Saints are marched on again; Titans win 31-14

Drew Brees threw four
interceptions for New Orleans.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Vince Young got the best of Reggie Bush again, and the NFL’s feel-good team from last season is off to a dismal start.

Young threw a pair of touchdown passes and the Tennessee Titans kept New Orleans winless on the year, beating the Saints 31-14 Monday night before a Superdome crowd that showered boos on the same players who provided such a pick-me-up to the devastated city a year ago.

The Saints (0-3) rallied from an early 10-0 deficit, going ahead 14-10 midway through the third quarter on Bush’s second touchdown run.

But Young, just as he did when leading Texas to an epic win over Bush and Southern Cal at the 2006 Rose Bowl, brought his team back.

While running backs LenDale White and Chris Brown handled the bulk of the workload on the go-ahead drive, it was Young who threaded a key 10-yard pass to Eric Moulds, who was shoved out of bounds at the Saints 1. White, a teammate of Bush’s at USC, powered over on the next play to put the Titans (2-1) ahead to stay.

Bad night for QB

Drew Brees, who had another miserable game, got the ball knocked away on the first play of the fourth quarter — the second of his four turnovers. Brees threw four interceptions and now has seven against one touchdown pass.

Young seized on the Brees fumble to drive Tennessee to the decisive score.

The second-year quarterback completed an 18-yard pass to Roydell Williams, ran for 11 yards and capped the drive with a 3-yard pass to Bo Scaife that put the Titans up 24-14.

Young also hooked up with Brandon Jones on a 35-yard TD and finished off an efficient performance 14-of-22 for 164 yards. He also ran three times for 23 yards.

Young and New Orleans running back Deuce McAllister headed to the locker room with injuries during the first half.

McAllister limped off after catching a 1-yard pass and going down awkwardly with about 8 minutes left in the half. He was checked out on the sideline, then headed off for further treatment. He didn’t return for the rest of the quarter or the start of the second half.

Later in the period, Young took a hard shot from Saints end Will Smith after delivering a pass. The second-year quarterback flexed his right wrist on the sideline and wound up heading to the locker room in the final minute, but he was OK.

After Kerry Collins played the last series of the half for the Titans, Young was back at the start of the third quarter. Tennessee led 10-7.

At the time of his injury, Young had completed 9-of-16 passes for 125 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Jones. McAllister was not very effective, rushing four times for 5 yards.