What we learned ...
Matt Schaub is in midseason form: The Texans quarterback is known for his accuracy and he showed why against the Saints. Protected well by the offensive line, he completed 14 of 16 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns. His numbers would have been even more impressive if not for a drop by Andre Davis on a deep throw down the middle.
Texans have several options at RB: A week after rushing for 123 yards, third-year pro Chris Taylor kept up the good work, amassing 35 yards and one touchdown before leaving with an injury. Taylor was a standout during offseason workouts and he could be playing his way into a backfield by committee with Houston. Rookie Steve Slaton was also notable, rushing for 58 yards and a touchdown on just 12 carries.
Veteran RB Deuce McAllister is healthy: The Saints' power running back made a successful return to game action after going down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 3 last year. He rushed for 16 yards on four carries.
Backup QB Mark Brunell still has something left: It is expected that starting QB Drew Brees would be nearly flawless in the preseason, but the veteran Brunell has been nearly as effective. He completed 5 of 8 passes for 84 yards and a touchdown vs. the Texans after connecting on 10 of 12 throws for 119 yards last week.
The revamped Saints secondary remains a work in progress: One of the biggest weaknesses for the Saints last year was their defensive backfield and they made several moves in the offseason to address those concerns. This game illustrated that they still have room for improvement, however, as they allowed the three Texans QBs to complete 21 of 25 passes for 289 yards.
