Drew Brees returned to the city where he began his NFL career Sunday, and left on a winning note. But he had plenty of help as the Chargers suffered an epic meltdown in the fourth quarter.
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Brees took advantage of two Chargers fumbles to lead the Saints to 14 fourth-quarter points in a 35-34 win. It's the Saints' (1-3) first victory of the season. The Chargers fall to 1-3.
Brees, playing in San Diego for the first time since his 2006 departure, had a quiet game statistically — by his standards, certainly — completing 23 of 36 passes for 206 yards, with a pair of touchdowns and interceptions. The Chargers appeared to have the game well in hand midway through the fourth quarter, leading 34-21. But after Melvin Gordon fumbled with 6:50 remaining, the Saints needed only four plays to find the end zone, with Brees hitting Michael Thomas on a 5-yard TD pass.
After the ensuing kickoff, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers — who took over the Bolts' quarterback role when Brees left San Diego — hit Travis Benjamin for a short gain. But Benjamin fumbled on the Chargers 31. Seven plays — and three Brees pass completions — later, fullback John Kuhn scored on a 1-yard run for the winning margin.
B.W. Webb intercepted a Rivers pass with just over a minute left to seal the improbable comeback.
Kuhn, who had only 16 career touchdowns in a 10-year career entering the game, scored three touchdowns Sunday.