Brees shreds Bears in Saints’ victory

Associated Press

CHICAGO

Drew Brees threw for 375 yards and three touchdowns and the New Orleans Saints beat the Chicago Bears 31-15 on Monday night to grab the NFC South lead.

The Saints (6-8) moved into first place ahead of Carolina (5-8-1) and Atlanta (5-9) and came away with the win after dropping four of five.

They also rebounded from a 41-10 loss to the Panthers.

Brees, shaky last week, was spectacular this time.

He completed 29 of 36 passes and reached the 4,000-yard mark for the ninth straight year.

He threw two TD passes to Josh Hill and another to Marques Colston.

Pierre Thomas had five catches for 83 yards.

David Hawthorne had three of New Orleans’ seven sacks and the Saints intercepted three of Jay Cutler’s passes to bring his NFL-leading turnover total to 24.

The Bears are 5-9.

GRUDEN STAYING WITH ESPN

Jon Gruden has agreed to a contract extension with ESPN through the 2021 NFL season.

ESPN announced the deal Monday night.

Frequently mentioned for vacant NFL and college coaching openings, the Super Bowl-winning coach joined ESPN in May 2009 as an analyst.

He teams with play-by-play man Mike Tirico on “Monday Night Football” and appears on other ESPN programs.