Six days after being diagnosed with a torn plantar fascia, Drew Brees led the New Orleans Saints to their sixth win of the year over the Jacksonville Jaguars (5-10)
The Saints started the game strong with a lengthy drive that ended with Brees connecting with Michael Hoomanawanui in the endzone to go up 7-0.
After forcing the Jags to punt, the Saints hit a snag with back-to-back holding penalties, but were able to correct it with a deep ball to Cooks to put the Saints up 14-0 to end the first quarter.
The Saints defense was a benefactor of a deflected pass by rookie Delvin Breaux that Bobby Richardson caught and got New Orleans into Jags territory. The Saints capitalized off of the play with Hightower running it from one yard out to extend their lead.
Delvin Breaux picked off Blake Bortles later on in the second quarter and the leg of Kai Forbath gave the Saints a 24-0 lead after the interception.
The Jaguars finally got on the board late in the first half with a quick march down the field that led to Bortles finding Marqise Lee on a short pass, but a failed two-point conversion only made it 24-6 late in the second.
The Jags opened up the second half with a methodical drive down the field that took six minutes off the clock and ended with Hurns catching a short pass from Bortles to cut the lead to 31-13.
The Saints responded with Brees connecting with recently acquired Travaris Cadet for a 44-yard pass to put more distance between themselves and Jacksonville.
But the Jags wasted no time with a franchise longest play from scrimmage 90 yard pass to Denard Robinson, but another two point conversion was failed by the Jags and almost brought all the way back by the Saints.
The Saints put together a lengthy drive after the Jags touchdown that took nearly seven minutes off the clock and ended with Hightower running it in from five yards out to put the dagger in the Jags hopes, despite a late touchdown to Hurns.
The Saints (6-9) will end the season with a road trip to Atlanta (8-7) with kickoff currently set for noon.
-Clint Domingue