Saints blow lead, fall in OT
Published 12:01 am Monday, September 24, 2012
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Ryan Succop delivered a huge kick in the gut to the reeling New Orleans Saints.
Succop kicked a club-record six field goals, one to force overtime in the final seconds and another from 31 yards to lift the Kansas City Chiefs to a 27-24 victory over the Saints, who remain winless through three games since coach Sean Payton was suspended in connection with the NFL’s bounty investigation.
Succop’s 43-yard field goal with 3 seconds left completed a methodical comeback by Kansas City (1-2) after the Saints had cashed in on a pair of Chiefs turnovers to go ahead 24-6 in the third quarter.
In storming back to win for the first time this season, Kansas City needed only one touchdown, a 91-yard run by Jamaal Charles, who finished with 233 yards rushing and 55 yards receiving.
The Chiefs also got a safety in the fourth quarter on Justin Houston’s third sack of the game.
Drew Brees passed for 240 yards and three touchdowns, but missed all six of his passes through the fourth quarter and overtime, when the Saints were unable to get a single first down.
After Charles’ long TD made it 24-13 in the third quarter, Stanford Routt’s interception of Brees’ underthrown pass for Devery Henderson near the Kansas City goal line thwarted another Saints scoring chance.
Succop field goals of 34 and 38 yards early in the fourth quarter cut it to 24-19, setting up a wild finish.
Houston’s sack of Brees for a safety cut it to 24-21 and gave Kansas City the ball with 5:33 left.