Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons
Nov 30, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons (94) tackles New Orleans Saints running back Pierre Thomas (23) during the first half at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Reuters

Drew Brees passed for five touchdowns to lead the New Orleans Saints in a 35-32 road win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. New Orleans snapped a three-game skid and in the process remains in contention for a postseason slot tying the Atlanta Falcons with a 5-7 win-loss record for top honours in the weak NFC South.

Kenny Stills had a career-high 162 receiving yards on just five catches while Mark Ingram had 122 rushing yards on 23 carries for the Saints, which was out gained by the Steelers, 538-393 total yards. New Orleans was more successful on ground gaining 143 rushing yards to Pittsburgh’s 103.

Le’Veon Bell had 95 rushing yards (8 catches - career-high) with one touchdown for the Steelers, which dropped their fifth game in a dozen games this season and fell one and a half game behind the Cincinnati Bengals (8-3-1), the AFC North leaders. The entire division is cutthroat as well with two other teams with the same record with Pittsburg, the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns both at 7-5 as well. Ben Roethlisberger passed for 435 yards and two touchdowns but he was intercepted twice.

After a low-scoring opening quarter where Pittsburgh held the 3-0 lead, the Saints racked up the points scoring on four touchdowns bridging the 2nd and 3rd quarters. Before the start of the final quarter, New Orleans had the huge lead 28-13 and they hold off the comeback attempts by the Steelers.

New Orleans lost their previous three games against the San Francisco 49ers, 27-24 (OT); Cincinnati Bengals (27-10); and Baltimore Ravens (34-27) but bounced back nicely to remain in the playoff hunt. They have the Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their remaining games.

Pittsburgh were winners of four of their last five entering the match-up with the Saints. They still have a shot at the postseason as they will meet division leaders Cincinnati twice in the next four weeks with games against the Atlanta Falcons and Kansas City Chiefs also on tap.

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