The tally ended at six sacks, seven quarterback hits, two interceptions, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and a whole lot of pressure on the 49ers offense.

AP Photo/Pat Semansky

San Francisco 49ers quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan, center, is sacked by New Orleans Saints defenders Usama Young, left, and Tracy Porter (22) in the first half of their NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008.

Yep, Sunday was a good day for the New Orleans Saints defense.

After folding down the stretch the past two weeks, the unit more than did its job against San Francisco, helping New Orleans to a 31-17 win and improve to 2-2 this season.

“I thought we played the ball well,” New Orleans head coach Sean Payton said. “I thought we the quarterback, which was good. When they became one dimensional, which late in the third quarter, early fourth quarter, I thought we benefited from that.

“I thought they played well and played physical.”

Though San Francisco picked up 312 total yards, it was what the defense didn’t allow the 49ers do once they made it inside the Saints’ 30.

Five times the 49ers ventured inside New Orleans’ 30 and only once did they get into the end zone.

The first two times, New Orleans held San Francisco to Joe Nedney field goals. The next two times, the Saints came up with interceptions – one by Kevin Kaesviharn and one by Tracy Porter.

Only the final push into the Saints territory made it into the end zone, and by then, New Orleans still owned a 28-17 lead with just 4:08 to go in the game.

“We knew coming in that they would blitz a lot and stack the line against us,” San Francisco receiver Arnaz Battle said. “But we were prepared for that. We had all the opportunities out there today with the hot routes to move the ball well.

“But once we got down into the red zone, all that momentum for us stopped and cost us the game.”

Meachem goes long…again

AP / Sean Gardner

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Lance Moore (16) celebrates with teammate Robert Meachem (17) after Meachem scored on a touchdown pass against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter of their NFL football game in New Orleans September 28, 2008.

Sunday, against San Francisco, it was both.

His first grab was a 47-yard touchdown where he outran the defense.

His second catch came on a flea flicker where he stole the ball in the air from 49ers safety Michael Lewis.

Receivers step up

Meachem wasn’t the only receiver to step up. Though he caught two passes for 99 yards and a touchdown, Lance Moore, too, had a big game. He had a career-best 101 yards and two touchdowns.

Devery Henderson caught one pass for 81 yards, getting tripped up at the 1 before reaching the end zone.

Without Marques Colston and David Patten, who left the game with a groin injury, the Saints needed someone to step up.

“That is how it is,” head coach Sean Payton said. “When you are not 100 percent healthy, someone else very talented is in the game and obviously, the quarterback has confidence in these players just as we coaches do.”

Bush happy to see Deuce

Those in the Superdome to watch New Orleans’ game against San Francisco were not alone in being excited that Deuce McAllister was back on the field.

You can mark fellow running back Reggie Bush as one who was glad to have him in the backfield with him.

“We feed off each other,” Bush said. “He’s the bigger back that can pound the ball and I’m the faster, smaller back.”

Bradley Handwerger can be reached at bhandwerger@wwltv.com or 504-529-6439.