Week 10 Game Recap: New Orleans Saints 31, Pittsburgh Steelers 38

What you need to know

New Orleans Saints

The Saints’ offensive surge continued as Drew Brees threw for 398 yards and a touchdown. He completed 17 of 22 passes for 203 yards in the first half, and guided the Saints to three touchdowns and a field goal in five possessions before the break. He found plenty of success downfield between the hash marks, exploiting an injury riddled Pittsburgh secondary, and its inexperienced replacements.

Rookie WR Marques Colston led the charge with ten receptions and 169 yards, while WR Terrance Copper, who replaced injured WR Joe Horn, filled in nicely with six receptions for 82 yards and a first quarter touchdown. Devery Henderson had been the player benefiting the most from Horn’s absence (Copper only saw three targets last week) but this week it was Copper that clearly rose to the occasion and made the most of his opportunity.

The Saints’ running duo of RB Deuce McAllister and RB Reggie Bush combined for 25 carries and 109 yards. McAllister ran for a consistent four yards a carry on 15 attempts, and scored twice, both from four yards out. Bush had 49 yards on ten carries and scored his first NFL career touchdown from scrimmage on a 15 yard double reverse in the second quarter.

The Saints’ defense gave up two early touchdowns in the first quarter, but settled down and held Pittsburgh to 30 first half rushing yards and just three second quarter completions leading to a field goal. In the end, however, they gave up 217 rushing yards and 467 total yards, including two runs of 70+ yards to RB Willie Parker.

Pittsburgh Steelers

For the first time since being knocked out of Week 7’s game at Atlanta, QB Ben Roethlisberger was in command of himself and the team as he guided six scoring drives, including five touchdowns (three passing). He also did not register a turnover, after committing seven over the last two weeks, and was sharp both in accuracy and in his decision making process.

Despite getting shut down for 26 first half yards, RB Willie Parker came within five yards of breaking a Steelers’ record as he rushed for 213 yards, highlighted by runs of 71 and 76 yards on consecutive second half drives, both leading to Parker touchdown runs of three and four yards.

WR Hines Ward led Pittsburgh receivers with five receptions and 86 yards and got the Steelers on top with a 37 yard touchdown catch early in the first quarter. TE Heath Miller and WR Cedrick Wilson also caught touchdown passes.

The Steelers’ defense again got torched (398 passing yards) and allowed 4.3 yards a rush plus three red zone touchdown runs but managed to force three turnovers. For the first time in weeks, however, they won the turnover battle forcing three fumbles. They knocked themselves out, literally, in holding on to their victory, as S Troy Polamalu, CB Deshea Townsend and S Tyrone Carter all suffered concussions.

What you ought to know

QB Drew Brees, Pass: 31 - 47 - 398 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 4 - 14 - 0

Brees continued to fly under the radar of top notch quarterbacks with another solid performance. He eclipsed the 275 yard mark for the sixth time this season and led his team to four first half scoring drives. After TE Billy Miller fumbled his first completion in the first quarter, Brees went on to complete 16 of his next 21 passes to close the first half with 201 passing yards. He went three of four on the Saints' first scoring drive and capped it off with a rollout touchdown pass to WR Terrance Copper for three yards. His completion percentage dipped in the second half, but he still threw for 197 second half yards. Brees took advantage of Pittsburgh over the middle using Copper and WR Marques Colston on several big gains and made wise decisions in checking down when necessary. Brees only had a few miscues on two over throws and two dropped interceptions, one of which would have gone for a defensive touchdown. He was also victimized by three dropped passes and two WR fumbles. He added 14 yards rushing on three scrambling attempts and had one fumble (not lost).

RB Reggie Bush, Rush: 10 - 49 - 1, Rec: 7 - 40 - 0 (12 targets)

Bush showed flashes of his speed and moves, gaining 49 yards on ten carries and QB Drew Brees used him several times out of the backfield for another 40 yards receiving, but it took a gadget play to cut Bush loose for his first NFL career offensive touchdown. Bush was the recipient of a double reverse that completely fooled the Steelers’ defense and he took it around the left end, sealing it by flying over a tackler for the final three yards and into the end zone. Bush also coughed up a fumble on the Saints’ 38 yard line, which led to a Steelers’ touchdown one play later in the third quarter.

RB Deuce McAllister, Rush: 14 - 56 - 1, Rec: 1 - 2 - 0 (1 targets)

McAllister continues to see a reduced role for a feature back, but once again led the Saints in rushing with 60 yards on 15 carries for a very consistent four yards a pop. It was his eighth game in a row with under 20 carries, but he made two of them count, both on four yard touchdown runs. He scored late in the first half, untouched, after QB Drew Brees completed four passes in a row in the two minute drill. His second touchdown was unconventional to say the least, when he picked up a ground ball fumbled snap right at his feet and ran it in for the touchdown with eight minutes left in the game.

RB Mike Karney, Rush: 1 - 1 - 0, Rec: 2 - 8 - 0 (2 targets)

Karney saw his fourth carry of the year and caught two short passes.

RB Aaron Stecker, Rec: 3 - 78 - 0 (3 targets)

Seldom used Stecker was a hit out of the backfield catching three passes for 78 yards, including a 48 yard bomb when he broke off his route to aid a scrambling QB Drew Brees. He also caught a 22 yard pass to help set up Deuce McAllister’s first touchdown run late in the second quarter.

WR Marques Colston, Rec: 10 - 169 - 0 (14 targets)

Already the number one option for QB Drew Brees, Colston continued his Rookie of the Year campaign with a game high ten receptions and 169 yards. Lining up several times in the slot to draw nickel back or LB coverage, Colston exploited the middle of the field almost at will, catching six passes between ten and 28 yards. Colston’s long of 29 occurred in the two minute drill when he beat rookie S Anthony Madison down the left sideline to the Steelers four yard line, setting up a Deuce McAllister touchdown late in the first half. Colston had a rookie moment in the fourth quarter when he dropped a third down pass upon hearing approaching footsteps.

WR Terrance Copper, Rec: 6 - 92 - 1 (12 targets)

Copper, normally the fourth WR for New Orleans, got the starting nod in place of injured WR Joe Horn and immediately made an impact catching a 22 yard pass and a three yard touchdown catch on the Saints’ first scoring drive. Copper faked an inside route and looped around to his right, where the Drew Brees rollout pass was waiting for him in the back of the end zone. Copper did not have Horn’s veteran’s presence late in the game, however, when he dropped a 30 yard pass over the middle, and fumbled his next reception at Pittsburgh’s 25 yard line with under :40 left in the game.

WR Devery Henderson

Henderson saw plenty of time on the field as the number three receiver, but not have a pass thrown his way in Sunday’s game.

TE Mark Campbell, Rec: 1 - 5 - 0 (3 targets)

Campbell had an eight yard catch nullified by a penalty and was targeted in the end zone in the fourth quarter but was over thrown. His lone reception came just before the two minute warning in the fourth quarter.

TE Billy Miller, Rec: 1 - 4 - 0 (2 targets)

Miller fumbled away his only reception on the Saints' second offensive play of the game.

PK John Carney 1 - 2 FG, 4 - 4 XP, 7 points

Carney was successful on a 20 yard field goal attempt, but pushed his 32 yard attempt wide left late in the third quarter. He converted all four extra point attempts.

NO Rush Defense

The Saints stuffed RB Willie Parker in the first half, holding him to just 26 yards. But after crowding the line of scrimmage to a fault, Parker was able to twice bounce outside for gains of 71 and 76 leading to two Parker rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter. They gave up 217 rushing yards in all.

NO Pass Defense

The Saints were caught several times out of position for big gains, including two touchdown passes of 37 and 38 yards, as well as another long gain of 48 yards that led to a field goal. They only managed two sacks and rarely flushed QB Ben Roethlisberger out of the pocket. LB Scott Shanle had eight total tackles and one of the Saints sacks.

QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pass: 17 - 28 - 264 - 3 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 2 - 1 - 0

Roethlisberger looked like the 2005 version of himself as he led the Steelers to five touchdown drives, the first three of which ended in Roethlisberger touchdown passes. His first was a strike over the middle to WR Hines Ward on a crossing pattern, who took it to the left sideline before turning up field for a 37 yard score. Roethlisberger found TE Heath Miller off of a play action bootleg for a two yard touchdown pass and fooled the Saints defense again with play action to find WR Cedrick Wilson all alone for a 38 yard touchdown pass. He finished 17 of 28 for 264 yards and more importantly zero turnovers. Four of Roethlisberger’s incompletions were actually good choices on his part or bad reads by his receivers, and he was also the victim of three dropped passes.

RB Willie Parker, Rush: 22 - 213 - 2, Rec: 2 - 12 - 0 (2 targets)

Parker had a career day and came within five yards of breaking a 36 year old franchise record in rushing for 213 yards, 187 of which came in the second half. Parker didn’t have many answers in the first half, rushing for just 26 yards on his ten carries. Late in the third quarter Parker switched gears and made the Saints pay for crowding the box with eight defenders. Parker took a draw through a huge hole on the left side of the line and raced up the left sideline for 71 yards. A shoe string tackle by CB Mike McKenzie saved the touchdown, but Parker capitalized four plays later from three yards out. On Pittsburgh’s next drive in the fourth quarter, Parker ran into a crowd of defenders, but bounced right and found daylight up the right sideline for a 76 yard gain. He was again caught from behind, but finished it off with a four yard score. Parker added 12 yards on two screen passes.

RB Najeh Davenport, Rush: 2 - 3 - 0, Rec: 1 - 4 - 0 (2 targets)

Davenport was instrumental on kick return duties, collecting 97 yards on four attempts including a 40 yard return to open the game, setting Pittsburgh up at midfield for its first touchdown drive. He had two rushes for three yards and caught a nearly had a huge gain on a screen pass, but was tripped up for just a four yards.

WR Hines Ward, Rec: 5 - 86 - 1 (6 targets)

Ward had a big first half, catching four passes for 69 yards. After cradling a short pass for eight yards and a first down, he scored on his next catch just three plays later. Ward caught Roethlisberger’s pass middle on a crossing pattern over the middle for 15 yards and continued toward the left sideline. He put a move on S Curtis Deloatch before turning up field and squeezing inside the left pylon for the touchdown. Ward later hauled in a 25 yard pass to set up a Hail Mary at the end of the first half. He only had one reception for 17 yards in the second half.

WR Cedrick Wilson, Rec: 2 - 47 - 1 (4 targets)

Wilson only saw four passes his way, his first early in the game for nine yards. His second catch came off play action and his defender bit on the fake, and he was all alone for a 38 yard touchdown catch. Wilson caught a severe case of alligator arms on a slant that could have gained significant yards in the fourth quarter, but RB Willie Parker rescued him with a 76 yard run on the next play.

WR Nate Washington, Rec: 2 - 28 - 0 (6 targets)

Washington’s struggles continued with two more dropped passes, including one in the end zone off his hands while jumping for the ball. His second drop was of similar fashion. He did make a sliding catch good for 22 yards early in the third quarter and he was the target of a first half Hail Mary pass that fell incomplete.

WR Santonio Holmes, Rec: 2 - 57 - 0 (3 targets)

Holmes resumed punt return duties and managed to hang onto his only attempt, a fair catch. He only caught two passes but his second reception set up a Jeff Reed second quarter field goal. Holmes caught a pass over the middle and when two defenders collided in pursuit, he raced up the left hash mark for a team high 46 yard reception to the Saints’ 14 yard line.

TE Heath Miller, Rec: 3 - 30 - 1 (5 targets)

Miller caught Roethlisberger’s second touchdown pass for two yards, and later pulled in a 22 yard catch in the third quarter inside the red zone. Four plays later, Miller was targeted in the end zone but he got tangled up with his defender and fell down before he was able to attempt the catch.

PK Jeff Reed 1 - 2 FG, 5 - 5 XP, 8 points

Reed made a 32 yard field goal, but hooked a 35 yard attempt wide left in the third quarter. He was perfect on all five extra point attempts.

PIT Rush Defense

The Steelers’ biggest gaffe on defense was the over pursuit on a double reverse and gave up a long gain of 15 yards for a touchdown. Otherwise, they kept RBs Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush in check for a combined 109 yards and forced a Bush fumble on the ground. LBs Larry Foote and James Farrior combined for 21 total tackles and two forced fumbles.

PIT Pass Defense

For the third time in four games, the Steelers allowed 31 or more points, primarily because of its soft pass defense. They allowed QB Drew Brees to throw for 398 yards and a touchdown. The Steelers lost CB Deshea Townsend with an injured ankle and a concussion, as well as S Troy Polamalu and S Tyrone Carter, both to concussions. S Ryan Clark had two fumble recoveries.