Saints strengthen their playoff position with win
 

Saints strengthen their playoff position with win
Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS -- No botched trick plays this time as the New Orleans Saints protected a one-score lead to keep themselves alive in the NFC wild-card chase.

Drew Brees connected on 87 percent of his throws for 315 yards and two touchdowns, capping his day with a clutch, 22-yard third-down completion to Billy Miller. That allowed the Saints to safely run out the clock in a 31-24 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

When New Orleans (7-7) last played in the Louisiana Superdome two games ago, a fumble on a botched reverse set up Tampa Bay's winning touchdown inside the final half-minute.

With a loss severely hurting playoff hopes for either team, the game was a high-anxiety affair.

Played indoors, it was still no less sloppy than some of the weather-affected contests far to the north. Fumbles by each team set up opponents' scores. Roman Harper's interception of Kurt Warner's tipped pass set up another Saints touchdown.

Re: Saints strengthen their playoff position with win
 

The end of the game felt a lot like the bucs game... much different outcome this time.