NEW ORLEANS (WWL.com) -- The New Orleans Saints dominated the Cincinnati Bengals in a 51-14 victory on Sunday to improve to 8-1. The Saints offense scored touchdowns on its first five possessions for the second week in a row.
"I think we'd like to keep that going," QB Drew Brees told Zach Strief. "Here's the thing. You just focus on each play, one at a time. You focus on being efficient and making great decisions and just moving the chains. I would say there probably wasn't a lot of big plays in those drives, but it was just methodical."
The Saints were methodical. The team rushed for a season-high 244 yards (5.2 yards per carry), possessed the ball for 39:46, and converted 7-of-12 third downs. Brees pointed out that started from the very first series.
"When you're talking about ball control, you're talking about running it efficiently and just playing complementary football with your defense," Brees said. "That's the objective, and obviously to get points at the end. When you can go on a 16-play drive to start the game, eat up 10 minutes, and get the 7 points at the end, those are huge plays in the game."
It marked the second straight game the defense came up with a big turnover right before halftime.
"Those are huge plays," Brees said. "You talk about momentum? The interception and the return and we get that one shot at the endzone, and we capitalize. You go into the locker room feeling pretty good at half time, and it just charges you up for the second half."
The Saints had signed wide receiver Dez Bryant last week, but he suffered an Achilles injury and was placed on injured reserve, down for the year. Several young players, such as Keith Kirkwood, a rookie just signed from the practice squad on Saturday, stepped up.
"[I'm] really excited for him and the opportunity he got today, and I think will continue to get." Brees said. "Young guys like him and Dan Arnold and some others that are just going to continue to get more opportunities as they find that comfort level in this offense. Just more weapons we can spread the ball to."
