Following an impressive fourth quarter come-from-behind 40-33 win vs. the Houston Texans at the Superdome, the New Orleans Saints (2-1) will look to keep pace in the NFC South when they play at the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1).
The Saints will be looking to win their third straight and remain in at least a tie with Tampa Bay (1-2) atop a tight division race.
In a game that featured six lead changes, QB Drew Brees led the New Orleans offense on an eight-play, 93-yard drive that lasted 1:31 and ended with a 13-yard touchdown run by RB Mark Ingram and a successful two-point conversion from the signal-caller to WR Lance Moore with 2:42 remaining in the contest.
Brees completed 32-of-44 passes for 370 yards with three TDs. He has now thrown a touchdown in 30 consecutive games, tied with Dan Marino for the NFL's third-longest streak.
In addition to Ingram scoring his first NFL touchdown, RB Darren Sproles continued his sensational start with a second quarter 30-yard TD run. The New Orleans receiving corps also hooked up with Brees for several explosive plays on Sunday.
WR Lance Moore hooked up with Brees five times on a fourth quarter scoring drive, ending with a 16-yard TD and a successful two-point conversion.
TE Jimmy Graham had four receptions for a team-best 100 yards with a 27-yard scoring grab.
The New Orleans defense forced Houston to kick field goals on four-of-five red zone trips and surrendered only 28 second half rushing yards to the Texans.
CB Jabari Greer intercepted Texans QB Matt Schaub in the fourth quarter, setting up a Saints touchdown. LB Jo-Lonn Dunbar started in place of an injured Jonathan Vilma and led the Saints with 12 tackles.
Payton said Colston is probable for Sunday. Porter & Vilma are questionable.
DATE: Sunday, Oct. 2
TIME: 12:00 (CT)
SITE: EverBank Field
WORTH NOTING:
*The Saints and Jaguars have met four times with the series split 2-2.
*With a Saints win, the Jaguars would become the ninth franchise the Saints would have a winning mark against all-time.
*RB Darren Sproles leads the NFL with 528 all-purpose yards.
The Saints have scored at least 30 points in their first three games for the first time in team history.
*New Orleans is ranked second in the NFL in offense (14th rushing, 2nd passing) and 21st on defense (9th rushing, 27th passing)...Sunday's contest will be regionally
televised on FOX (WVUE-8 in the New Orleans area) with Sam Rosen handling play-by-play, Chad Pennington serving as color analyst and Jennifer Hale as sideline reporter.
*The game can be heard throughout the Gulf Coast on the New Orleans Saints Radio Network (870 AM or 105.3 FM serve as the flagship stations locally in the New Orleans
area) with Jim Henderson handling play-by-play duties, former Saints fullback Hokie Gajan serving as color analyst and Kristian Garic providing reports from the Saints sidelines.
A Spanish language broadcast is available on WFNO 830 AM with Victor Quinonez handling play-by-play duties and Marco Garcia serving as the color analyst.
