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Saints take division lead in rout

 
Published Dec. 16, 2014

CHICAGO — Drew Brees threw for 375 yards and three touchdowns Monday night as the Saints beat the Bears 31-15 on to grab the NFC South lead.

New Orleans moved into first place, half a game ahead of Carolina and a game ahead of Atlanta, the Saints' opponent next week.

Brees, shaky last week, was spectacular this time.

He completed 29 of 36 passes and reached the 4,000-yard mark for the ninth straight year. He threw two touchdowns to Josh Hill and another to Marques Colston.

Running back Pierre Thomas had five catches for 83 yards. Linebacker David Hawthorne had three of New Orleans' seven sacks and the Saints intercepted three of Jay Cutler's passes to bring his NFL-leading turnover total to 24. Chicago's offense struggled against a team which lost 41-10 to Carolina last weekend.

Brees found Hill for 7-yard touchdown with 8:35 left in the third quarter, and Shayne Graham added a 25-yard field goal.

The Saints jumped in front after wasting several opportunities in the first quarter. Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller was called for a 17-yard pass-interference penalty trying to defend tight end Jimmy Graham, setting New Orleans up with first and goal. Brees then rolled right on the first play of the second quarter and passed to an open Hill, who lunged across the goal line for an 8-yard touchdown.

The first half was so bad for Chicago that its best play of the first two quarters might have been Patrick O'Donnell's 56-yard punt that went out of bounds at the New Orleans 5.

Hawkins' social statement: Browns wide receiver Andrew Hawkins, who wore a T-shirt Sunday in warmups protesting two shootings in Ohio involving police and victims carrying fake guns, said Monday he was motivated out of fear that one day something tragic could happen to his 2-year-old son. The T-shirt read: "Justice for Tamir Rice and John Crawford" on the front and "The Real Battle for Ohio" on the back. Rice, 12, died Nov. 22 after he was shot by a rookie officer investigating a complaint about the youth, who had a fake gun. Crawford, 22, was fatally shot Aug. 5 while holding an air-pellet rifle inside a Walmart in Beavercreek, Ohio.

Sportsmanship award: Eight finalists were announced for the new award: Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald, Lions receiver Calvin Johnson, Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway, Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis, Broncos defensive end DeMarcus Ware, Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith and Patriots special-teams player Matthew Slater. A panel of former players — Hall of Famer Curtis Martin, ex-Buc and Seminole Warrick Dunn, Karl Mecklenburg and Leonard Wheeler — selected the finalists from 32 nominees, one from each team.

Mistaken call: Head of officiating Dean Blandino said a key call in Sunday's Seahawks-49ers game was wrong. San Francisco linebacker Nick Moody was flagged for roughing the passer for his hit on Russell Wilson on third down, keeping a Seattle drive alive in the fourth quarter. The Seahawks scored a touchdown two plays later.

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Broncos: Linebacker Danny Trevathan dislocated his left kneecap Sunday and is out for the season.

Cardinals: Ryan Lindley will start at quarterback against Seattle on Sunday over rookie Logan Thomas.

Cowboys: League rushing leader DeMarco Murray has a broken hand that requires surgery and might miss Sunday's game against Indianapolis. Murray has rushed for 1,687 yards, easily tops in the league with Pittsburgh's Le'Veon Bell (1,278) second.

Eagles: Trent Cole fractured a bone in his hand Sunday against Dallas, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported, but it was unclear if the outside linebacker will need season-ending surgery.

Panthers: Coach Ron Rivera said he'll wait and see if quarterback Cam Newton can play Sunday against the Browns. Newton missed the Bucs game after a car wreck last week left him with two fractures in his lower back.

Redskins: The team's fifth starting quarterback change this season — this one mandated by Colt McCoy's aggravated neck injury — means Robert Griffin III will get the call Saturday against Philadelphia.

Titans: Rookie offensive tackle Taylor Lewan was sentenced to 12 months of probation for his role in a drunken confrontation with an Ohio State fan a year ago. Lewan, 22, a former Michigan standout, also was ordered to pay $950 in fines and costs, plus probation fees and $1,714.68 in restitution to Ryan Munsch, who said the money will help pay his medical costs.