NFL: NEW ORLEANS (2-4) at SAN FRANCISCO (2-4) <h3>Saints seek third straight victory against 49ers</h3> New Orleans (2-4) at San Francisco (2-4) Sunday 4:15 pm EDT SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- After an 0-4 start, the New OrleansSaints dug themselves a deep hole, but they are beginning toshow signs of life. The Saints seek their third straight victory on Sunday, whenthey visit the reeling San Francisco 49ers in a battle of teamsheading in opposite directions. New Orleans ranks 27th in scoring (16.8) this season afterleading the NFL in total offense last year. But the Saints gottheir first win two weeks ago in Seattle and followed it up lastweek with a 22-16 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Reggie Bush rushed for only 54 yards on 17 carries but bulledhis way into the end zone from four yards out for the go-aheadscore with just over five minutes remaining. The Saints have scored 50 points in their last two games aftermanaging just 40 points in their first four contests. "The big thing is understanding that at this point of theseason, you're still wanting to see improvement and wanting toget better from week to week," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "There are still areas that we can improve on. Nonetheless, Ifelt like we played with real good energy and I thought weplayed physical and that was encouraging." Now, the Saints look to take advantage of another strugglingopponent to inch closer to .500. San Francisco is coming off a 33-15 loss to the New York Giantsand has dropped four straight following an 0-2 start. The frustration could be reaching a boiling part for the 49ers.After the game running back Frank Gore questioned theplay-calling off Jim Hostler, who is in his first season as SanFrancisco's offensive coordinator. "Norv Turner, he's been doing it for a while," Gore said."Whenever he said something, we wanted to do it. Now I feel thata lot of people, when Coach Hoss calls something, it gets inthe back of their heads, 'Is he calling the right play?'" The 49ers hope to have quarterback Alex Smith, who has missedtwo games with a right shoulder injury, back this weekend. ButGore's status is uncertain after he injured his ankle againstthe Giants.
NFL: NEW ORLEANS at SAN FRANCISCO <div class="pre">NFL NEW ORLEANS 0 SAN FRANCISCO 0 14:55 LEFT, 1ST QTR SFO BALL ON SFO 25 YD LINE 1ST AND 10</div>
NFL: NEW ORLEANS at SAN FRANCISCO <div class="pre">NFL NEW ORLEANS 0 SAN FRANCISCO 0 12:59 LEFT, 1ST QTR NOR BALL ON NOR 27 YD LINE 1ST AND 10</div>
NFL: NEW ORLEANS at SAN FRANCISCO <div class="pre">NFL TD NOR MARQUES COLSTON 17 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES (OLINDO MARE KICK) NEW ORLEANS 7 SAN FRANCISCO 0 11:23 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>
NFL: NEW ORLEANS at SAN FRANCISCO <div class="pre">NFL NEW ORLEANS 7 SAN FRANCISCO 0 11:17 LEFT, 1ST QTR SFO BALL ON SFO 29 YD LINE 1ST AND 10</div>
NFL: NEW ORLEANS at SAN FRANCISCO <div class="pre">NFL NEW ORLEANS AT SAN FRANCISCO NOTE: 49ERS' TE WALKER LEFT THE GAME WITH AN APPARENT R. SHOULDER INJURY. HIS RETURN IS QUESTIONABLE.</div>
NFL: NEW ORLEANS at SAN FRANCISCO <div class="pre">NFL NEW ORLEANS 7 SAN FRANCISCO 0 9:14 LEFT, 1ST QTR NOR BALL ON NOR 39 YD LINE 1ST AND 10</div>
NFL: NEW ORLEANS at SAN FRANCISCO <div class="pre">CORRECTION NFL NEW ORLEANS 7 SAN FRANCISCO 0 9:14 LEFT, 1ST QTR NOR BALL ON NOR 41 YD LINE 1ST AND 10</div>
NFL: NEW ORLEANS at SAN FRANCISCO <div class="pre">NFL NEW ORLEANS 7 SAN FRANCISCO 0 7:59 LEFT, 1ST QTR SFO BALL ON SFO 5 YD LINE 1ST AND 10</div>
NFL: NEW ORLEANS at SAN FRANCISCO <div class="pre">NFL NEW ORLEANS 7 SAN FRANCISCO 0 6:19 LEFT, 1ST QTR NOR BALL ON SFO 43 YD LINE 1ST AND 10</div>
NFL: NEW ORLEANS at SAN FRANCISCO <div class="pre">NFL FG NOR OLINDO MARE 26 YD NEW ORLEANS 10 SAN FRANCISCO 0 3:25 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>
NFL: NEW ORLEANS at SAN FRANCISCO <div class="pre">NFL NEW ORLEANS 10 SAN FRANCISCO 0 3:19 LEFT, 1ST QTR SFO BALL ON SFO 21 YD LINE 1ST AND 10</div>
NFL: NEW ORLEANS at SAN FRANCISCO <div class="pre">NFL END, 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL --- --- --- --- ----- NEW ORLEANS 10 10 SAN FRANCISCO 0 0 END, 1ST QTR SCORING SUMMARY 1ST QUARTER: NOR - TD, MARQUES COLSTON 17 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES (OLINDO MARE KICK), 3:37. Drive: 4 plays, 73 yards in 1:36. Key plays: Brees 43-yard pass to Patten to San Francisco 30; Bush 11-yard run to San Francisco 19. NEW ORLEANS 7-0 NOR - FG, OLINDO MARE 26 YD, 11:35. Drive: 7 plays, 35 yards in 2:54. Key plays: Moore 18-yard punt return to San Francisco 43; Brees 16-yard pass to Bush to San Francisco 27; Brees 15-yard pass to Henderson to San Francisco 8. NEW ORLEANS 10-0</div>
NFL: NEW ORLEANS at SAN FRANCISCO <div class="pre">NFL NEW ORLEANS 10 SAN FRANCISCO 0 14:55 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>
NFL: NEW ORLEANS at SAN FRANCISCO <div class="pre">NFL NEW ORLEANS 10 SAN FRANCISCO 0 13:20 LEFT, 2ND QTR NOR BALL ON NOR 4 YD LINE 1ST AND 10</div>
NFL: NEW ORLEANS at SAN FRANCISCO <div class="pre">NFL NEW ORLEANS 10 SAN FRANCISCO 0 12:05 LEFT, 2ND QTR SFO BALL ON SFO 44 YD LINE 1ST AND 10</div>
NFL: NEW ORLEANS at SAN FRANCISCO <div class="pre">NFL NEW ORLEANS 10 SAN FRANCISCO 0 10:29 LEFT, 2ND QTR NOR BALL ON NOR 9 YD LINE 1ST AND 10</div>
NFL: NEW ORLEANS at SAN FRANCISCO <div class="pre">NFL TD NOR TERRANCE COPPER 2 YD PASS FROM DREW BREES (OLINDO MARE KICK) NEW ORLEANS 17 SAN FRANCISCO 0 6:45 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>
NFL: NEW ORLEANS at SAN FRANCISCO <div class="pre">NFL NEW ORLEANS 17 SAN FRANCISCO 0 6:38 LEFT, 2ND QTR SFO BALL ON SFO 21 YD LINE 1ST AND 10</div>
NFL: NEW ORLEANS at SAN FRANCISCO <div class="pre">NFL NEW ORLEANS 17 SAN FRANCISCO 0 4:28 LEFT, 2ND QTR NOR BALL ON NOR 20 YD LINE 1ST AND 10</div>
