NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Colin Kaepernick completed a 51-yard pass on fourth down to sustain a tying drive in the final minutes of regulation, Ahmad Brooks sacked and stripped Drew Brees in overtime, and Phil Dawson kicked a 35-yard field goal to cap San Francisco’s stirring 27-24 victory over New Orleans on Sunday.
The victory snapped a two-game skid for the Niners (5-4) and marked the first home loss for the Saints (4-5) in more than a season.
New Orleans had won 11 straight in the Superdome – 20 straight at home in games coached by Sean Payton, who was suspended in 2012. It looked like that streak would continue after New Orleans erased an 11-point halftime deficit.
The Saints nearly won on the final play of the fourth quarter, too. Brees heaved a long toss that Jimmy Graham caught in the end zone, but he was called for pass interference after shoving defensive back Perrish Cox.
Brooks’ decisive blow on a sack of Brees had to feel like poetic justice to the Niners’ linebacker. His unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on a vicious sack and strip in the Superdome a year ago allowed the Saints to pull out a late comeback victory in these teams’ previous meeting.