Brees Leads Saints Past Cardinals, 31-7

(AP) Brees leads Saints past Cardinals, 31-7
By BRETT MARTEL
AP Sports Writer
NEW ORLEANS
Drew Brees passed for three scores and scrambled for New Orleans’ first touchdown rushing of the season, leading the Saints to a 31-7 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

Brees was 29 of 46 for 342 yards, with two TD strikes to tight end Jimmy Graham and the other to Robert Meachem.

Brees was intercepted once by none other than New Orleans native and former LSU star Tyrann Mathieu. That play ended a scoring threat, but only delayed the inevitable on a day when Arizona’s short-handed defense was little match for the prolific passing attack of the Saints (3-0).

Arizona (1-2) had no answer for Graham, who caught nine passes for 134 yards.

Meanwhile, the Saints’ rejuvenated defense under new coordinator Rob Ryan produced four sacks and two interceptions of Carson Palmer.