It's a Brees: Saints score 51 to crush Packers

Football Betting Lines

11/25/2008 - New Orleans, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Drew Brees threw for 323 yards and four touchdowns, and the New Orleans Saints tied a franchise record for points in a game while throttling the Green Bay Packers, 51-29, at the Superdome.

Deuce McAllister had a rushing score and set the Saints career record with 54 touchdowns, while Brees connected on 20-of-26 passes.

"Obviously a lot of emotion, and we couldn't be happier for him," said Saints coach Sean Payton of McAllister's record-setting night. "All the fans here had a chance to witness that. It was pretty special."

Lance Moore had five receptions for 115 yards and a pair of TDs for the Saints (6-5), who are two games out of first place in the NFC South. Tampa Bay and Carolina are tied for the top spot, while Atlanta is in third, and the Saints play on the road against the Buccaneers Sunday.

Pierre Thomas ran for 87 yards and two touchdowns for New Orleans, winners of back-to-back games for the first time this season. The Saints also equaled the 51 points set Nov. 2, 1969 in a win at St. Louis, and tied Nov. 21, 1976 in a triumph at Seattle.

Aaron Rodgers completed 23-of-41 passes for 248 yards with a pair of scores, but was picked off three times for the Packers (5-6), who fell a game behind Chicago and Minnesota for the top position in the NFC North. Greg Jennings had eight receptions for 101 yards and a TD for Green Bay, which has dropped three of its last four games.

"It's disappointing," said Packers coach Mike McCarthy. "I don't really have much to say about our defense, they played excellent on offense."

It was long time away from the Superdome for the Saints, who played a true home game for the first time since beating Oakland on Oct. 12. They played San Diego in London the following week, had a bye followed by a pair of road games, but on Monday night Brees and McAllister provided the spark to set the team on the right track into the home stretch of the season.

Ahead by only a 24-21 count at halftime, the Saints pulled away with three unanswered touchdowns in the third quarter. Brees culminated a 13-play, 80- yard march to start the second half with a 16-yard TD strike to tight end Billy Miller, who made a twisting catch in the right side of the end zone.

Rodgers was then picked off by Jason David, who rumbled 42 yards to the Green Bay three. Two plays later, McAllister was in the end zone on a three-yard plunge up the middle. That score broke Dalton Hilliard's (1986-93) mark of 53 touchdowns.

"This was so fitting," said Brees. "Deuce has meant so much to this organization for so many years and it could not have happened to a better guy."

Facing a 3rd-and-4, David again intercepted Rodgers, giving the Saints the ball at the Green Bay 29. Two plays later, though, Brees was intercepted by Aaron Rouse. Following a Packers punt, though, the Saints were in the end zone again, courtesy of Brees' 70-yard connection to Marques Colston with 2:26 remaining in the quarter for a 45-21 margin.

"This game is all about third downs, red zone and in the second half of the season limiting your turnovers," said Rodgers. "In the third down we didn't do enough of a good job today. Red zone we did a better job, but three interceptions you're not going to win a lot of games when you do that."

Rodgers found Rovell Martin with a four-yard TD strike early in the fourth, and the two connected again for the two-point conversion.

The Saints came right back with Thomas busting off right guard for a 31-yard score with 8:47 remaining. Oddly, the Saints went for a two-point conversion, but failed.

John Kuhn rushed for a one-yard score with 8:39 left in the opening quarter for the Packers, but the Saints struck back on the ensuing play from scrimmage quickly with Brees hitting Moore for a 70-yard score.

Thomas scored on a four-yard run with 4:44 left in the first, and the offensive showcase continued into the second quarter with the Packers tying the game on a Rodgers seven-yard TD pass to Jennings.

Moore's 14-yard TD grab made it 21-14, but Green Bay tied the game on Rodgers' 10-yard scramble into the end zone with 1:44 remaining in the half.

The Saints went ahead on Garrett Hartley's 30-yard field goal with two seconds left in the half. New Orleans was set up in great field position thanks to a 62-yard kickoff return from Courtney Roby.

Game Notes

New Orleans has won three of the last four meetings...The Packers next host Carolina...It was Brees' 15th straight game with at least 20 completions, an NFL record...The 80 points were the fifth-most combined in Monday Night Football history...Saints running back Reggie Bush was inactive as he recovers from arthroscopic knee surgery...Ryan Grant had 18 carries for 67 yards for the Packers...With New Orleans' victory, the NFC South is now a staggering 21-2 at home this season.