Brees completed 29 of 41 passes and the Saints (2-2) shut down the Dolphins (1-2), forcing six punts. It was the Saints’ first shutout since 2012.
Saints cornerback Ken Crawley also came up with an interception. Crawley started in place of P.J. Williams, who was benched as part of an unspecified disciplinary action, according to Fox Sports.
The Dolphins, who escaped a shutout on the last play of last week’s embarrassing loss at the New York Jets, were not so fortunate this time. Dolphins quarterback Jay Cutler was 20-of-28 passing for 164 yards and the one interception.
Each team had the ball just once in the first quarter.
Miami’s drive ended when Cutler threw an interception in the end zone. He tried to connect with Julius Thomas, but Crawley outmuscled him for the pick.
New Orleans’ drive failed when Will Lutz missed wide right on a 41-yard field goal. Lutz, though, redeemed himself with a 43-yard field goal on the final play of the first half, giving New Orleans a 3-0 lead.
The first half featured 11 penalties, including seven against the Dolphins for 60 yards.
New Orleans finally put a touchdown drive together, starting the third quarter with an 11-play, 77-yard march that took nearly six minutes. Michael Thomas caught a 3-yard pass from Brees and powered his way into the end zone, giving the Saints a 10-0 lead.
The Dolphins had the ball for just 3:51 in the third quarter. The Saints took advantage of a tired Dolphins defense, mounting another drive that resulted in a Lutz field goal, this one a 45-yarder with 12:32 left in the fourth quarter.
New Orleans capped the scoring with another 11-play drive, this one for 87 yards. Brees tossed a 12-yard shovel pass to running back Alvin Kamara.
Some NFL players kneel again despite Trump’s fresh call for protests to end
Reuters/London
Some National Football League players knelt again yesterday when the US national anthem was played before a game in London, defying US President Donald Trump’s renewed call to end their protest over racial injustice. The Fox television network’s broadcast of the day’s first game, at Wembley Stadium, showed three members of the Miami Dolphins kneeling as US music star Darius Rucker performed The Star Spangled Banner. All of the other uniformed Dolphins players and their opponents, the New Orleans Saints, were standing, many with their right hands over their chests.
The three players who had knelt stood for the British anthem God Save the Queen, which was also performed before the game.
Trump on Saturday renewed his sharp criticism of players who have refused to stand during the pre-game ceremony. “Very important that NFL players STAND tomorrow, and always, for the playing of our National Anthem,” Trump posted on Twitter. “Respect our Flag and our Country!”
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