Brees’ 2nd TD pass of game gives Saints 16-14 lead over 49ers after third quarter

Saints lead 49ers 16-14 after 3rd quarter

SAN FRANCISCO — Drew Brees threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to David Thomas late in the third quarter to give the New Orleans Saints a 16-14 lead over the San Francisco 49ers after three quarters Monday night.

Reggie Bush caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Brees on New Orleans’ opening drive of his first game since giving back his Heisman Trophy. But the Saints didn’t score again until a 10-play, 61-yard drive capped by Thomas’ short touchdown catch.

Frank Gore caught a TD pass for San Francisco. Anthony Dixon’s 2-yard touchdown run on his first career carry briefly had given the Niners the lead in their home opener against the defending Super Bowl champions.

San Francisco had the better of the play for much of the first three quarters, but was done in by key mistakes. A bad snap led to a safety on the opening drive and two first-half turnovers ended drives deep into New Orleans territory.

There was a festive beginning to the game with receiver Jerry Rice running out in his Hall of Fame jacket for the opening coin toss before his jersey retirement ceremony at halftime. His former quarterback, Joe Montana, and owner, Eddie DeBartolo, were on hand for the event.

That sentiment didn’t last long. The 49ers gave up a safety on their first possession and then allowed Bush’s touchdown on New Orleans’ first time with the ball.

The mistakes started right away for the Niners as Moran Norris was called for holding on the opening kickoff to back them up to their own 10. Three plays later, David Baas sailed a shotgun snap well over Alex Smith’s head for a safety.

After a short free kick, Brees easily moved the Saints down the field on a 46-yard touchdown drive. He capped the drive with the TD pass to Bush, who beat All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis with an inside move for the score.

Bush was playing for the first time since giving back his 2005 Heisman Trophy won while with Southern California. The NCAA punished USC after concluding that Bush and his family took money and gifts from sports agents while Bush played for the Trojans.

The Niners didn’t have the same problems getting the plays from offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye to Smith as they did in the opener, committing one delay of game penalty and not calling any needless timeouts.

Coach Mike Singletary and Raye spent the week trying to fix the problem that led to unnecessary timeouts and delay of game penalties in the 31-6 loss at Seattle last week. While moving Raye down to the field was discussed, he stayed put in the booth to call the plays and Smith sported a wristband with go-to plays in case that happened again.

After gaining 29 yards on their first three drives, San Francisco moved the ball 82 yards for a score early in the second quarter on Smith’s 12-yard pass to Gore.

The Niners were moving it again late in the half before Jonathan Vilma stripped Delanie Walker of the ball inside the 10 with 1 minute left in the half.

Smith completed long passes to Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis to set up Dixon’s touchdown run on San Francisco’s first drive of the second half.

But Brees answered back, with the help of a roughing the passer penalty on Parys Haralson that moved the ball into San Francisco territory after the first play of the drive.