The Saints improved to 4-0 on the season following an impressive 24-10 win over the New York Jets. Defenses ruled on Sunday, as the Jets limited the Saints offense, tops in the league heading into the game, to just 10 points. The Saints defense was better scoring 14 points.
Safety Darren Sharper is turning into the second greatest free agent pick up in team history behind quarterback Drew Brees. Sharper picked off a Mark Sanchez pass 15 seconds into the second quarter and returned it 99 yards for a touchdown. Sharper’s pick six was a Saints club record for longest interception return and a fourth quarter interception gives him five picks for the season.
Sanchez, who went 12 of 27 for 138 yards and three interceptions, was harassed most of the game as the Saints continuously brought pressure against the rookie quarterback. Sanchez at times showed signs of why NFL analysts are so high on him, and also showed signs that he was playing in just his fourth game.
Defensive end Will Smith stripped Sanchez in the end zone causing a fumble, teammate Remi Ayodele recovered for a touchdown minutes after Sharper’s score. Smith also had a pair of Sacks, joining fellow defensive end Charles Grant with two drops of the quarterback.
The game was billed as the Jets defense versus the Saints offense, and “Gang Green” showed they were as good as billed. Brees was just 20 of 32 for 190 yards and did not throw a touchdown for the second consecutive game. New York limited the Saints to just 112 yards through the air, however the ground game as it did in Buffalo came to the rescue.
Running back Pierre Thomas had another solid outing, especially in the second half. Thomas finished with 86 yards on 19 carries, and scored a decisive touchdown with just over six minutes left to play in the fourth quarter.
The Saints enter the bye week now and will face the New York Giants in two weeks. The Giants easily won on Sunday in Kansas City 27-16 and face the 1-3 Raiders next week, setting up another likely matchup of unbeatens in the Superdome.
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