time out, we feel like we're going to have a big day."

New Orleans' first score was set up by the defense when Will Smith sacked J.T. O'Sullivan, whose fumble was recovered by linebacker Jonathan Vilma at the San Francisco 32-yard line. Six plays later, Brees found Lance Moore for a 5-yard TD to give the Saints a 7-3 lead.

After forcing a three-and-out, New Orleans reeled off a 10-play, 65-yard drive capped by Brees' 33-yard scoring strike to Moore.

"I've always had a lot of confidence in Lance," Brees said. "He's a guy who I have as much confidence in as anyone else on our team."

The Saints closed out their explosive second quarter by marching 74 yards in just four plays and making it 21-6 on Brees' 47-yard TD to Robert Meachem.

San Francisco (2-2) closed to within 21-9 in the third quarter and drove the ball to the New Orleans 10-yard line with 2:35 remaining in the period. But O'Sullivan was intercepted in the end zone by Kevin Kaesviharn.

"I'm sore like after any other game," O'Sullivan said. "It's all a part of the game. I felt like I got the ball out of my hands on time despite the pressure."

New Orleans responded with a 10-play, 91-yard drive capped by Deuce McAllister's 1-yard TD run that made it 28-9 with 11:23 remaining.

"Not playing in over a year, I was pretty excited to be able to get back in the end zone," said McAllister, who missed most of last season due to a knee injury.

McAllister rushed for 73 yards on 20 carries while Moore finished with seven catches for a career-high 101 yards for the Saints, who outgained the Niners by a total margin of 363-221.

O'Sullivan finished 18-of-36 for 257 yards and a TD for San Francisco, which was aiming for its first three-game winning streak since the 2006 season.

San Francisco received an outstanding performance from Arnaz Battle, who finished with seven catches for 120 yards.

Fellow wide receiver Isaac Bruce scored San Francisco's only touchdown on a 5-yard pass from O'Sullivan late in the fourth quarter.

"Obviously things did not work out for us," Niners cornerback Nate Clements said.