Drew Brees threw two touchdown passes and Patrick Robinson scored on a 99-yard interception return, as the New Orleans Saints beat the Philadelphia Eagles, 28-13, in the Superdome on Monday night. New Orleans (3-5) sacked Michael Vick seven times and sent Philadelphia (3-5) to its fourth straight loss. The Saints jumped out to a 21-3 halftime lead thanks to Robinson's first quarter interception return and Brees' precision passing.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings — 8:20 P.M.
Mall of America Field, Minneapolis
Tampa Bay (2-4) quarterback Josh Freeman is the 11th-rated passer in the NFL. He'll have to contend with a Vikings' defense that is tied for third in the league with 22 sacks. With quarterback Christian Ponder committing seven turnovers in his past three starts, Minnesota (5-2) may rely on running back Adrian Peterson. Peterson's 652 rushing yards are tied for third in the NFL. He'll face a Buccaneers' run defense that ranks third in the league, allowing just 76 yards per game on the ground.
New Orleans 31 — San Diego 24
Drew Brees threw a touchdown pass in his 48th straight game to break Johnny Unitas' 52-year-old NFL record, and the New Orleans Saints beat the San Diego Chargers, 31-24, in New Orleans on Sunday night. New Orleans (1-4) recorded its first victory of the 2012 season by coming from behind after San Diego (3-2) led, 24-14, early in the second half.
A three-member appellate panel overturned the suspensions of four NFL players by the league in the 'Bountygate' case against the New Orleans Saints on Friday.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has handed down suspensions to 4 players who were involved in the New Orleans Saints bounty incident. The 4 include linebackers Jonathan Vilma and Scott Fujita, and defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove and Will Smith. Vilma gets the harshest suspension. He is suspended for the entire 2012 season. He reportedly said prior to the Vikings/Saints NFL championship game in 2010 that the person who knocks quarterback Brett Favre out of the game will get $10,000.
The NFL playoffs start Saturday. Four division champions host first-round games this weekend, while Green Bay, San Francisco, New England and Baltimore enjoy a bye week and wait to begin their Super Bowl quest.
Here’s a preview of this weekend’s games:
New Orleans 45 – Atlanta 16
Drew Brees set a new NFL record for yards passing in a season, and the New Orleans Saints beat the Atlanta Falcons 45-16 on Monday night to clinch the NFC South title. Brees passed for 307 yards and four touchdowns, the last of which was a 9-yard completion to Darren Sproles that set the NFL record with 2:51 to play.