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ORCHARD PARK -
The Buffalo Bills slowed down Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints’ prolific passing attack, but had no answers for its running game and defense.
Despite holding Brees to less than 200 yards passing for the first time in an NFL-record 22 games and holding him without a touchdown pass for the first time in 12 games, the Bills’ offense sputtered in a 27-7 loss Sunday afternoon at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
“We can’t do that to our defense, they played a great game,” said Bills’ running back Fred Jackson. “We just didn’t make enough plays on offense to help them.”
Defensive end Will Smith had a sack and an interception for a Saints’ defense that allowed only 89 yards rushing and 243 overall.
“In a way it was a shutout because, defensively, we didn’t give up a point,” said Smith. “We shut down T.O. and got some offensive support. We can’t give it too much though, we need to move on.”
The only offensive highlight for the Bills came in the second quarter when punter Brian Moorman threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to reserve defensive lineman Ryan Denney on a fake field goal. Moorman also threw a touchdown pass to Denney in 2008’s season opener against Seattle.
“Everybody’s highly frustrated,” said Jackson, who had 71 yards on 18 carries and four catches for 26 yards. “We were in that game the whole time.”
In his return to Orchard Park, former Bills’ cornerback Jabari Greer, who signed a four-year deal with New Orleans in the offseason, made six tackles and helped end Terrell Owens’ streak of 185 consecutive regular season games without a catch — which had been the longest active streak in the NFL.
“We didn’t fall back or let up,” Greer said. “We showed great resilience.”
Owens, held without a catch in the regular season for the first time since his rookie season — Oct. 14, 1996 at Green Bay — lifted his self-imposed media gag order after games and spoke briefly with reporters, giving short, sometimes one-word answers.
“We didn’t execute,” Owens said. “I’m just going with the plays that are called. Whether I like them or not, I’m just going with the plays that are called.”
When asked about his streak ending, Owens simply said, “It’s over.”
Buffalo’s other top receiver, Lee Evans, had only four catches for 31 yards.
“When they do close the middle, obviously we do have to get the ball to Terrell and Lee,” said Bills’ offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. “I’ve got to find a better way to get those guys the ball in the passing game, no question.”
Brees completed 16-of-29 passes for 172 yards – his lowest amount as a member of the Saints.
“We still had the game in reach, we just needed that one play,” said Buffalo cornerback Terrence McGee. “Either an interception or a fumble recovery, something like that, to get us right back in the game.
“We’re not going to point any fingers,” added McGee. “When you win, you win together. When you lose, you lose together.”
New Orleans (3-0) ran the ball effectively, led by Pierre Thomas, who had 14 carries and 126 yards after not having a single carry in the first half. Thomas, who played despite suffering from the flu, also had touchdown runs of 34 and 19 yards in the final 10 minutes of the game to seal the win.
“At first, I didn’t think I was going to get a chance to play,” Thomas said. “I was feeling a little shaky and in my head, I was thinking I wouldn't be able to play. These guys were keeping me alive.
“I told my offensive line that I missed those guys and missed running behind them,” added Thomas. “They did a heck of a job to allow the running game to open up like that.”
Overall, the Saints finished with 222 yards rushing, as Reggie Bush had 64 yards on 14 carries and Lynell Hamilton opened the scoring with a 1-yard plunge on the opening possession of the game.
Tight end Jeremy Shockey had six catches for 48 yards and wideout Marques Colston caught four passes for a game-high 67 yards, including a 32-yard reception on the first drive.
Buffalo had a chance to take the lead before halftime, but Malcolm Jenkins stripped Roscoe Parrish on a punt return and recovered deep in Bills’ territory. The defense held, though, and John Carney kicked the first of his two field goals to make it 10-7.
Trent Edwards completed 20 of 35 passes for 156 yards and an interception, as the Bills did not have a first down on any of their final five possessions of the game.
“We didn’t stay on the field on third downs and we didn’t put points up on the board,” said Edwards. “I felt like we didn’t really hold up our end of the bargain.”
Josh Reed led the Bills with six catches for 60 yards.
Notebook: Evans now has 304 career receptions, passing former tight end Pete Metzelaars for fourth in team history … Cornerback Leodis McKelvin (fibula), left tackle Demetrius Bell (groin), and safeties Donte Whitner (thumb) and Bryan Scott (ankle) all left the game and did not return. The team had no update on the extent of any of the injuries or how long the players would be out … Former Bills’ head coach Gregg Williams is the Saints’ defensive coordinator and received a game ball ... Bills play three of the next four on the road, including next Sunday in Miami.

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