NFC Saints shred 49ers defense for comeback victory
New Orleans marched 59 yards in the final minutes for a 30-27 victory.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Deuce McAllister went down early against San Francisco, leaving his teammates to make do without him.
They came through, with Aaron Brooks staging the 12th comeback of his career, taking the Saints 59 yards in the final two minutes and hitting Donte' Stallworth for a 16-yard touchdown strike and a 30-27 victory over the 49ers on Sunday.
"I love being his teammate," Stallworth said of Brooks. "He's a guy who's always going to keep his cool under pressure."
He needed to.
McAllister, the Saints' top offensive player, sprained his right ankle on his third run of the game and was scheduled to have an MRI today. It is the same ankle he injured two years ago, when he missed one game but played hurt most of the season.
After the TD pass to Stallworth, the 49ers would not go away.
Close call
They got to the New Orleans 1 on Terry Jackson's long run following a short pass, but offensive pass interference against Brandon Lloyd nullified the play. On the next play, Ashley Ambrose intercepted Ken Dorsey's pass with four seconds remaining.
"I didn't see the penalty, I didn't feel I did it, it wasn't a very good call," Lloyd said. "That's what happens when you put the game in the hands of the officials."
Dorsey, who made his first NFL start in place of the injured Tim Rattay, went 18-of-32 for 205 yards. He was sacked twice and intercepted once, but, thanks to a strong running game, kept the 49ers in the game until the final seconds.
"We lost the game and that's the only way I can really look at it," Dorsey said. "There is no other way to look at it."
More yardage
The 49ers outgained New Orleans 370-302 and outrushed the Saints 180-46.
San Francisco sacked Brooks on New Orleans' first play. Then McAllister fumbled when he was injured. He said he dropped the ball when he heard his ankle pop after defensive tackle Bryant Young grabbed it while tackling him. The play led to a 30-yard field goal by Todd Peterson.
Without McAllister, left the Saints had just one running back, Aaron Stecker. They cut Ki-Jana Carter before the game so they could activate defensive tackle Shaun Smith from the practice squad.
New Orleans took a 7-3 lead when Brooks connected with Joe Horn for an 8-yard touchdown pass. Brooks went 25-of-34 for 279 yards and three touchdowns.
Stallworth had 113 yards on nine receptions. Horn had 94 yards on eight catches.
After John Carney's 33-yard field goal gave New Orleans a 10-3 edge, San Francisco tied it on Kevin Barlow's 10-yard touchdown run.
The Saints regained the lead when Brooks hit Jerome Pathon for a 37-yard touchdown. Carney's second field goal, a 36-yarder, gave New Orleans a 20-10 lead.
Barlow had 114 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. His second TD, a 1-yard run, cut the Saints' halftime lead to 20-17.
The teams exchanged third-quarter field goals and Jamal Robertson had a 1-yard touchdown run to put the 49ers up 27-23 in the fourth quarter.