Mark Brunell and Drew Brees each threw touchdown passes in the New Orleans Saints 17-7 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in the preseason opening game for both teams.

Brees played in three series, which went into the second quarter, completing 6 out of 9 passes that included a 22-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Shockey. Brunell was 9 for 13 and passed for 128 yards, which included a 64 yard strike scoring Robert Meachem. Neither Brees or Brunell threw an interception in the game.

Meachem had three receptions totaling 77 yards, and Shockey caught three passes as well for a total of 61 yards. Reggie Bush, coming back from microfacture knee surgery, rushed for five yards on three attempts.

The Saints new look defense, which is under Gregg Williams, the new defensive coordinator, gave up 379 total yards to the Bengals but were able to hold them to just seven points and forced three turnovers. The game saw the return of Carson Palmer, after missing 12 out of the last 13 games for the Bengals last season when he decided against surgery to repair the injured elbow on his throwing arm. Palmer went 7 for 11 with 133 passing yards and 1 interception in his playing time during the first quarter.

Chris Henry scored the only Bengals touchdown when he caught a 14 yard pass in the second quarter from J.T. O’Sullivan. O’Sullivan went 9 for 11 with 100 passing yards and did not throw an interception.

At halftime the game was tied at 7-7. Shockey’s touchdown put the Bengals on the board first at the beginning of the second quarter, and then the Bengals evened the score on Henry’s touchdown seconds before half time. Midway through the third quarter the Saints took the lead in the game for good when Brunell connected with Meachem on a 64 yard touch down pass. A field goal of 54 yards was added by Garrett Hartley at the beginning of the fourth quarter for the game’s final score.

Game Notes
The Saints defense last year ranked 26th in points allowed and 23rd against the pass. The Bengals, who finished the games with 289 passing yards, ranked 30th in passing and were last in scoring. Chad Ochocinco, Bengals wide receiver, caught two passes for 73 yards and Marques Colston, Saints wide receiver, caught one pass for 14 yards.