49ers at New Orleans Saints

Drew Brees threw for 363 yards and three touchdowns and the New Orleans Saints beat the 49ers 31-17 at Candlestick Park. Brees finished 23-of-35 with one interception. Marques Colston caught a touchdown. J.T. O'Sullivan threw a touchdown but added two interceptions. Frank Gore ran for 82. Arnaz Battle caught seven for 120. The 49ers' defense surrendered 30+ points. The 49ers fell to 2-2.[1][2][3]

Drew Brees went for 363 yards Sunday afternoon at Candlestick. The New Orleans Saints beat the 49ers 31-17 in the kind of home loss where Brees's volume passing, the kind of attack Mike Martz designed his offense to mirror in his own way, ended up the kind of statement the Saints' offense needed and the 49ers' defense could not stop.

J.T. O'Sullivan threw a touchdown but added two interceptions. Frank Gore ran for 82. Arnaz Battle caught seven for 120, the breakout game from the Notre Dame product. Isaac Bruce caught five for 41. Vernon Davis caught two for 19.

2-2. The kind of home loss that, against a real conference team, exposes the gap between a 49ers offense that has played well in moderate doses and a Brees-led offense that produces volume passing. The New England Patriots come to Candlestick next Sunday in another cross-conference matchup. The kind of game where Matt Cassel, the rookie starter after Tom Brady's Week 1 injury, makes his second NFL start.

Saints 31, 49ers 17. Margin: -14. Four-game record: 2-2, -3 differential.

* Drew Brees: 23-of-35 for 363, 3 TDs, 1 INT.
* Marques Colston: 1 TD reception.
* Deuce McAllister: 20 carries for 73, 1 TD.
* J.T. O'Sullivan: 18-of-36 for 257, 1 TD, 2 INTs.
* Frank Gore: 16 carries for 82.
* Arnaz Battle: 7 catches for 120.
* Isaac Bruce: 5 catches for 41.
* 49ers 2-2; Saints 2-2.

A 31-17 home loss to the New Orleans Saints at Candlestick. The 49ers fall to 2-2.

How it unfolded

The 49ers scored on their opening drive with a Joe Nedney field goal. The Saints answered with a Garrett Hartley field goal. The second quarter was a Brees touchdown to make it 10-3, then a Deuce McAllister touchdown to push the lead to 17-3. The 49ers added a touchdown drive that ended on an O'Sullivan touchdown pass to make it 17-10. The Saints added a fourth field goal before halftime to make it 20-10. The third quarter was a Brees second touchdown to push it to 27-10. The fourth quarter was an O'Sullivan touchdown to make it 27-17, then a final Saints touchdown to close it at 31-17.

The turning point

The Deuce McAllister touchdown in the second quarter that pushed the lead from 10-3 to 17-3. With the 49ers down a score and the Saints' offense looking like it might stall, McAllister's score gave Brees room to operate and turned the home game into a two-score chase.

By the numbers

O'Sullivan 257 passing on 36 attempts with a TD and two INTs. Gore 82 rushing on 16 carries plus a receiving day. Battle 120 receiving on 7 catches. Bruce 41 receiving on 5 catches. Vernon Davis 19 receiving. Brees 363 passing on 35 attempts with three TDs. Colston the TD.

Personnel watch

Arnaz Battle's 120-yard breakout, the kind of receiver-rotation development the Martz offense produces. J.T. O'Sullivan's two-interception home start. Vernon Davis still struggling in the playbook. Brees with the kind of volume passing day the Martz offense was designed to produce against, not be like.

What it means

2-2 with the Patriots at home next Sunday. The kind of home loss where the offense scored but the defense could not get Brees off the field. Matt Cassel's second start coming up in the Sunday afternoon spot.