• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

With win streak snapped, Saints visit Texans

Nov 18, 2007 - 11:25 AM New Orleans (4-5) at Houston (4-5) Sunday 1:00 pm EST

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The New Orleans Saints need to develop some consistency heading into the season's final seven games.

Having had one winning streak snapped, the Saints look to start another when they visit the Houston Texans on Sunday.

New Orleans dropped a surprising 37-29 decision to the previously winless St. Louis Rams, ending a string of four straight wins that followed four consecutive losses to open the season.

The manner in which the Saints lost to the Rams was the biggest stunner. New Orleans fell behind, 34-7, early in the fourth quarter before scoring a pair of touchdowns in the final five minutes to make the score look respectable.

"We struggled," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "We can't get this one back. We tried to make a game of it, but it wasn't even close like the score indicates."

Despite the loss, New Orleans has broken out of its early-season offensive doldrums, averaging 30.2 points in its last five games.

Quarterback Drew Brees finished 25-of-36 for 272 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. His favorite target was Marques Colston, who had his second consecutive 100-yard game, catching eight passes for 129 yards.

Tailback Reggie Bush, hindered by an ailing left knee last week, was limited to just 17 yards on seven carries.

The Texans went into their bye week on a positive note, having defeated the Oakland Raiders, 24-17, to snap a three-game losing streak.

The week off also gave Houston's key players a chance to heal. Matt Schaub is expected to start at quarterback after sitting out the game against Oakland and welcomes back wideout Andre Johnson, was has not played since suffering an injury in Week Two.

Johnson, the No. 3 overall pick in 203, had a pair of 100-yard games to open the season.

"He looks like his old self right now, so everybody's excited to see him back on the field," coach Gary Kubiak said.

The picture is a bit more muddled for running back Ahman Green, who has missed three games and played sparingly in two others while battling a nagging knee injury that Kubiak expects to persist for the remainder of the season.

Ron Dayne stepped in for Green and rushed for 122 yards and a TD against Oakland.