In Brief
Saints RB Reggie Bush faces the Jets for the first time in his career.
(Dean Duprey / Associated Press)
Last meeting:
New Orleans QB Aaron Brooks threw for three touchdowns as the Saints managed to hold off the Jets, 21-19, on Nov. 27, 2005.
Streaks:
The Saints have taken four of the past five meetings to knot the overall series at five.
Last week:
Pierre Thomas rushed for two touchdowns as the Saints blasted the host Bills, 27-7. ... Mark Sanchez threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as the Jets edged the Titans, 24-17.
Keep your eye on ...
Drew Brees vs. Rex Ryan's defense: Brees is leading the league in passer rating so far this season and has thrown for an NFL-high nine touchdowns. The Jets, meanwhile, have managed to make veteran quarterbacks Matt Schaub, Tom Brady and Kerry Collins look lost at times. This is a classic battle between one of the league's best quarterbacks (Brees) and one of the league's most innovative defensive minds (Ryan).
Thomas Jones' production: Since going off in Week 1 for 107 rushing yards and two touchdowns, Jones has been held in check. New Orleans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams values stopping the run above all else. If Jones is able to get going, it may prevent Williams from using his exotic pass blitzes to rattle Sanchez.
Reggie Bush in the open field: Against a Jets defense that loves pressuring the quarterback from all angles and selling out to stuff the running game between the tackles, Bush could be a variable. His ability to get to the outside and make people miss could cause problems for New York, that is if he can get the ball in space isolated against a linebacker.
Did you know?
New Orleans has scored 120 points in its first three games, the most any team has scored in the first three games since 1968, when the Dallas Cowboys scored 132 to open the season. ... The last time the Jets started 4-0 was in 2004. ... New York DT Kris Jenkins has 19 career sacks vs. the NFC. ... Saints WR Marques Colston has seven touchdowns in his past six games. ... New Orleans LB Jonathan Vilma spent the first four years of his career with the Jets.
