Saints draw on lofty connections to stay unbeaten

LANDOVER, Md. -- Oh, what a charmed life the unbeaten New Orleans Saints are leading these days.

There's surely no other way to explain how a Drew Brees interception that somehow morphed into another touchdown for Robert Meachem, or the fact that the Washington Redskins missed a 23-yard field goal that would have sealed a victory with less than 2 minutes to play.

Therefore, it seemed inevitable that Brees, operating with no timeouts, would lead an 80-yard, game-tying drive that took just 33 seconds and tied the game with 1:19 remaining. And, of course, in overtime, the Saints benefited from a replay reversal and won Sunday's game 33-30 on Garrett Hartley's 18-yard field goal 6:29 into the extra period.

The victory improved the Saints to 12-0 and clinched the NFC South.

Brees finished 35 for 49 for 419 yards with two touchdowns and one interception for the Saints. Meachem caught eight passes for 142 yards and scored the late game-tying touchdown, a 53-yarder wide open over the middle that made the score 30-30.

New Orleans Saints receiver Robert Meachem celebrates after scoring a fourth-quarter touchdown to send Sunday's game against the Washington Redskins into overtime. The Saints won 33-30 in Landover, Md., and improved to 12-0. (GERALD HERBERT ~ Associated Press)

-- The Associated Press