The New Orleans Saints defense came up big Sunday, helping the squad overcome three turnovers in a 31-19 win over the New York Jets Sunday afternoon at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

New Orleans (10-4) forced six punts, intercepted two passes and limited the Jets to 294 yards.

Drew Brees completed 26-36 passes for 298 yards and a pair of touchdowns.  He was intercepted once.  Michael Thomas caught nine of those passes for 93 yards and a score.

A 54 yard screen pass to Mark Ingram set up a Wil Lutz field goal on the Saints' first possession and New Orleans then put together a methodical, 13 play drive culminating in an Ingram one yard run to take a 10-0 lead.

The Jets bounced right back,, however, as Bilal Powell scored from two yards out.  The 12 play drive was aided by two Saints penalties which gave the Jets 20 yards.

Alvin Kamara was a big part of the Saints' next drive, as he rushed for 17 yards and caught two passes for 39 yards.  The second catch, from ten yards out, gave the Saints a 17-7 lead.

But the Jets got closer after Drew Brees threw an interception toward the end of the first half.  The defense stiffened, however and the Jets had to settle for a Chandler Catanzaro field goal making the score 17-10 at the half.

The Jets scored again on their second possession of the third quarter on a 26 yard field goal by Catanzaro.  A 36 yard pass to former Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns running back Elijah McGuire set up the score, making it 17-13.

Craig Robertson's interception of a Bryce Petty pass and subsequent return to the Jets' 33 gave the Saints a scoring opportunity.  Drew Brees completed a pass to Willie Sneed for 23 yards to get New Orleans into the red zone.  It was the first time the Saints made a first down since midway through the second quarter.  The excitement was short lived, however, as Jamal Adams stripped Brandon Coleman after a pass reception and Jarvis Jenkins recovered for the Jets.

But on their next possession, the Saints' offense finally came alive, as Brees got a 32 yard completion to Josh Hill.  Another 32 yard pass, to Michael Thomas went for an apparent touchdown but Thomas was ruled to have only gotten one foot down in the end zone. Brees then completed a pass to Coleman, who fumbled for the second time to end the threat. It was the third turnover of the day, matching a season high.

Finally, the Saints got on the board as Brees and Michael Thomas hooked up four times for 50 yards, including a four yard touchdown with 7:39 left in the fourth quarter to make the score 24-13.

The Jets, however, weren't finished as Petty hit McGuire for a two yard touchdown pass, which finished off a 70 yard drive.  But the two point conversion pass was batted down, leaving the score 24-19.with 1:51 to play.

The Saints finally were able to put the game away, as the onside kick failed and Ingram scampered 50 yards for the touchdown with 1:33 remaining that clinched it.

McGuire finished with 24 yards on four carries, and added three catches for 48 yards and a touchdown.

 

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