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Saints seek fifth straight win against winless Rams

Nov 11, 2007 - 11:52 AM St. Louis (0-8) at New Orleans (4-4) Sunday 1:00 pm EST

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- Their fans might be wondering why it took so long, but the New Orleans Saints are finally playing like the team that was expected to be a Super Bowl contender.

The Saints seek their fifth straight victory on Sunday, when they host the St. Louis Rams, who are still searching for their first win of the season.

New Orleans has climbed out of an 0-4 hole to reach .500 and has pulled within one-half game of first-place Tampa Bay in the mediocre NFC South.

With momentum on their side and a favorable second-half schedule, the Saints now might be considered the favorite to win the division. They have games remaining against Houston, Atlanta, Arizona and Philadelphia.

New Orleans is coming off its best offensive performance of the season, gaining 538 yards last week in a 41-24 rout of the Jacksonville Jaquars.

Drew Brees passed for 445 yards - the second-highest total of his career - and three touchdowns. He spread around the wealth by completing passes to nine different receivers.

In the last two weeks, the Saints have gained 977 yards and scored 72 points. Two weeks ago, they defeated the San Francisco 49ers, 31-10.

In the two games, Brees has completed 66-of-88 passes for 781 yards and seven touchdowns. He threw only five TDs in New Orleans' first six contests.

"I guess when you look at last week and this week and what we have been able to do offensively this is as crisp as we have been in a long time," Brees said after Sunday's game.

Brees, who directed the league's top offense last season, has moved into the top five in passing yards with 2,175 yards.

New Orleans will look to keep its offense in high gear against a St. Louis team that is 28th in scoring defense, allowing 27.4 points per game. Only Denver, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Miami are worse.

The Rams hope to have running back Steven Jackson in the lineup. He has had two weeks to recover from back spasms that forced him out of the Rams' 27-20 loss to the Cleveland Browns on October 28.

Jackson has endured an injury-plagued season, missing four games earlier in the year with a groin tear. He returned against the Browns and provided a spark, scoring on a 2-yard touchdown run and rushing for 41 yards on eight carries before leaving in the second quarter.

Due to the injuries, Jackson has been limited to 274 yards after ranking fifth in the NFL in rushing last season with 1,528 yards. His four-game absence has contributed to the Rams' 0-8 start.