Colts 7 - 62 Saints
Final
  for this game

Saints annihilate Colts, 62-7

Oct 24, 2011 - 5:04 AM New Orleans, LA (Sports Network) - The last time the New Orleans Saints played Indianapolis, they were celebrating a victory in Super Bowl XLIV.

After Sunday night's record-setting performance, New Orleans looks like a legitimate contender again for the Lombardi Trophy. The Colts...far from it.

Drew Brees finished with more touchdown passes (five) than incompletions (four) as the NFC South-leading Saints obliterated the winless Colts, 62-7, at the Superdome.

Despite not playing the entire fourth quarter, Brees totaled 325 yards on 31- of-35 efficiency for the Saints (5-2), who set team records for points in a game and first downs with 36.

"It was just great execution of our game plan, both offensively and defensively," Brees said. "Every time we touched the ball we methodically moved the ball down the field. ... It was everyone contributing."

Brees threw three touchdown passes, including a pair to Marques Colston, in the opening 14-plus minutes of the game and two more in the third -- both of which were caught by tight end Jimmy Graham.

New Orleans produced points on each of its first nine drives, adding a defensive score in the blowout win.

It was a long night for Indianapolis quarterback Curtis Painter. He completed 9-of-17 passes for 67 yards and threw an interception in the fourth quarter that Leigh Torrence returned for a touchdown, capping the onslaught with 12:12 remaining.

On the previous play, New Orleans' Darren Sproles rumbled 16 yards to the end zone.

The Colts (0-7), who are off to their worst start since beginning the 1997 season with 10 consecutive losses, possessed the ball for only 21:41 and generated a meager 11 first downs.

"We didn't play well. The [Saints] played better than we did in every area. We just got whooped all across the board," Colts head coach Jim Caldwell said.

The game's opening drive served as a harbinger for what Indianapolis was in store for Sunday night.

Painter, who narrowly missed hooking up with Pierre Garcon deep down the field on the initial play from scrimmage, was caught off guard when center Jeff Saturday snapped the ball.

New Orleans linebacker Jonathan Vilma recovered the fumble, and it took the Saints just six plays to turn the giveaway into points as Brees capped the 41- yard drive by throwing a 14-yard touchdown pass to Colston.

After Indy was forced to punt, Brees hit Pierre Thomas for a 57-yard catch- and-run, setting up Colston's second touchdown reception.

The Colts turned the ball over a second time as New Orleans' Cameron Jordan scooped up a Delone Carter fumble. The turnover led to Brees' six-yard scoring strike to Sproles.

New Orleans' lead grew to 28-0 in the second quarter on a goal line plunge by Jed Collins.

After John Kasay kicked a 23-yard field goal, the Colts finally orchestrated a scoring drive. Carter put Indy on the board just past the two-minute warning with a two-yard run. He set up the touchdown with a 42-yard skirt down the sideline on the first play of the series.

Kasay then connected on a 47-yarder to close out a near-perfect first half and put the Saints up 34-7.

Game Notes

Saints rookie Mark Ingram rushed 14 times for 91 yards, while Sproles gained 88 yards on 12 carries...Colston caught seven passes for 98 yards...New Orleans accumulated 557 yards of offense...Carter had 89 yards rushing...Brees has thrown a touchdown pass in 34 consecutive regular-season games, the third- longest streak in NFL history. He trails only Brett Favre (36) and Johnny Unitas (47)...The Colts' streak of seasons with 10 or more wins ended at nine...Quarterback Dan Orlovsky made his Colts debut in the fourth quarter and completed three-of-five passes for 35 yards.






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