Tagged: sports

The San Francisco 49ers dealt the New Orleans Saints a serious blow to their playoff hopes, defeating them 31-21 Sunday in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Despite an improved defensive effort, the Saints were unable to overcome a couple of big plays and offensive miscues.

The Saints’ defense yielded a season-low 375 yards to the 49ers offense but couldn’t overcome a pair of crucial interceptions by Drew Brees.

Brees was 26 of 41 for 267 yards and three touchdowns, but he threw two interceptions which were returned for touchdowns.

The New Orleans Hornets dropped to second-to-last place in the Western Conference after their loss to the New York Knicks last night, 102-80.

This loss drops the Hornets to 3-6. They have lost their last 4 games, and the Hornets defense has given up more than 100 points in each. In the games the Hornets have won this season, they have only allowed their opponents an average of 89 points.

“We've got to get it together. It's hurting us. It's four losses in a row. You don't want to take that. You don't want to get used to losing,” said Hornet’s starting guard Greivis Vasquez.

The Saints improved their record to 5-5 with a 38-17 win over the Raiders in Oakland on Sunday.

The offense continued its balanced attack, rushing for more than 100 yards for the third consecutive game. Mark Ingram led the way for the Saints’ ground game, rushing 12 times for 67 yards and a touchdown.

Drew Brees provided another masterful performance, completing 74.1 percent of his passes for 219 yards and three touchdowns.

Lance Moore caught two of Brees’s touchdown passes, totaling 53 yards.

The Hornets lost to the Rockets at the Toyota Center in Houston, 100-96, after trying to rally from a dismal second quarter performance.

James Harden led the Rockets’ scoring with 30 points. The Rockets had two players record double-doubles: Omer Asik supplied 15 points and 12 rebounds, and Chandler Parsons 13 points and 10 rebounds.