Halo

Playing near the home of suspended coach Sean Payton, Brees threw for 446 yards and three touchdowns. He led a drive to Garrett Hartley's 20-yard winning field goal in overtime, and the Saints damaged the Dallas Cowboys' playoff hopes with a 34-31 victory Sunday.

The Saints all but secured the win when a fumble by Marques Colston rolled forward about 20 yards to the Dallas 2. Jimmy Graham recovered.

The Saints (7-8), who started 0-4 after getting stunned by Payton's yearlong ban in the team's bounty scandal, saw their playoff hopes end with Minnesota's victory against Houston. The Cowboys (8-7) had a three-game winning streak snapped and lost control of their playoff fate.

Dallas lost despite rallying for two touchdowns in the final 3:35 of regulation. Tony Romo, who threw for 416 yards and four scores, hit Miles Austin for the tying touchdown with 15 seconds left in regulation.

The Cowboys' last three games have been decided on the final play. Dallas' best hope for the playoffs rested with the New York Giants' game at Baltimore on Sunday. A Giants loss would give the Cowboys, who play at Washington in next week's finale, a chance to win the NFC East. They also could make the playoffs as a wild card.

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