Allgemeines » also snapped a four-game skid

NEW ORLEANS -- The grin on Drew Brees face as he discussed the longest of New Orleans seven touchdowns against the Los Angeles Rams showed how much the Saints record-setting quarterback enjoyed the 50-yard pass -- even if he wasnt the one who threw it.Theres an old adage: Let the throwers throw and let the catchers catch, but, man, that was pretty impressive, Brees said.All Brees had to do was zip a quick backward pass to Willie Snead, and then watch as the young receiver unloaded a deep throw to wide-open running back Tim Hightower. The play exemplified how well New Orleans offense was clicking en route to 555 total yards and a season-high point total in a 49-21 demolition of Los Angeles on Sunday.Saints coach Sean Payton might have had a particular motivation to call the trick play, given that the coordinator of the opposing defense was Gregg Williams, who was fired by Payton after the 2011 season. A few months later, both wound up suspended for 2012 in connection with the NFLs bounty probe. Sundays game marked the first time they had coached on opposite sidelines since.When I heard the play in the huddle, Im like, `Oh, here we go, Snead recalled. I was coming off the field and (Payton) said, `No, stay in, get back in the huddle.Its just a great feeling to make a play like that, said Snead, who played quarterback in high school. We practiced it all week, and I was 3 for 3, and we got out here and (Payton) had the confidence in me to make the throw.New Orleans (5-6) already led 42-21 when the play was called with about 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter.Payton said the play was installed last week because of tendencies Saints coaches had recognized in the Rams defense. The play was called when it was because the Saints got the right look from the defense, Payton said.Rams coach Jeff Fisher said he didnt take it personally.We have to do a better job defensively, he said. Weve got to do a better job coaching.Whatever the case, the play will go down as one of the more memorable aspects of the Saints victory over the Rams (4-7). Here are some others:GOFFS GROWTH: The last person Fisher was about to blame for the lopsided loss was rookie quarterback Jared Goff, who was making his second start and first on the road. Goff was 20 of 32 for 214 yards and three touchdowns to Tavon Austin, Kenny Britt and Lance Kendricks. He lost a fumble on rookie Sheldon Rankins sack and was intercepted by Kenny Vaccaro, but Fisher said the performance of last springs top overall draft choice got better, which was encouraging.TIGHTENING UP: The Saints defense looked shaky in the first half, when Goff threw all three of his touchdown passes. But New Orleans shut out the Rams in the second half and continued to demonstrate improvement over early this season, when it gave up more than 400 yards in four of the teams first five games. In five of the Saints past six games, their defense has yielded fewer than 360 yards, including fewer than 300 yards in the past two games. The Rams finished with 247 yards.DERAILED DEFENSE: The Saints yardage and point totals were even more impressive in the context of how Los Angeles has played on defense this season. The Rams came in ranked sixth overall defensively, as well as sixth against the pass and 15th against the run. New Orleans finished with 346 net yards through the air and 209 on the ground. The Saints 49 points were one fewer than the Rams gave up in their previous four games combined.Fisher sounded particularly bothered by running back Mark Ingrams 21-yard touchdown on a screen pass.Anybody and everybody in the bayou knew it was going to be a screen but us, Fisher said.INGRAMS BACK: Ingram was knocked unconscious during New Orleans previous game at Carolina 10 days earlier and placed in the NFLs concussion protocol. He was cleared to return against Los Angeles and came back with one of his better games this season, gaining 146 yards on just 14 carries, highlighted by a 61-yard scamper and 10-yard scoring run to go with his receiving TD.Ingram said he felt good and that his production stemmed in part from an entire offense playing with purpose against Williams.We tried to do everything we could to make sure his coming back here wasnt a good experience, Ingram said.ROOKIE RESURGENCE: Rookie receiver Michael Thomas, who was relatively quiet during New Orleans recent two-game skid, responded with arguably his best game this season , catching nine passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns. His longest catch was a 35-yard grab in traffic over the middle and he broke tackles on his 21-yard score.He is pretty good after the catch so he made a few guys miss, Payton said. He is physical when he gets the ball. 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Jay Feely kicked a 41-yard field goal in overtime, and the Cardinals edged the Tennessee Titans 37-34 in overtime after blowing a 17-point lead late in the fourth quarter. PITTSBURGH -- Sidney Crosby saw a small opening and took advantage for one memorable goal.Crosby put Pittsburgh ahead to stay with a dazzling score in the second period, and the Penguins beat the Dallas Stars 6-2 on Thursday night.There arent too many players in the league that would even think to make that type of play, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. Its a heads-up play by an elite player that thinks the game at an extremely high level and differently than most.Crosby also had two assists as Pittsburgh bounced back nicely from Wednesdays 5-3 loss to the New York Islanders. Eric Fehrs third goal of the season was No. 100 for his career, and Patric Hornqvist, Conor Sheary, Nick Bonino and Ian Cole also scored.Crosby got his league-leading 16th goal in the final 30 seconds of the second. Crosby, from behind the goal, initially tried to bank a shot off Stars goaltender Antti Niemi. When that plan was unsuccessful, he batted his own rebound out of the air, off Niemi and into the net.I was just trying to get it to the net on the first one, Crosby said. The second one, it was just kind of laying there for me. It was pretty slow, so it was a good one to get.Marc-Andre Fleury made 33 saves for Pittsburgh. Fleury, who won for the first time in five starts, has six wins in his last nine home games.He wasnt surprised by Crosbys goal.I see him do that in practice a lot on me, Fleury said. I was glad though because it was big for us.Tyler Seguin and Devin Shore scored for the Stars, who continue to struggle on the road. Niemi, playing in his 400th career game, stopped 34 shots.Dallas has three wins in 14 road games this season. The Stars have lost three straight and sevven of their last 10 overall.ddddddddddddI think we all take pride in here, Seguin said. Its just not good enough. Its frustrating and we have to dig deeper, especially in those big moments and find ways to win hockey games.Crosby has 16 goals in 18 games after missing the first six because of a concussion. He has six goals and 12 points in his last eight games.The Penguins are 7-0 following a regulation loss and 16-0-1 after the previous 17 regulation defeats dating to last season. Pittsburgh also snapped a four-game skid against the Stars.The defending Stanley Cup champions were an inconsistent group throughout the majority of November, alternating wins and losses most of the month.The Penguins hope Crosbys goal can help turn things around in December.I think we expect better of ourselves every game, Crosby said. Were working hard, but I still think we can execute better.Game notes Stars D Stephen Johns, a Pittsburgh native, registered an assist in his first game against his hometown team. ... Seguin has 13 points in his last 14 games. ... Stars F Jason Spezza has 48 points in 41 career games against Pittsburgh. ... Penguins F Scott Wilson replaced Jake Guentzel in the lineup. ... Penguins F Chris Kunitz is skating, and getting closer to a return, but missed his sixth straight with a lower-body injury. ... Penguins D Trevor Daley, who played 11 seasons in Dallas, faced his former team for the first time.UP NEXTStars: Complete a four-game trip Saturday at Colorado.Penguins: Continue a three-game home stand Saturday against Detroit. ' ' '