The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Brees misses second half with rib injury as Saints beat 49ers
NEW ORLEANS — Drew Brees was pulled at halftime with a rib injury after passing for j ust 76 yards and one touchdown, but Alvin Kamara scored three times and New Orleans’ defense largely stifled San Francisco to help the Saints secure a 27- 13 victory over the 49ers on Sunday.
Brees’ injury appeared to occur when defensive tackle Kentavius Street was called for a personal foul on a sack in which he got a clean shot at the 41- year- old quarterback and landed directly on top of him. Offifficials ruled Street violated the NFL’S “bodyweight rule,” which bans defenders from landing on a defenseless passer with all or most of their weight.
Brees missed j ust t wo plays after the hit and returned for a third- down pitchback to Kamara that resulted in a 2- yard touchdown that tied the score at 10.
Brees continued to play for the rest of the second quarter, going 5 for 6 on a t wo- minute drive that he completed with a 3- yard touchdown toss to Kamara that made it 17- 10 just before halftime.
But when the second half began, Jameis Winston took the f i eld while Brees stood with his helmet on and his hands on his hips in front of New Orleans’ bench, where he watched t he rest of the Saints’ sixth straight victory.
Winston completed 6 of 1 0 passes for 63 yards. Several of his passes were not near the intended target and one was nearly intercepted by safety Jimmie Ward, who dropped a pass that hit him in the hands. Read option QB Taysom Hill also took snaps periodically.
Nick Mullens passed for 247 yards and a 4- yard touchdown to Brandon Aiyuk on San Francisco’s fifirst series. But he also was intercepted twice in Saints territory, once by safety Malcolm Jenkins and once by cornerback Patrick Robinson.
The Niners had little success against New Orleans’ second- ranked run defense, gaining just 49 yards on the ground.
Kamara, as he has been most of the season, was New Orleans’ most productive skill player, gaining 98 yards from scrimmage, including 83 yards on seven receptions.
The Niners raced to a 10- 0 lead, but their mistakes helped the Saints respond with 27 straight points.
Kamara’s first and third TDS were set up by turnovers on 49ers punt returns. The fifirst occurred in the second quarter when the ball glanced off the shoulder of Ken Webster, who was trying to block on the play but ventured too close to where the punt bounced. The second came after a muff by returner Richie James.
Saints undrafted rookie receiver Marquez Callaway recovered both lost punts.