Deuce helps lead Saints by 49ers

NEW ORLEANS — Helmet in hand, Deuce McAllister jogged triumphantly into the tunnel of the Louisiana Superdome past celebrating Saints fans howling his name. Then came another thrill.

McAllister’s childhood idol, former San Francisco running back Roger Craig, called to congratulate him on his first validating performance since his second knee reconstruction.

“I talked to my hero,” McAllister said. “He told me he was proud of me.”

San Francisco’s shaky run defense had trouble stopping McAllister’s power running and New Orleans avoided an early-season hole with a 31-17 victory on Sunday.

The Saints’ all-time leading rusher hardly looked like he was playing on two reconstructed knees when he bowled over tacklers for first downs, moved the pile or dived over it for his first touchdown of the season.

“I’m sure a lot of people weren’t giving him a chance to come back,” Saints quarterback Drew Brees said. “He proved a lot of people wrong.”

McAllister carried 20 times for 73 yards and had a 10-yard reception to convert a third down.

“I can still play another quarter,” McAllister quipped when asked about his left knee, which was surgically repaired last fall. “The important question is, how is it feeling in the morning? … I didn’t take any true shots on it. Right now it feels pretty good.”

McAllister, who also had right knee reconstruction in 2005, gave the Saints the credible power running threat they needed to open up deep throws for Brees, who certainly knows how to cash in on those.

Brees was 23-of-35 for 363 yards and three scores, including touchdowns of 47 yards to Robert Meachem and 33 yards to Lance Moore. Brees also set up scores with a 52-yard pass to Meachem on a flea flicker involving McAllister, and an 81-yard connection with Devery Henderson. Brees did all of this with two top receivers, Marques Colston (thumb) and tight end Jeremy Shockey (abdomen), unable to play.

“We anticipated (McAllister) playing,” San Francisco coach Mike Nolan said. “He did a good job, but the things that hurt us the most were the explosive plays we gave up.”

In close losses at Washington and Denver, the Saints (2-2) were stuffed on a half-dozen short-yardage situations. Saints fans flooded call-in shows with complaints about coach Sean Payton’s reluctance to play McAllister, who’d had only two carries — but gained 5 yards on each — during the opening three weeks.

Payton said he was trying to be cautious and would play the 29-yard-old McAllister when the time was right. With San Francisco allowing an average of 131 yards rushing coming in, this was the right time.

“It was great to see Deuce back in there,” Payton said. “We just felt by the nature of the game plan that this week we had a chance to run the ball a little bit more.

“Those were some tough yards that he was getting for us.”

J.T. O’Sullivan was 18-of-36 for 257 yards, but continued to take too many sacks. Having been sacked 13 times through the Niners’ first three games, O’Sullivan was brought down six more times, twice by Charles Grant. Three of those sacks helped the Saints limit the Niners to field goals.

O’Sullivan fumbled in 49ers territory on one early sack, setting up the Saints’ first touchdown.

O’Sullivan also threw two interceptions in the end zone, first to Kevin Kaesviharn and then to rookie Tracy Porter, who had his first career interception and first-career sack.

Frank Gore averaged 5.1 yards per run, but San Francisco (2-2) was forced to pass more after falling behind by multiple scores and Gore finished with 82 yards. The Niners hardly looked like a team coming off two straight victories over Seattle and Detroit.

“It was kind of a reverse of the last game,” Nolan said. “There’s really no one I can point out that played well.”

San Francisco led in the first quarter on Joe Nedney’s 47-yard field goal.

Will Smith then put the Saints in striking range with his sack and forced fumble, which Jonathan Vilma recovered at the Niners 32. Brees zipped a 5-yard scoring pass to Moore.

McAllister rushed four times for 22 yards on the Saints’ next drive before Brees found Moore behind the secondary to make it 14-3.

Nedney’s 49-yard field goal pulled San Francisco to 14-6, but New Orleans wasn’t done. Brees found tight end Billy Miller for 18 yards, then unloaded his long scoring pass to Meachem, who got behind Mark Roman and used body position to prevent the safety from breaking up the slightly underthrown ball. That gave the Saints a 21-6 lead at halftime.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Tulalip Heritage’s JJ Gray makes a layup during the winner-to-state playoff game against Muckleshoot Tribal School on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Hawks beat ‘brothers from the south’ to earn state bid.

Tulalip Heritage wins Tri-District game, pride against Muckleshoot Tribal School.

Stanwood junior Ellalee Wortham (2) lunges toward the basket past several Monroe defenders to attempt an underhand layup in the Girls 3A Basketball District 1 semifinals at Marysville Pilchuck High School in Marysville, Washington on Feb. 18, 2025. Wortham scored 33 points in the 59-41 win for the Spartans, eclipsing 1,000 career points. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Wortham hits 1,000 career points, leads Stanwood to state

A 33-point outing led to a 59-41 win against Monroe in the Girls 3A District 1 semifinals.

Shorecrest senior Cassie Chesnut attempts a free throw in the Scots' 47-23 win against Snohomish in the Girls 3A Basketball District 1 semifinals at Marysville Pilchuck High School in Marysville, Washington on Feb. 18, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Shorecrest girls basketball upsets Snohomish in District 1 3A semis

An 18-0 third-quarter run allows Scots to blow by top-seeded Panthers 47-23.

Arlington junior Tre Haines stands atop the podium after winning the District 1 Boys 4A Wrestling 157-pound championship on Feb. 8 in Mill Creek, Washington. Lake Stevens senior Jarrell David placed second, Arlington junior Marquell Butler placed third and Lake Stevens sophomore Felix Ramsey placed fourth in the weight class. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald).
Arlington’s Tre Haines embraces pressure on path for glory

The two-time state wrestling champion will aim to ‘3-peat’ at Mat Classic XXXVI this weekend.

The Shorewood bench reacts to 3-point shot during the 3A district playoff game against Shorecrest on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep girls basketball roundup for Tuesday, Feb. 18

Meadowdale, Shorewood keep state hopes alive.

The Arlington bench reacts to a three point shot during the game against Glacier Peak on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys basketball roundup for Tuesday, Feb. 18

Arlington, GP punch state tickets.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for Feb. 9-15

The Athlete of the Week nominees for Feb. 9-15. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Jim Moore: New M’s TV analyst Angie Mentink will silence the doubters

Angie Mentink steps in broadcast booth to fill void left by Dave Sims’ departure.

Tips Week in Review: Everett splits at Prince George, beats Victoria

Eric Jamieson’s hat trick against Victoria highlights Presidents’ Day Weekend

Marysville Pilchuck’s Michael Smathers Jr. takes the ball up the court during a Feb. 7, 2025 home league game against Monroe. (Courtesy of Spencer Janzen)
Marysville Pilchuck’s Michael Smathers Jr. stars in freshman season

The guard averaged 19 points per game for the Tomahawks this season.

Everett qualifies 13 girls for Mat Classic

Mia Cianega wins at 190 as Seagulls place third at district wrestling tournament.

Arlington’s Leyton Martin puts three fingers in the air after making a three point shot during the game against Glacier Peak on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Saturday, Feb. 15

Leyton Martin’s triple-double leads Arlington to district win

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.