Defense Sends Undefeated Saints Past Jets

New Orleans 24, New York 10

NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 4 -- The New Orleans Saints are known for the dizzying passing numbers quarterback Drew Brees can compile, not for tough defense or a grind-it-out style of play. But they demonstrated Sunday at the Superdome they're a formidable team that can find more than one way to win, as they turned two touchdowns by their defense into a 24-10 triumph over the New York Jets.

The Saints improved to 4-0 for the third time in team history, and the first time since 1993. They made Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez look like the rookie he is. Sanchez threw three interceptions, one of which was returned 99 yards for a touchdown by Saints safety Darren Sharper, and lost a fumble that was recovered for a touchdown by New Orleans.

"I thought we played very physical," Saints Coach Sean Payton said. "That was one of our goals in this game. . . . I thought our defense was outstanding today. . . . When you win in this league, you have to play a complementary game. This isn't about style points. This is about the formula to win the game and then get on to the next week."

Brees had a relatively quiet game, throwing for 190 yards. He was held without a touchdown pass but didn't throw an interception, and his two most noteworthy contributions may have been a first-half block he threw and a key second-half fumble recovery.

"I felt like we were balanced and did everything we needed to do, particularly in the fourth quarter, to win the football game," Brees said.

The Saints got a fourth-quarter rushing touchdown by tailback Pierre Thomas, and that was all the offensive production they needed.

Sanchez completed 14 of 27 passes for only 138 yards. The Jets got a rushing touchdown by tailback Thomas Jones in the third quarter but weren't able to overcome their offensive mistakes.

"I thought Sanchez at times looked like a rookie today," Jets Coach Rex Ryan said. "He made some mistakes, which I'm sure he wishes he had back. He wasn't the only one. We have to do a better job protecting him."

Few people, it would seem, had this game circled on their calendars when the NFL released its schedule. But the Saints began the day with the league's highest-scoring offense, and the Jets had the second-ranked scoring defense. Both teams were unbeaten entering the game, and the winner would earn the distinction of being among the league's most pleasant early-season surprises.

It was the New Orleans defense that did the heavy lifting in the early going, forcing Sanchez into the sorts of costly mistakes that the prized rookie hadn't been making during the Jets' 3-0 beginning.

The first gaffe came on the opening play of the second quarter. The Jets trailed, 3-0, but were driving. They had a second-and-eight play at the Saints 15-yard line. Sanchez tried to get the ball to tight end Dustin Keller near the goal line. Keller was well covered by cornerback Tracy Porter, but Sanchez forced a throw into heavy traffic.

Sharper read the play all the way and cut in front of Keller to make the interception. The veteran safety had nothing but open field in front of him and raced 99 yards the other way for his 10th career touchdown on an interception return. That puts Sharper two behind Rod Woodson for the NFL record.