Undefeated Saints wipe out big deficit, whip Dolphins

MIAMI -- For most of the first half, the New Orleans Saints could hardly make a first down.

Later there was no stopping them, as usual.

The unbeaten Saints overcame an early 21-point deficit, mounting touchdown drives of 82, 79 and 60 yards on successive possessions in the second half to overtake the Miami Dolphins 46-34 yesterday.

NFL passing leader Drew Brees had his worst day of the season, with three interceptions and five sacks. But he scored twice, the second time on a 2-yard keeper with 8:35 left to give the Saints their first lead.

Tracy Porter's 54-yard interception return sealed the win for the Saints (6-0), off to their best start since 1991. The league's highest-scoring team topped 40 points for the fourth time.

New Orleans' first strike on defense came barely a minute into the second half when safety Darren Sharper (Hermitage High, William and Mary) scored on a 42-yard interception return, his third pick for six points this season.

Sharper's interception was the 60th of his career, leaving him ninth on the all-time list, two behind Dave Brown and Dick LeBeau. His 11 returns for touchdowns are one shy of all-time leader Rod Woodson.

On a down note, Saints defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis was forced from the game because of a sprained right knee, and he'll undergo tests today.

The Dolphins' Ricky Williams carried only nine times but tied a career high with three touchdowns rushing, including a 68-yard run, the longest of his career. By the time the Saints picked up their second first down 22 minutes into the game, the Dolphins led 24-3.

It was the first time the Saints had trailed this season.

Miami (2-4) then let them back into the game with two turnovers. After Davone Bess lost a fumble at midfield late in the first half, Marques Colston caught a 21-yard pass that was initially ruled a TD. When a replay review with 5 seconds left determined the ball should instead be placed at the half-yard line, the Dolphins called timeout.

The Saints then decided to run another play rather than settle for a field goal, and Brees plunged across the goal line to make the score 24-10.

The pace of scoring soon became frantic, with three touchdowns in less than three minutes. The Saints drove 82 yards for a score to pull within 27-24, but Miami's Brian Hartline turned a short pass into a 67-yard gain to set up Williams' third score.