Ellington

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The story Friday was the Saints players suspended out "Bounty Gate" getting back on the field after appeals lift players suspensions. New Orleans had Will Smith on the field in the home opener against the Washington but Redskins rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III stole the show.

Things started poorly for the Saints after they received the opening kickoff. New Orleans failed to gain a first down and was forced to punt after a three and out.

Drew Brees opened the game 0 for 3 passing and the theme of the day was set with the Redskins defense harassing the New Orleans record-breaking quarterback all day.

Griffin would take over after the New Orleans punt and led the Redskins on a 12 play drive that end with a Washington field goal for an early 3-0 lead on a 37 yard field goal by Billy Cundiff. The Redskins offense used short passes and the running game to get the second overall pick of this year's draft eased into the game.

New Orleans and Brees would answer the Redskins field goal with a seven play drive that ended with a Jimmy Graham touchdown catch. The Saints lead 7-3 for their only lead of the day.

It wouldn't take Griffin long to answer the Saints touchdown. Washington wide receiver Pierre Garcon would catch a short pass from Griffin, break a couple of tackles and out race the New Orleans defense to the end zone for an 88 yard touchdown.

Garcon's touchdown put Washington up 10-7 at the end first quarter. The Redskins would never relinquish the lead.

New Orleans would once again go three and out after the Garcon touchdown. Saints punted the ball back to the Redskins for Griffin to go back to work in the second quarter.

Washington would go on a 12 play drive that took over six minutes off the clock and end with Griffin throwing his second touchdown of the day to wide receiver Aldrick Robinson. That touchdown gave the Redskins a 17-7 lead over New Orleans.

The Saints would punt once more after three plays after receiving the Washington kickoff. New Orleans was one of the best teams last year at not having three and out drive but had three such drives in the first half against the Redskins.

Griffin would once again show poise leading the Redskins down the field. Washington would see their drive stall at the New Orleans 23 yard line.

The Redskins Billy Cundiff would kick his second field goal of the half, this one from 41 yards, to give Washington a 20-7 lead midway though the second quarter. Washington's offensive line man-handled the Saints defensive line most of the allowing Griffin time to throw the ball.

Griffin still made plays with his legs when the Saints defense did get a chance to sack the rookie. The ability to scramble and buy time helped Griffin find open receivers all day long.

New Orleans would take over down 20-7 need a drive to get back into the game. Brees would go to work leading the Saints down the field in ten plays to the Redskins 22 yard line.

Brees would find Marques Colston at the Washington 19 and Colston would take the Brees pass down inside the Redskins one yard line but he would fumble before scoring. The ball would roll through the end zone for a touch back giving Washington the ball at their own 20 yard line with no damage done on the score board.

Washington would be unable to move the ball after the Saints fumble and had to punt after a three and out. Martez Wilson would block the Sav Rocca punt. Courtney Roby would recover the block and return it for a touchdown to cut the Redskins lead to 20-14 before halftime.

The Redskins would knell on the ball to end the first half with lead and knowing they would receive the second half kickoff. New Orleans defense was shredded by Washington offense went into halftime looking to make adjustments.

Washington picked up in the third quarter where they left off in the first half. Griffin would lead his Redskins on a seven play drive that end with Alfred Morris touchdown to give Washington a 27-14 lead.

New Orleans would begin the second half much they way they spent the first half. The Saints would punt once more after Washington was able to get a three and out on defense.

Griffin would go to work once more leading Washington down the field on an eight play drive that ended with another Cundiff field goal. The Redskins pushed their lead to 30-14 near the midway point of the third quarter.

Brees and the Saints needing an answer went to work with their second drive of the third quarter. New Orleans would drive all the way down to Washington three yard line but the offense would be unable to score.

Garrett Hartley would kick a 21 yard field goal to keep New Orleans from falling completely out of game. Washington still led 30-17 late in the third quarter after the Saints field goal.

The Redskins would go back to work on offense with less than two minutes left in the third quarter. Washington would use a 12 play drive to get down the Saints 27 yard line where Cundiff would kick a 45 yard field goal to give the Redskins a 33-17 lead.

Both teams would trade punts on their next possession. New Orleans would take back over with just over seven minutes left in the game needing a score.

Drew Brees would lead the Saints down the field in six plays in just over a minute and cap the drive off with a touchdown pass to Lance Moore on fourth down at the Washington 33 yard line. New Orleans would go for the point point conversion and Darren Sproles would run it in.The Saints score cut the Washington lead to 33-25.

New Orleans would get a quick stop on the Redskins offense to get the ball back. Still down 33-25 with 3:39 left in the game, Brees would over throw Moore and the pass would be intercepted by Dejon Gomes and returned to the Saints three yard line.

The Redskins would score one play later on a three yard touchdown run by Mooris. Washington would increase their lead to 40-25.

Brees wasn't about to concede defeat yet after the New Orleans defense forced a rare punt by the Redskins offense. The Saints leader took his team down the field in ten plays that took less than a minute off the clock.

Darren Sproles would score his first touchdown of the season to finish off the drive. New Orleans cut the Redskins lead to 40-32 with 2:25 left and two timeouts remaining for the Saints.

New Orleans would burn all their timeouts and the two minute warning trying to stop the Washington offense. The Saints would get the ball back with 22 seconds left and Drew Brees would get the Saints to the Redskins 39 yard line but his pass into the end zone would be intercepted by Reed Doughty to end the game.

Brees would finish 24 of 52 for 339 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Robert Griffin III first game in the NFL was 19 of 26 completions for 320 yards with two touchdowns and no turnovers.

Griffin also added 42 yards on the ground on ten carries. Morris led the Redskins in rushing with 96 yards on 28 carries. Perrier Thomas had 17 yards on the ground with four carries and Mark Ingram chipped in 15 rushing yards on six carries.

The story of the game was the mistakes by the Saints. New Orleans had untimely penalties, poor tackling, broken pass coverages and was beaten up front on offense and defense all game long by the Redskins.

Washington was the more physical team in the game and it showed time and time again as the Redskins chased Drew Brees all day forcing bad passes on defense and with their run blocking and pass protection on offense.

New Orleans was out-coached and out-played most of the game by the Redskins. Washington came into the game with a sound game play and executed it perfectly to upset the Saints in the Superdome.