Saints Snap Losing Streak, Defeat Steelers, 35-32

Benjamin Watson #82 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates his second quarter touchdown with Pierre Thomas #23 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on November 30, 2014 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The New Orleans Saints recorded a big road win on Sunday afternoon, defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers, 35-32, at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.

The win, in which quarterback Drew Brees threw five touchdown passes, snapped the Saints' three-game losing streak, and gave them their second-consecutive road triumph.

Pittsburgh got on the scoreboard first, when Shaun Suisham kicked through a 49-yard field goal attempt, capping off a 7-play, 34-yard drive, to give them a 3-0 lead at the 6:05 mark of the first quarter.

The score stayed that way until the 14:05 mark of the second quarter, when Suisham was successful on his second field goal of the afternoon, this one 31 yards away, culminating a 13-play, 60-yard drive, to extend the Pittsburgh lead to 6-0.

New Orleans scored their first points at the 6:04 mark of the second period, when Brees threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Benjamin Watson, completing an 8-play, 79-yard drive, and giving them a 7-6 lead.

The Saints extended their lead to 14-6 with only :36 remaining in the half, when Brees threw his second touchdown of the half, this one to Erik Lorig from 4 yards away, ending a 9-play, 80-yard drive, to give them an 8-point lead as the two teams headed id to the locker room at hafltime.

The Steelers outgained the Saints, in terms of total yards in the first half, 201-197, including a slim 115-114 edge through the air, while Pittsburgh held an 87-82 advantage on the ground.

Brees led the way for the Saints in the first half, completing 10-of-16 for 114 yards, along with two touchdowns.

Meanwhile, Le'Veon Bell paved the way for Pittsburgh over the first 30 minutes of play, rushing for 82 yards on 15 carries.

The New Orleans defense came up big to begin the second half, as Cameron Jordan deflected, and then intercepted a Ben Roethlisberger pass, giving the Saints the football at the Pittsburgh 15-yard line for their first possession of the second half.

Two plays later, Brees threw his third touchdown pass of the game, this one to Nick Toon from 11 yards out, giving the Saints a 21-6 lead at the 11:25 mark of the third quarter.

The Steelers scored their first touchdown with 4:21 to go in the third quarter, when Bell scored on a short 1-yard run, capping off a 13-play, 83-yard drive, to trim the New Orleans lead to 21-13.

The Saints answered right back however, when Brees threw a touchdown pass, his fourth of the game, to Kenny Stills, from 69 yards away, culminating a 5-play, 89-yard drive, to give them a 28-13 lead at the 1:50 mark of the third period.

Pittsburgh drew a little closer at the 14:52 mark of the fourth quarter, when Suisham made good on his third field goal of the game, this one from 47 yards away, ending a 5-play, 44-yard drive, trimming the New Orleans lead to 28-16.

New Orleans put things away at the 10:25 mark of the final frame, when Brees threw his fifth touchdown pass of the game, this one to Marques Colston from three yards away, capping off a 9-play, 80-yard drive, to extend their lead to 35-16.

The Steelers scored the last two touchdowns of the game on touchdown passes from Roethlisberger to Anotnio Bown, one from 4 yards away with 2:51 remaining, and one from 3 yards away as time ran out, but it was too little, too late, as the Saints hung on for the 3-point win.

Pittsburgh outgained New Orleans, in terms of total offense, 538-393, including a 435-250 advantage through the air, while the Saints finished with a 143-103 edge on the ground.

Brees led the way for the Saints, completing 19-of-27 passes for 257 yards, along with five touchdowns.

In a losing cause for the Steelers, Roethlisberger completed 32-of-58 passes for 435 yards, along with two touchdowns and two interceptions

View the game box score.

With the victory, New Orleans improved to 5-7 on the season, while Pittsburgh slipped to 7-5.

The Saints return to action next Sunday, when they play host to the Carolina Panthers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, La.