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Saints look to reach .500 against Jaguars

Nov 4, 2007 - 11:54 AM Jacksonville (5-2) at New Orleans (3-4) Sunday 1:00pm EDT

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- It might not have seen possible after their 0-4 start, but the New Orleans Saints have climbed back into the NFC playoff picture.

Winners of three straight and now just one game out of first place, the Saints look to reach .500 on Sunday, when they host the Jacksonville Jaguars.

"Obviously putting a few wins together gives you confidence," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "We're still 3-4, though, and below water, so we haven't arrived anywhere yet. There is still a long way to go and we have our work cut out for us."

But the Saints' offense has come alive during the winning streak, resembling the unit that ranked first in the NFL last season.

Drew Brees spread around the wealth in last week's 31-10 victory over the San Francisco 49ers, completing passes to nine different receivers.

While it came against a weak opponent, Brees enjoyed his best came of the season by far, completing 31-of-39 passes for 336 yards and four touchdowns.

After scoring just 51 points in the four defeats, the Saints have posted 81 points during the three-game winning streak.

New Orleans is in third place in the muddled NFC South, but just one-half game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and only one game in back of the first-place Carolina Panthers.

The Jaguars, who held off the Buccaneers, 24-23, last week are playing the second of three straight road games. Next week, they visit the Tennessee Titans in what could be a crucial AFC South battle.

Tennessee and Jacksonville are tied for second in the division, two games behind the undefeated Indianapolis Colts.

With quarterback David Garrard still sidelined due to a strained ankle, Quinn Gray will make his second straight start for Jacksonville.

Gray won his first career start last week, but executing a conservative game plan, completing only 7-of-16 passes for 100 yards.

The Saints likely will try to force the former Florida A&M star to make more plays. Gray was not asked to do much against the Buccaneers as the Jaguars ran on 15 of their 16 first-quarter snaps.