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New Orleans looked rusty after 10 days between the Cowboys victory and today's win over the Bengals.

The Saints offense were able to get big plays on a fading Cincinnati defense, but they didn't capitalize on many of their opportunities until their backs were against the wall in the second half.

New Orleans defense looked strong in the first half keeping the Bengals out of end zone. In the second half, the defense looked weak against T.Ocho and couldn't stopped the Bengals rush up the middle.

But when the pressure was on, New Orleans made all the key plays and the big plays, while Cincinnati could not.

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For all the penalties New Orleans committed (11 for 100 yards), it was a Bengals mistake that led to the Saints game-winning touchdown.

On 4th-and-3 at the 8-yard line, Brees used his hard count to draw a 5-yard encroachment penalty. On the next play, he threw the 3-yard game-winning touchdown to Marques Colston.

The Saints defense ended the game with a sack of Palmer.

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Penalties have been killing the Saints all game. New Orleans has committed 11 for 100 yards so far. Two of them kept the Bengals game-tying touchdown drive alive.

First the Saints has 12 men on the field when Cincinnati punted on 4th-and-3, and a defensive holding inside the red zone.

Cincinnati finished the 9-play, 59-yard drive with a four-yard Bernard Scott TD run and two-point conversion by Jermaine Gresham to tie the game at 27.

Stitser has just made a 47-yard FG to go up 30-27 with 4:25 remaining.

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The Bengals have rallied for a 20-6 deficit to get get within two on a 1-yard Cedric Benson touchdown run. But instead of going for the two-point conversion and trying to tie the game. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis choose the extra point. So the game stood at 20-19 Saints lead.

Why would Lewis do that? With over 12 minutes remaining, I understand their is plenty of time left, and the Bengals offense is picking up the pace. But that is a grave mistake. I do I know that?

Brees just completed a 52-yard TD pass to Robert Meachem to put New Orleans up 27-19.

Bone-headed calls like are the reason Lewis doesn't have a contract extension and is likely to be fired at the end of the 2010 season.

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After the Saints executed a perfect 11-play, 66 yard, 6-minute touchdown drive, the Bengals responded with their first touchdown of the game.

Cincinnati put together a 5-minute, 9-play, 60-yard drive. Chad Ochocinco finally showed up and caught his first pass of the game, a 33-yard completion on 3rd-and-9. The drive culminated on a 5-yard TD pass from Palmer to Terrell Owens. Unfortunately, Stitser missed the extra point attempt.

Cincinnati safety reggie Nelson has just intercepted Brees, and the Cicinnati has the ball inside Saints territory.

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To my, and probably many people's surprise, the Saints only have a 13-6 lead at halftime.

Although New Orleans has gained 244 yards, the Bengals defensive interior line has pressured Brees and not allowed him to step into his throws. On the two occasion they didn't get pressure up the middle, New Orleans burned Cincinnati for plays of 55 and 52 yards. The Bengals have held the Saints to only 1-of-5 on third down conversions. 

The Saints defense has been solid despite being on the field for 17:31. They have made the key stops to keep the Bengals out of the end zone.

Cincinnati is only 1-for-8 on third down conversions, but 2-for-3 on forth down.

Penalties were New Orleans biggest problem in the half, with six for 71 yards.

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The Bengals offense has been able to move the ball effectively on the Saints' 7th-ranked defense. Cincinnati QB Carson Palmer completed eight consecutive passes and converted on two 4th downs. But the Bengals have left too many opportunities for touchdowns slip their fingertips.

The latest was a 4th and 1 on the Saints' 4-yard line. Cedric Benson tried running off left tackle was dropped for a 2-yard loss on the play by Jonathan Vilma and Roman Harper.

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Whenever the Saints offense is stalling, head coach Sean Payton likes to increase the offensive tempo to create stress and confusion in the opposing defense.

That exactly what he did on the Saints touchdown drive. In 61 seconds, Brees threw a quick out to Lance Moore, a pitch out to Chris Ivory, then Ivory ran 55 yards for the touchdown.

The Bengals have allowed at least one run of 20 yards or more in all 12 games this season.

Cincinnati got inside the Saints 10-yard line on the next possession, but conversative playcalling led to only three points on a 23-yard Stitser FG.

The Saints and Bengals have given us a defensive struggle as the score is tied 3-3 early in the 2nd quarter.

Cincinnati has made bone-headed mistakes early on. A running into the punt call allowed the Saints Garrett Hartley to kick a 48-yard field goal. Bengals receivers have dropped three passes so far. An illegal formation on the Saints 9-yard line prevented a first a goal

But the Cincinnati offense has moved the ball well on the ground. They converted a 3rd-and-15 and a 4th-and-12, which led to Chis Stitser's 29-yard field goal.