Drew Brees
- QB
- ,
- 45
- 209 lbs
- 6' 0"
- N/A
- Week 13 Projection
- Dfs Projection
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Drew Brees set the tone for New Orleans (2-1) with 240 yards passing, including touchdowns to Devery Henderson and Robert Meachem.
Philip Rivers led two touchdown drives for the Chargers (1-2). His 167 yards passing included a 9-yard TD toss to Malcom Floyd. Antonio Gates caught five passes for 66 yards.
The Saints had a scare when starting middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma went down with a right groin injury early in the third quarter. He jogged off the field on his own and Vilma wrote "I'll be fine" on his Twitter account.
Brees was 18 of 27 and looked sharp for the most part, though his longest completion, a 46-yard touchdown to Henderson, looked like and ill-advised throw into coverage that was nearly intercepted.
Cornerback Antoine Cason saw the pass all the way, got inside position and went up for the interception near the goal line, but Henderson swiped from behind to break up the play and wound up tipping the ball to himself in the end zone.
The Chargers are hoping Cason, a 2008 first-round draft pick, can help fill the void left when the Chargers traded Antonio Cromartie to the New York Jets . Cason had a rough night against Brees and the Saints' high-powered offense, though.
He was victimized on New Orleans' second score when he anticipated a throw to the corner of the end zone, only to have Meachem cut underneath for an easy 15-yard catch to make it 14-7.
Brees' highlights including a 21-yard pass down the middle to Jeremy Shockey and a heady backhanded flip to Reggie Bush in the flat for a 38-yard gain that set up Garrett Hartley 's 40-yard field goal in the last minute of the first half. Bush wound up with seven receptions for 70 yards. Marques Colston had 55 yards on four catches.
San Diego's first-team offense put together two scoring drives in the first half. The Chargers opened the game with a balanced, 12-play, 82-yard touchdown drive. Jacob Hester capped it with a powerful 6-yard run on which he stretched across the goal line. Rivers was 5 of 6 for 44 yards on the drive, while first-round draft choice Ryan Mathews gained 32 yards on five carries, highlighted by a 16-yard run.
Journeyman Billy Volek replaced Rivers in the third quarter and was intercepted by Usama Young on a deep pass. He was later intercepted by Leigh Torrence, who went the other way for an 87-yard score in the final seconds.
Former Tulane quarterback Patrick Ramsey backed up Brees and was 10 of 18 for 191 yards and one TD.
The Saints, who have led the NFL in offense in three of the past four seasons, finished with 552 yards.
Saints reserve offensive tackle Zach Strief hurt his right knee, but the severity was not immediately known.
Hartley was perfect on field goal attempts of 40, 27 and 35 yards.
Volek was 9 of 21 for 97 yards. Mathews finished with 43 yards on 13 carries.
No confetti floated down from the Superdome ceiling this time.
But the New Orleans Saints sure showed signs of the high-powered offense that helped them win big last season in their first home game since the NFC championship.
The Saints held the football for 40 minutes, ran 75 offensive plays and rushed for 198 yards in a 38-20 victory over the Houston Texans on Saturday night.
Drew Brees , who played for only one quarter, led New Orleans to two touchdowns - handing off to Bush for a 9-yard score and leaping over center for a 1-yard TD that put New Orleans up 14-0.
There was not much of a dropoff when Chase Daniel took over in the second quarter. The Saints outgained Houston 409 yards to 291 and had the football for 40 minutes.
Brees completed five of 10 passes for 36 yards for the defending Super Bowl champs.
Daniel worked the last three quarters and completed 15 of 21 passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns. He was intercepted once.
Houston quarterback Matt Schaub was 8 of 10 for 117 yards. Dan Orlovsky was 12 of 19 for 140 yards and a touchdown.
The Texans did little to sort out their running back situation. Arian Foster started Saturday's game, and had six carries for 28 yards and a touchdown, but lost a fumble in the second quarter.
Steve Slaton - Foster's main challenger for the starting spot - ran five times for 19 yards, Slaton also had two kick returns for 88 yards, including one for 68 yards.
The Saints ran for 198 yards, including 66 by rookie Chris Ivory.
Kris Brown has been the Texans' kicker since the franchise began. This year he's competing with Neil Rackers. Houston coach Gary Kubiak said preseason performance will settle the competition. Against the Saints, Rackers kicked a 52-yard field goal and Brown hit a 43-yarder.
Lance Moore has been the star of this year's training camp so far, serving as Drew Brees' go-to receiver while fellow veterans Marques Colston and Robert Meachem are out with injuries. Moore is catching everything thrown his way, serving notice that he again will be a big part of the Saints' multi-faceted offense now that he's recovered from last year's nagging injuries.
Colston and Meachem are both expected back within the next week or two, which means they should be full-go by the start of the regular season. Colston remains the Saints' No. 1 receiver and most dangerous red zone target.
Moore can be had late in drafts because his stock is down from last year's injuries. Keep an eye on him and see how he progresses. He's probably the Saints number-three but in this offense he'll still have fantasy value.
New England and Tom Brady made enough progress in talks aimed at a long-term contract extension that some believe a deal could be completed this summer, according to sources familiar with the situation.
If a deal cannot be struck, it will be primarily because of how complex the contract is and how difficult it is to complete it without knowing the specifics of the NFL's next collective bargaining agreement.
But one person familiar with the talks said there is ongoing dialogue that he described as positive and, while no deal is imminent, one now is within reach.
When Brady and the Patriots resolve any differences - and the question now is when - it is expected to be the type of notable deal for which the league has been preparing for.
The Colts would like to re-sign quarterback Peyton Manning, the Saints Drew Brees and the Redskins Donovan McNabb. At this time, the Patriots and Brady appear to be the furthest along in their conversations, according to league sources.
It also goes against some recent dialogue. Speculation has persisted this month that Brady could hold out, but two sources dismissed the notion this weekend, insisting it will not happen.
There also was speculation that the relationship between Brady and the Patriots is strained. Yet, Brady was spotted this offseason having dinner with Patriots owner Robert Kraft and others have been adamant that the relationship between the two sides is as positive as ever.
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