The 49ers (4-1) travel to the Louisiana Superdome for a 5:30 PT kickoff against the New Orleans Saints (4-1) on Sunday Night Football.
Aaron Brooks starts at quarterback for New Orleans. Deuce McAllister runs the ball. Joe Horn leads the receivers. Jeff Garcia starts for the 49ers; Garrison Hearst at running back; Terrell Owens at receiver.
Sunday Night Football at the Louisiana Superdome. The 49ers (4-1), off three straight wins, face the 4-1 New Orleans Saints in the kind of primetime road game where two NFC contenders meet in the conference's biggest early-season showcase.
Jeff Garcia stays the starter. Garrison Hearst returns at running back. Terrell Owens the WR1. The Saints come in with Aaron Brooks at quarterback, Deuce McAllister as the lead back, and Joe Horn as the WR1. The kind of primetime road game where 5-1 would put the 49ers in real conference contention.
Favored by 3 on the road. The kind of Sunday-night game where the result defines the early-season NFC playoff picture.
Week 7 Sunday Night Football across the NFC sees the contenders pulling away. The Eagles (5-1), Saints (4-1), 49ers (4-1), Buccaneers, and Bears compete for division titles and wild-card spots. Around the AFC the Patriots, Broncos, Chiefs, and Raiders dominate. The Sunday-night game is the kind of week where two NFC contenders meet for the conference's biggest early-season national-television matchup.
Through five games the 49ers are 4-1 with a +34 point differential. Jeff Garcia averages 7.4 yards per attempt with five TDs and three INTs. Garrison Hearst returns from injury. Terrell Owens averages 71 receiving yards a game with two TDs. The defense allows 14 points per game. The Saints are 4-1 with Aaron Brooks averaging 280 passing yards a game and 9 TDs/3 INTs. Deuce McAllister averages 120 rushing yards a game. Joe Horn leads the team in receiving. Vegas opens the 49ers as 3-point road favorites; total 49.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins | 5-1 | W2 |
| Buffalo Bills | 3-3 | W1 |
| New England Patriots | 3-3 | L3 |
| New York Jets | 1-4 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Ravens | 2-3 | L1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 2-3 | W1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 2-4 | L3 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 0-6 | L6 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis Colts | 4-1 | W3 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 3-2 | L1 |
| Tennessee Titans | 2-4 | W1 |
| Houston Texans | 1-4 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego Chargers | 5-1 | W1 |
| Oakland Raiders | 4-1 | L1 |
| Denver Broncos | 4-2 | L1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 3-3 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 4-1 | W3 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 3-2 | -- |
| Seattle Seahawks | 1-4 | L1 |
| St. Louis Rams | 1-5 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Eagles | 3-2 | L1 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 3-3 | W1 |
| New York Giants | 3-3 | L1 |
| Washington Redskins | 2-3 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Green Bay Packers | 5-1 | W4 |
| Chicago Bears | 2-3 | L3 |
| Detroit Lions | 1-4 | L1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 1-4 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Saints | 5-1 | W2 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 5-1 | W5 |
| Carolina Panthers | 3-3 | L3 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 2-3 | W1 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Terrell Owens 4 yard pass from Jeff Garcia ( Jose Cortez kick) | 7-0 |
| Saints | Deuce McAllister 4 yard pass from Aaron Brooks ( John Carney kick) | 7-7 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Garrison Hearst 2 yard rush ( Jose Cortez kick) | 14-7 |
| 49ers | Jose Cortez 24 yard field goal | 17-7 |
| Saints | John Carney 46 yard field goal | 17-10 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Saints | John Carney 31 yard field goal | 17-13 |
| 49ers | Garrison Hearst 8 yard rush ( Jose Cortez kick) | 24-13 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Saints | Joe Horn 10 yard pass from Aaron Brooks | 24-19 |
| Saints | Joe Horn 20 yard pass from Aaron Brooks | 24-25 |
| 49ers | Jose Cortez 41 yard field goal | 27-25 |
| Saints | John Carney 22 yard field goal | 27-28 |
| Saints | Aaron Brooks 1 yard rush ( John Carney kick) | 27-35 |
Aaron Brooks threw three touchdown passes and the New Orleans Saints beat the 49ers 35-27 at the Louisiana Superdome on Sunday Night Football. Brooks finished 23-of-35 for 254. Deuce McAllister ran for 139 yards. Jeff Garcia threw for 275 yards and a touchdown. Garrison Hearst ran for 87 with two touchdowns. Terrell Owens caught five for 68. The 49ers fell to 4-2 in the primetime road loss.[1][2][3]
Aaron Brooks went 23-of-35 for 254 yards and three touchdowns Sunday night at the Louisiana Superdome. The New Orleans Saints beat the 49ers 35-27 in the kind of Sunday Night Football road loss where, despite Garrison Hearst's 87 rushing and two touchdowns, the year's defense surrendered too many big plays.
Jeff Garcia threw for 275 with a touchdown. Hearst ran for 87 with two TDs. Terrell Owens caught five for 68. Tai Streets caught six for 80. Deuce McAllister ran for 139, the kind of opposing-back production the year's defense had not faced yet. The defense surrendered three Brooks touchdowns.
4-2. The kind of Sunday-night road loss where, against an NFC contender in primetime, the year's identity tape produced the kind of competitive-but-losing game. The Arizona Cardinals at home next Sunday in another NFC West home game. The kind of October where the 49ers' competitive identity has the kind of season arc the staff is hoping for.
Saints 35, 49ers 27. Margin: -8. Six-game record: 4-2, +26 differential.
* Aaron Brooks: 23-of-35 for 254, 3 TDs, 0 INTs.
* Deuce McAllister: 21 carries for 139.
* Joe Horn: receiving production with TD.
* Jeff Garcia: 23-of-39 for 275, 1 TD, 1 INT.
* Garrison Hearst: 14 carries for 87, 2 TDs.
* Terrell Owens: 5 catches for 68.
* Tai Streets: 6 catches for 80.
* 49ers 4-2; Saints 5-1.
A 35-27 Sunday Night Football road loss at the Louisiana Superdome. The 49ers fall to 4-2.
How it unfolded
The Saints scored on their opening drive with a Brooks touchdown to make it 7-0. The 49ers answered with a Hearst touchdown to tie at 7-7. The Saints added a touchdown to push the lead to 14-7. The 49ers added another touchdown to tie at 14-14. The second quarter went New Orleans field goal, 49ers field goal, Saints touchdown, 49ers touchdown. Halftime 24-21 Saints. The second half was a McAllister touchdown drive and a Brooks third touchdown. Final 35-27.
The turning point
Deuce McAllister's 139-yard rushing game. With the year's defense, the team's identity element, surrendering the kind of opposing-back production it had not yet faced, McAllister's running gave New Orleans the kind of two-score cushion the 49ers' offense could not match.
By the numbers
Garcia 275 passing on 39 attempts with a TD and an INT. Hearst 87 rushing on 14 carries with two TDs. Owens 68 receiving on 5 catches. Tai Streets 80 receiving on 6 catches. Brooks 254 on 35 attempts with three TDs. McAllister 139 rushing.
Personnel watch
Garrison Hearst's two-touchdown game in his return. Jeff Garcia's productive but losing day. Terrell Owens's quiet game. Deuce McAllister's 139-yard rushing game. The kind of primetime road loss where the offense produced 27 but the defense surrendered 35.
What it means
4-2 with the Cardinals at home next Sunday. The kind of Sunday-night road loss where, against an NFC contender, the year's identity tape was the kind of competitive performance the staff was hoping for. The NFC West remains the 49ers' division to win.
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Jeff Garcia | 23/39 | 275 | 1 | 1 | |
| NOR | |||||
| Aaron Brooks | 23/35 | 254 | 3 | 0 | |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Garrison Hearst | 14 | 87 | 2 | 30 |
| Kevan Barlow | 6 | 28 | 0 | 8 |
| Jeff Garcia | 3 | 24 | 0 | 12 |
| Terrell Owens | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Fred Beasley | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| NOR | ||||
| Deuce McAllister | 21 | 139 | 0 | 53 |
| Aaron Brooks | 4 | 26 | 1 | 12 |
| Michael Lewis | 1 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| Curtis Keaton | 1 | -1 | 0 | -1 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Tai Streets | 6 | 80 | 0 | 22 |
| Terrell Owens | 4 | 61 | 1 | 31 |
| Garrison Hearst | 4 | 43 | 0 | 15 |
| Kevan Barlow | 3 | 43 | 0 | 19 |
| Eric Johnson | 2 | 20 | 0 | 12 |
| Fred Beasley | 3 | 16 | 0 | 7 |
| Cedrick Wilson | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| NOR | ||||
| Joe Horn | 8 | 109 | 2 | 20 |
| Jerome Pathon | 4 | 59 | 0 | 19 |
| Jake Reed | 4 | 54 | 0 | 25 |
| Deuce McAllister | 5 | 35 | 1 | 16 |
| Michael Lewis | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Boo Williams | 1 | -3 | 0 | -3 |
Find or start the canonical thread for this game on r/49ers. The thread title is deterministic so anyone running this Rewatch lands on the same place.
Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 2002 W7 - 49ers at New Orleans Saints - Game Thread
