SmashMouth

The New Orleans Saints are on a roll right now, and the Cincinnati Bengals became the latest victim on Sunday.

The Saints beat the Bengals, 51-14, at Paul Brown Stadium. New Orleans is now on an eight-game winning streak, and this was their biggest margin of victory this season.

Sunday’s win also gave the Saints (8-1) a two-game lead in the NFC South after the Panthers (6-3) lost to the Steelers on Thursday.

All of the Saints offensive stars had excellent performances. Drew Brees was 22 of 26 for 265 yards with four total touchdowns and a 147.6 passer rating. Mark Ingram had 104 rushing yards, 58 receiving yards and a touchdown. Alvin Kamara had 56 rushing yards, 46 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Michael Thomas had eight catches for 70 yards and touchdowns.

Many Saints players also showed love to Dez Bryant, the former Cowboys star who signed with the team Wednesday and then tore his Achilles tendon at practice Friday. Ingram, Kamara and Thomas each celebrated a touchdown by throwing up the X as Bryant used to, and Saints defensive players did that after an interception by Marcus Williams.

What went right: Just about everything. The Saints had an incredible performance, probably their best of the season.



Everything worked on offense in the first half as the Saints scored touchdowns on all five of their possessions. In the first half alone, the Saints gained 311 yards and 21 first downs, and they converted all six of their third downs.

The offense slowed down a bit in the second half, but the game was already in hand. The Saints finished with 509 yards in the game.

Defensively, the only issue in the first half came early as the Bengals drove to a touchdown on their opening drive. The Saints defense was stingy after that and made two interceptions, including one by Williams in the second quarter that set up that fifth first-half touchdown.

Wil Lutz continued his great season as he hit all three of his field goals as well as six extra points.

What went wrong: Terron Armstead suffered a shoulder injury. In terms of the actual game play, nothing went wrong. The Saints dominated.

Player of the game: Brees



Injuries: Armstead (shoulder) exited in the second quarter and did not return. Bengals cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick (concussion) was ruled out in the third quarter.

In case you missed it: Brees moved into second place on the career passing touchdowns list. He entered the game with 506, and with three more, he passed Brett Favre at 508. Peyton Manning holds the record with 539.

NOLA

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