Drew Brees threw for 375 yards and 3 touchdowns to lead the New Orleans Saints past the Chicago Bears 31-15 Monday night. With the win, the Saints run their record to 6-8 and move past the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers for first place in the depleted NFC South.
This nationally televised road win comes after an embarrassing 41-10 home loss to the Panthers last week. Brees was 29 of 36 and reached 4,000 yards for the 9th consecutive season. He connected with Josh Hill twice in the end zone, and with Marques Colston once. Pierre Thomas caught 5 passes for 83 yard, and defensively David Hawthorne had 3 of the Saints' 7 sacks.
The Bears remain in the basement of the NFC North, falling to 5-9 on the season. Jay Cutler was 17 of 31 for 194 yards and 3 interceptions. Cutler now has an NFL-leading 24 turnovers on the season. The Bears managed only 278 yards of offense against a Saints' defense that ranks 31st in the NFL.
The Bears will move on to host the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions on Sunday, who are still battling the Green Bay Packers for the division title. The Bears fell to the Lions 34-17 on Thanksgiving Day in Detroit.
Meanwhile, the Saints just need to win out to take the division title and get into the playoffs. A 7-9 team could come out of this division, which the Saints have pointed out that they lost to a 7-9 Seattle Seahawks team in the 2010 playoffs.
New Orleans has now won 3 straight road games, but have uncharacteristically struggled at home, losers of 4 straight at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. They will host the Atlanta Falcons Sunday, before ending the season on the road against Tampa Bay.
This nationally televised road win comes after an embarrassing 41-10 home loss to the Panthers last week. Brees was 29 of 36 and reached 4,000 yards for the 9th consecutive season. He connected with Josh Hill twice in the end zone, and with Marques Colston once. Pierre Thomas caught 5 passes for 83 yard, and defensively David Hawthorne had 3 of the Saints' 7 sacks.
The Bears remain in the basement of the NFC North, falling to 5-9 on the season. Jay Cutler was 17 of 31 for 194 yards and 3 interceptions. Cutler now has an NFL-leading 24 turnovers on the season. The Bears managed only 278 yards of offense against a Saints' defense that ranks 31st in the NFL.
The Bears will move on to host the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions on Sunday, who are still battling the Green Bay Packers for the division title. The Bears fell to the Lions 34-17 on Thanksgiving Day in Detroit.
Meanwhile, the Saints just need to win out to take the division title and get into the playoffs. A 7-9 team could come out of this division, which the Saints have pointed out that they lost to a 7-9 Seattle Seahawks team in the 2010 playoffs.
New Orleans has now won 3 straight road games, but have uncharacteristically struggled at home, losers of 4 straight at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. They will host the Atlanta Falcons Sunday, before ending the season on the road against Tampa Bay.
