Saints coach Sean Payton, not one to play things too conservatively, opted to bypass a chip-shot field-goal attempt because he trusted his defense enough to make something happen should his masterpiece of an offense fail. The thought, let alone the actual exercise, was a departure because the defense had been too untrustworthy in previous years.

Not now. Definitely not now.

Saints defensive end Will Smith sacked Sanchez in the end zone, forcing him a fumble that defensive tackle Remi Ayodele recovered for a touchdown -- the defense's second in a five-minute, 45-second span.