First quarter update: The St. Louis Rams turned two Drew Brees interceptions into two Kellen Clemens touchdown passes and a 14-0 lead Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.
Brees was hit by Rams defensive end Robert Quinn on the Saints' first play and his pass was picked off by T.J. McDonald. On the next play Clemens hit tight end Corey Harkey down the right sideline and Harkey broke a couple of tackles to turn into a 31-yard touchdown.
Brees marched the Saints down the field on the next possession only to have his pass picked off by Trumaine Johnson at the goal line as Brees was trying to get the ball to Jimmy Graham. Clemens marched the Rams 93 yards - thanks to two unneccessary roughness penalties on the Saints (Curtis Lofton, Malcolm Jenkins). Clemens capped the drive with a 4-yard TD toss to Lance Kendricks.
The Rams then surprised the Saints with an onside kick and recovered it and had the ball on the 13-yard line when the quarter ended.
Key stats: Saints, Drew Brees, 4 of 6, 43 yards, two interceptions. Rams, Kellen Clemens, 7 of 8 for 73 yards and two TDs.
