Brees, Saints shred Dallas

NEW ORLEANS Productions like Sunday night’s are what the New Orleans Saints are all about.

Drew Brees spraying the football with precision. Darren Sproles zipping through cracks of daylight. Pierre Thomas and Mark Ingram rumbling down the alley.

Marques Colston showing his old form.

When the Saints pour it on in the fashion demonstrated during a 49- 17 romp against the Dallas Cowboys at the raucous Mercedes- Benz Superdome — with Brees passing for 392 yards and four touchdowns — they look unbeatable. Consider some facts:

The Saints tallied a franchise- record 625 yards while setting a season high for points.

They set an NFL single- game record with 40 first downs.

Ingram notched his first career 100- yard rushing game, ripping off 145 yards on 14 carries.

Brees completed 34 of 41 passes and was in such a zone that at one point he completed 19 in a row, equaling his team record.

And his most lethal weapon, tight end Jimmy Graham, wasn’t operating at full throttle while nursing foot and elbow injuries. He still caught five passes for 59 yards.

So this is how they do it: Offense sets the tempo and lights up the scoreboard. The improved defense, now coordinated by Rob Ryan, protects the lead, limiting big plays.

Coach Sean Payton? He’s important, too.

This might be a snapshot on the road to another Super Bowl berth.

JOHN DAVID MERCER, USA TODAY SPORTS The Saints’ Kenny Stills high- fives Drew Brees after catching a 52- yard touchdown pass Sunday.