New Orleans gained 426 yards, held Las Vegas to 158 and won 29-7 Sunday, a performance that kept Wallace Cole’s team unbeaten at 5-0. The Saints averaged 6.6 yards per rush on 31 carries, while Las Vegas managed just 22 rushing yards on 22 attempts. New Orleans also converted five of 13 third downs, compared with four of 14 for the visitors.

The first quarter was a quick exchange of touchdowns followed by a game-changing return. Russell Norris intercepted Kevin Ford on Las Vegas’ opening possession, and Zachary Himes found Mark Vaughn for an 8-yard touchdown to put New Orleans ahead 7-0. Las Vegas answered with a four-yard Ford-to-Glen Seymore score, tying it at 7. On the ensuing kickoff, Larry Rozier returned it 103 yards for a touchdown. Thomas Hernandez’s extra point restored the Saints’ lead at 14-7, and his 44-yard field goal late in the quarter made it 17-7.

Himes finished with 220 passing yards and two touchdowns, but also threw three interceptions. New Orleans’ offense had opportunities to extend the lead and gave the ball away: one Himes interception came in the second quarter, and another came at the Las Vegas 4-yard line. The latter proved costly for the visitors in a different way. On the next play, a sack of Ford in the end zone produced a safety and made it 19-7.

Las Vegas’ kicking game left points behind. Eddie Vallone missed a 55-yard field goal in the second quarter and a 38-yarder wide left in the third; the team finished 0-for-2 on field goals. New Orleans added to its advantage just before halftime when Hernandez made a 20-yard field goal, sending the Saints to the break up 22-7.

The third quarter brought more turnovers, but New Orleans made the decisive play. Joseph Hall’s fumble on the opening possession gave Las Vegas the ball, and Himes was intercepted later in the quarter. New Orleans’ defense answered when Paul Gilbert forced a fumble by Seymore and Miguel Fleming recovered it. With 24 seconds left in the quarter, Himes connected with Curtis Miles for an 11-yard touchdown, pushing the margin to 29-7.

Hall led the ground game with 107 rushing yards and added 26 receiving yards; Rozier contributed 86 rushing yards. Vaughn led New Orleans’ receivers with 83 yards and a touchdown. The Saints’ defensive takeaways and 206-yard rushing total helped absorb the interceptions and preserve the club’s five-game winning streak.