The Saints, on the strength of four TD passes from Drew Brees, have turned aside an early challenge from Buffalo and hold an 28-17 lead early in the fourth quarter in New Orleans.
Tight end Jimmy Graham, who’s dealing with a foot injury, has caught TD passes of 15 and 13 yards from Brees, who has completed 22-of-28 passes for 265 yards.
Both teams have committed miscues. Saints placekicker Garrett Hartley has a missed a pair of field goals, while Bills quarterback Thad Lewis has lost a pair of fumbles.
The Bills led 10-7 in the second quarter, but the Saints would score on their final two drives of the half, with Brees hitting Kenny Stills for a 69-yard TD to give New Orleans the lead, then connecting with Graham on a 15-yard score near the end of the quarter.
Graham’s 13-yard TD gave the Saints a 28-10 third-quarter lead. The Bills, however, would cut the margin to 11 with Fred Jackson’s one-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter. The touchdown ended a 12-play, 80-yard drive for Buffalo.