SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 16, 2014
Bengals 27, Saints 10: Andy Dalton threw three touchdown passes — two to tight end Jermaine Gresham — and rookie Jeremy Hill rushed for 152 yards as visiting Cincinnati knocked off New Orleans.
A.J. Green caught six passes for 127 yards and a touchdown for the Bengals (6-3-1), who rebounded from an embarrassing 24-3 home loss to Cleveland and moved into first place in the AFC North. Dalton went 16-for-22 for 220 yards and didn't commit a turnover, registering a career-best 143.9 passer rating 10 days after a career-worst 2.0 rating against the Browns.
Drew Brees was 33-of-41 for 255 yards and a touchdown without an interception, but the Saints (4-6) couldn't produce their typical big plays in losing their second straight home game for the first time since 2012. Mark Ingram was held under 100 yards rushing for the first time in four games, finishing with 67 yards on 23 carries as New Orleans averaged just 2.9 yards per rush.
The Saints put together long drives on their first two possessions but came away with only three points, and the offense stalled until it was too late. Cincinnati answered New Orleans' opening field goal with a 77-yard drive culminating with a touchdown when Gresham recovered his own fumble in the end zone after a 12-yard reception, and Mike Nugent converted field goals on the Bengals' next two series for a 13-3 halftime lead.
Gresham grabbed a 1-yard TD pass to make it 20-3 with 6:03 left in the third quarter, but the Saints kept their slim hopes alive with an 80-yard drive ending with Brees' 9-yard TD pass to Kenny Stills on the first play of the fourth quarter to trim the deficit to 10. Green took over from there, catching three passes on the ensuing drive, including a 24-yard TD.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Gresham (21) became the fourth tight end in Bengals history with at least 20 touchdown receptions. … The Saints have scored a touchdown in 139 consecutive games, the third-longest streak in NFL history. … New Orleans dropped to 26-1 under coach Sean Payton when it does not commit a turnover.