Despite loss, Saints look good

A week after being baffled by the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Saints offense bounced back Friday night against the Buffalo Bills, in the Louisiana Superdome.

Quarterback Drew Brees and the first-teamers sliced through the Bills defense quicker than yours truly through a platter of buffalo wings.

Playing the first quarter, Brees and company rolled up 142 yards of total offense to go along with seven first downs. The only knock against the boys in black and gold was that two drives deep into Buffalo territory resulted in only three points.

"We were a little sharper tonight on offense," Brees said, "but you would still like to see us complete those drives with touchdowns."

The Saints offense came out firing on all cylinders, driving 58 yards on their opening possession. The drive stalled at the 19-yard line, though, and Olindo Mare trotted out for a 37-yard field goal, which was blocked.

The Saints' second series resulted in points as a 12-play, 74-yard drive was capped off by a 42-yard field goal by Mare.

Brees finished his short night with 118 yards on a near-perfect 12-of-14 passing. Devery Henderson was Brees' top target, catching three passes for 52 yards. Henderson left the game midway through the first half after being shaken up on a hit.

After the game, Saints coach Sean Payton said Henderson tweaked his hamstring on the play.

"I felt it while I was running my route," Henderson said. "It wasn't the hit. I didn't really feel the hit all that much. I just need to rest up and take care of it. I'll be all right."

Defensively, the Saints made great strides since last week's debacle in Canton. Against Buffalo's starters, the Saints gave up only 42 yards and two first downs. But a lot of that had to do with the fact that the Bills ran only 12 plays with their starting unit.

The biggest difference was that the Saints didn't give up many big plays, something which plagued them not only last week against Pittsburgh, but all of last season.

"I thought we came out and played with some intensity that was missing from last week," Payton said. "We played hard and we kept everything in front of us. It was a much more positive effort and we'll look at the film and keep correcting things."

While the offense and defense get passing grades, the special teams is still a big question mark.

The Saints battled bad field position all night as a result of a lackluster return game. The Saints' average drive started on their own 14-yard line.

Saints fans have been spoiled the last few years with the electrifying Michael Lewis returning kicks. But with Lewis released prior to training camp, the duties have fallen upon second-year receiver Lance Moore.

Moore has had a solid camp so far, but struggled Friday night. He fielded his first punt at the Saints' 6-yard line, then proceeded to run back to the 2-yard line before being dropped for a four-yard loss.

He fair caught his second attempt, before being hit right as he fielded his third punt. He finished the night with three returns for minus-four yards.

Reggie Bush still figures into the equation once the Saints get out of preseason mode, but the Saints will still need another guy to step up to keep Bush from dropping back 50 times this season.

"We still need to get our return game going," Payton said. "That's a concern right now in both the punt return and kick return.

"(Rookie tailback) Pierre Thomas had a nice return late in the game that put us in position to do something. But other than that, it was not a positive night in that aspect."

Brady Aymond covers the New Orleans Saints for the Advertiser. To read more from Brady Aymond check out TheAdvertiser.com

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