New Orleans Saints running back Darren Sproles (43) is stopped by Tennessee Titans cornerback Chris Hawkins (35) in the first quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Frederick Breedon)By BETH
RUCKER
AP Sports
Writer
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) --
Drew Brees threw two touchdown passes to Marques Colston in the fourth quarter
to lead the New Orleans Saints to their fifth straight victory with a 22-17 win
over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
The NFC South-leading
Saints (10-3) had little trouble picking up yards, but struggled to score until
Brees and Colston connected on passes of 35 and 28 yards.
The Titans (7-6) twice had
the ball in the final minutes with a chance to win. The first time, New Orleans
stopped backup Jake Locker on fourth-and-1 at the Saints 24 with 2:18 left. The
second time, Jo-Lonn Dunbar sacked a scrambling Locker on third-and-goal as
time expired.
The Titans' loss helped
clinch the AFC South for the Houston Texans. Brees threw for 347 yards and
joined Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas as the only quarterbacks to throw a
touchdown pass in 40 straight games.
Locker replaced Matt
Hasselbeck, who hurt his left calf after chasing a tipped pass in the second
quarter.
(Copyright 2011 by The
Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
