*Brees tosses four touchdowns as Saints crush 49ers*
By Tom Kent PA Sportsticker Contributing Writer
SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) - The New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers continue to go in opposite directions.
Drew Brees threw four touchdown passes as the surging Saints drubbed the floundering 49ers, 31-10, on Sunday.
New Orleans, which fell one game short of the Super Bowl last season, started the season a disappointing 0-4 but have been victorious in each of its last three games.
"Obviously putting a few wins together gives you confidence," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "We're still 3-4, though, and below water, so we haven't arrived anywhere yet. There is still a long way to go and we have our work cut out for us."
After scoring just 51 points in those four defeats, the Saints' offense has righted itself by totaling 81 in the last three contests.
Brees, who led the Saints to NFC championship game in his first season with New Orleans, recaptured his Pro Bowl form against the 49ers by completing 31-of-39 passes for 336 yards.
"They had trouble getting lined up at times," Brees said. "It was because of our fast tempo and it caused them some difficulties. Fortunately we were able to keep them off balance. It helped us to have good success throwing the ball."
It marked Brees' first 300-yard game since December 10, 2006 against the Dallas Cowboys.
"Drew played great today," Saints running back Reggie Bush said. "He had been coming under some criticism and to play like he did today says a lot about him as a leader."
On their first play from scrimmage, Brees hit David Patten with a 43-yard bomb to take the Saints into Niners territory. Two plays later, Brees connected with Marques Colston on a 17-yard touchdown pass to give New Orleans an early 7-0 lead.
Brees hooked up with Colston again at the end of the first half, this time on a 3-yard strike, to give New Orleans a 24-0 advantage heading into the break.
Colston finished with eight catches for 85 yards and three touchdowns.
"He got off to a good start," Payton said of Colston. "It was great to see him make some tough catches and to come up with those touchdowns was important for us."
Bush, who had a career-high four touchdowns in last season's victory over the 49ers, rushed for 64 yards on 10 carries and also caught seven passes for 49 yards.
"Today was a great win for us," Bush said. "It shows a lot of about the character of this team to win three straight after the way we started. Hopefully we can carry this momentum into next week."
San Francisco, which was expected to compete for the NFC West Division title prior to the season, has dropped five straight games after winning their first two.
The Niners, who entered last in passing yards, first downs, total points and total offense, were hoping that the return of quarterback Alex Smith would rejuvenate their struggling offense.
Smith sat out the past two games after separating his shoulder against the Seattle Seahawks on September 30. The former first overall pick was ineffective, however, completing 22-of-43 passes for 190 yards and a touchdown.
"Aside from the outcome of the game, I have a lot of respect for his performance and his guts," San Francisco coach Mike Nolan said. "This is a team thing right now and we have some things to work on. I know our offense will get back on track."
San Francisco running back Frank Gore, who criticized first-year offensive coordinator Jim Hostler's play-calling iafter last week's loss to the New York Giants, managed just 41 yards on 12 carries before leaving in the third quarter with a twisted right ankle.
Gore, who led the NFC in rushing with 1,695 yards last season, has not run for 100 yards this season.
