NEW ORLEANS SAINTS vs. PITTSBURGH STEELERS

SUNDAY, DEC. 23, 2018

MERCEDES-BENZ SUPERDOME

• With the win, New Orleans Saints is 13-2, tying the 13-2 start in 2009. It also marked the third time in team history joining the 2009 and 2011 clubs. '
• The Saints return to action on Sunday, Dec. 30 in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome when they face the Carolina Panthers. The game will air on Fox at noon CT.
• With the win, the Saints swept all of their four AFC North opponents, their first sweep of the division since realignment in 2002. It marked their first sweep in interconference play since sweeping the AFC South in 2011. It is their seventh consecutive interconference win. They also had a seven-game winning streak against interconference opponents spanning the last three of 2008 against the AFC West and all four in 2009 against the AFC East, the longest win streak against AFC opponents since the last realignment in 2002. The Saints have a five-game winning streak against AFC North opponents, dating to a Nov. 30, 2014 35-32 win at Pittsburgh, improving their record against the Steelers to 9-7. They also have their second three-game winning streak against Pittsburgh dating to a 20-10 win on Oct. 31, 2010 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, the first running from Oct. 20, 1968-Dec. 21, 1969.

- The win gave New Orleans a 6-1 home record in 2018 and a six-game home winning streak. It marked the third time the team has won six home games in back-to-back campaigns, joining 1991-92 and 2008-09.

- The Saints currently have a streak of 271 regular season games without having been shut out, dating to a 26-20 win at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 6, 2002 at Raymond James Stadium, the longest running streak in the NFL and the fifth-longest all-time.

- Quarterback Drew Brees completed 27-of-39 passes for 326 yards, one touchdown and a 103.2 passer rating. Brees played in his 264th career game, putting him in sole possession of 28th all-time in NFL record books for games played. Brees has connected with wide receiver Michael Thomas 23 times for touchdowns, making Thomas his fifth most prolific touchdown target, tied with Antonio Gates. It was Brees' NFL-best seventh and the third consecutive game where he engineered a fourth quarter/overtime game-winning drive. After New Orleans got the ball back with 4:06 remaining in the fourth quarter and trailing 28-24, Brees completed six of 10 passes for 52 yards, including the two-yard scoring pass to Thomas.

- Running back Mark Ingram played in his 105th career game. He carried 11 times for 35 yards and a touchdown and caught an eight-yard pass. Ingram now has 55 career touchdowns, tied for second with Deuce McAllister. Ingram became the only Saint to ever have 50 rushing touchdowns, passing McAllister.

- Running back Alvin Kamara carried seven times for 23 yards with two touchdowns and caught four passes for 82 yards. Kamara now has 14 rushing touchdowns in 2018, setting the Saints single-season record previously held by McAllister (2002), RB George Rogers (1981) and RB Dalton Hilliard (1989). Kamara has also set a new career-high with 18 touchdowns, tying the club record with Hilliard (1989). With 82 receiving yards, Kamara joined Herschel Walker as only the second player in NFL history to have 1,500 rushing yards and 1,500 receiving yards in his first two seasons.

- With 11 receptions, Thomas extended his career-high (120) and franchise record total. Thomas also passed Danny Abramowicz for seventh place in the club record books for career receptions. With his one TD reception, he moved into a tie for 10th with Donte' Stallworth on the Saints all-time receiving touchdown list (24).

- In his first game back since being taken off Injured Reserve, wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr., recorded five catches for 74 yards, including a crucial fourth quarter 25-yard reception on third-and-20.

- Defensive end Cameron Jordan played in his 127th consecutive game and posted two tackles, one tackles for loss, two quarterback hits and one pass defensed.

- Defensive end Tyeler Davison recorded his second sack of the season, taking down Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for a six-yard loss.

- Linebacker Craig Robertson had a crucial fourth down stop on a fake punt.

- Linebacker Alex Anzalone finished with four total tackles (three solo), one sack, two quarterback hits and one tackle for a loss.

- Linebacker Demario Davis recorded his fifth sack of the season, tying his career-high, taking down Roethlisberger for a nine-yard loss. On the Steelers' final play from scrimmage, a first-and-10 from the New Orleans 42-yard line, Davis recovered a fumble forced by defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins at the New Orleans 35-yard line to clinch the win. Davis finished with three total tackles, one sack and two quarterback hits to go with his first fumble recovery as a Saint.

- Cornerback Marshon Lattimore finished with six total tackles and one passes defensed.

- Cornerback Eli Apple finished with nine total tackles (eight solo).

- Safety Vonn Bell recorded a team-high 10 total tackles (seven solo).

- Kicker Wil Lutz nailed a 43-yard field goal and converted four extra points. Lutz made 26 consecutive field goals before his second attempt was blocked, moving past Morten Andersen (11/1/92-9/12/93) for the longest streak of consecutive field goals in club history.

- Punter Thomas Morstead punted three times for 141 total yards (47.0 avg.) with a long of 56 yards, that was ruled out at the three-yard line.