04:14 PM CST on Sunday, November 14, 2004

By MARY FOSTER / Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS – Aaron Brooks found Joe Horn late in the fourth quarter with a 42-yard touchdown pass as the New Orleans Saints rallied twice to beat the Kansas City Chiefs 27-20 on Sunday.

With the score tied at 20, the Saints drove 72 yards to retake the lead with 5:35 remaining.

The Chiefs looked as if they would come back again, driving to the Saints' 17-yard line. But Derrick Blaylock tipped a pass from Trent Green and New Orleans linebacker Orlando Ruff grabbed it to preserve the victory.

ALEX BRANDON/AP

Saints receiver Joe Horn hangs onto the winning touchdown pass as he is hit by Chiefs safety Greg Wesley Sunday. Horn caught two TD passes in the Saints' 27-20 win.

Comebacks have been rare for the Saints. New Orleans (4-5) has fallen behind early and often. In their past six games, they were outscored by a combined 44-0 in the first quarter. The trend continued against Kansas City (3-6). The Saints were behind 10-0 after one quarter.

The Saints' defense, ranked last in the NFL, struggled against Kansas City's high-powered offense.

The Chiefs' offense, which was averaging 412.8 yards a game, third best in the NFL, gained 497 yards. But Green, who had tossed six touchdown passes in his last two games, was held to just one against New Orleans. He completed 22 of 33 for 311 yards and was intercepted twice.

Blaylock, playing for the injured Priest Holmes, had 32 carries for 150 yards coming into the game. Against New Orleans he had 186 and a touchdown on 33 carries.

Eddie Kennison, who was averaging 55.4 yards a game, had 121 yards and a touchdown on 7 receptions.

New Orleans gained 374 yards. Deuce McAllister had his second 100-yard game of the season, rushing for 127 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Horn had 167 yards and a touchdown on five catches.

Brooks completed 15 of 27 for 259 yards. He was sacked four times and pressured constantly.

Just over two minutes into the game Green found Kennison with a 21-yard touchdown pass. The score was set up by a 63-yard return of the opening kick by Dante Hall that gave the Chiefs first down on the New Orleans 35.

Lawrence Tynes hit a 24-yard field goal to put Kansas City up 10-0 after one quarter.

New Orleans finally staged a drive, going 68 yards. Brooks found fullback Mike Karney who grabbed a short pass and muscled his way 17 yards. A roughing the passer call on the Chiefs moved the Saints to the KC 1-yard line. On the first play of the second quarter Brooks went over center for the touchdown to pull New Orleans to 10-7.

McAllister put the Saints ahead 14-10 with a 13-yard touchdown run. Tynes' 45-yard field goal made it 14-13 Saints at halftime.

John Carney opened the second half with a 39-yard field goal to stretch the Saints lead to 17-13. Carney also opened the fourth quarter with a field goal, another 39-yarder that put New Orleans up 20-13.

Blaylock scampered through the Saints defense for a 3-yardtouchdown with 8:07 left in the game to tie it at 20.

Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.