You didn't think the New Orleans Saints were just going to lay down and let the San Francisco 49ers run away and hide in their first playoff game in nine years, did you?

Drew Brees made sure his team didn't and that the Niners wouldn't with a dazzling 25-yard second-quarter strike to Marques Colston to narrow the gap to 17-14.

To say the Saints started the game poorly would be something of an understatement. New Orleans turned the ball over twice in its first three possessions and surrendered scores on three straight possessions to a Niners offense not exactly noted for its point-scoring prowess.

But, as one might expect of the most prolific offense in NFL history, the Saints weren't exactly daunted by San Fran's early three-score advantage. Brees came back with an 80-yard touchdown drive capped off by a 14-yard touchdown grab by tight end Jimmy Graham before finding Colston for an incredible pitch-and-catch on the Saints' very next drive.

Certainly, the Saints wouldn't go quietly into the Bay Area night, not without a bit of spicy Cajun fight of their own. Brees and Colston made sure of much heading into the half.