Browns returns shock Saints

Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS

David Bowens looks even older than he is, with specks of gray in his hair and beard.

So after the 33-year-old Cleveland linebacker intercepted Drew Brees twice Sunday and returned both for touchdowns, teammates celebrating their stunning 30-17 victory over the defending champion New Orleans Saints joked at Bowens’ expense.

“They say I’m the oldest guy to score two touchdowns since Larry Csonka,” Bowens said, alluding to the Miami Dolphins Hall of Fame fullback.

Age didn’t seem to be a factor during Bowens’ returns of 30 and 64 yards, the second of which he punctuated by clumsily somersaulting into the end zone.

“I can’t dance,” Bowens said, explaining that his celebration was a reprise of Reggie Bush’s end zone somersault in the NFC title game in January 2007. “I can’t do it as sweet as he does it. I’m a little heavier than he is and a little older.”

Bowens was not accustomed to scoring touchdowns. In his previous 11 NFL seasons, he had only one on a blocked punt.

“You don’t dream of games like that,” Bowens said. “You don’t ever think anything is going to happen like that. It’s unbelievable.”

Perhaps Bowens had a little karma working for him in New Orleans. Several years ago, he helped raise $20,000 for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Incidentally, his career-best performance came not only at Brees’ expense, but just days after the quarterback had welcomed a son named Bowen.

Brees, who was intercepted 11 times last season, has thrown 10 already. The only other time Brees had four interceptions in a game was when New Orleans lost to Tennessee in September 2007.

“Whenever you throw a pick, you’re going to be upset. ... Four interceptions are hard to swallow,” Brees said. “I think we are all doing a little soul searching. We know how good we can be. Obviously, we aren’t playing that way right now.”

Scott Fujita and Sheldon Brown also had interceptions for Cleveland. Fujita, a defensive leader for the Saints last season and a former fan favorite in the Louisiana Superdome, snagged his interception at the Cleveland 3 to thwart a likely scoring drive. Fujita also had one of three sacks on Brees. He was constantly watching the Saints’ sideline for substitutions, then relayed the information to his own sideline to help with pre-snap adjustments.

Afterward, Cleveland coach Eric Mangini gave Fujita a game ball.

I didn’t think we’d shut them down like that,” Fujita said.