For the record: The Saints are 1-1 and in a three-way tie for second place in the NFC South.
Last game: New Orleans gave up 14 fourth-quarter points in a 29-24 loss at Washington.
Who’s hot: Linebacker Jonathan Vilma, in his first season with New Orleans after four seasons with the Jets, leads the league in tackles with 25, including 16 against the Redskins.
Who’s not: Running back Reggie Bush has scored two touchdowns (one receiving, one special teams) but has yet to make an impact in the Saints’ running game. He ranks No. 35 in the league with 79 yards on 24 carries.
Key stat: New Orleans’ defense has given up an average of 403.5 total yards in its first two games, ranking 29th among 32 teams.
FYI: Coach Sean Payton received a contract extension through 2012. The deal was announced before the Washington game. This is Payton’s third season with the Saints.
Coachspeak: “Defensively, we played well at times, but then in the end, they had 455 yards. And that’s not going to be good enough for us.” — Payton, after Sunday’s loss to Washington
Lindsay H. Jones, The Denver Post
