New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma remains questionable for Sunday night’s game against the Detroit Lions after practicing on a limited basis Thursday. Coach Sean Payton said he “turned the corner” in his recovery from a lingering knee injury this week but said a decision hasn’t been made yet.

Michael DeMocker/The Times-Picayune
New Orleans Saints linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar forces a fumble by
New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs on Monday night at the Superdome.

Vilma had a clean-up surgery performed on the knee three weeks ago, with the idea that he’ll be able to be back to 100 percent for the Saints’ stretch run. The team hasn’t missed a beat in the meantime, though. The Saints are a perfect 4-0 without Vilma in the lineup this year – a testament to the performance of replacement Jo-Lonn Dunbar.

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The New Orleans Saints sent a message on Monday night.

The NFC is not just a two-team race. The Packers and 49ers have company in the battle for conference supremacy.

Green Bay and San Francisco might be the front-runners, but there’s a black-and-gold car drafting on their bumpers. And its gas tank is full.

One thing was abundantly clear after the Saints’ 49-24 rout of the Giants on Monday night. There are teams with better records and glitzier resumes than the Saints, but no one wants to play the Saints in this city in this building right now.

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The New Orleans Saints beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-16 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday, and looked pretty dominant at times doing so.

Saint quarterback Drew Brees was 27 of 36 for 258 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

As a team, the Saints ran for 195 yards as well, mixing it up evenly among Chris Ivory 67, Pierre Thomas 66 and Darren Sproles 42 — Brees had a 20-yard run in there as well.

The Saints are now 6-3 and will take on Atlanta at the Georgia Dome next week in another key NFC South game.

Jimmy Smith, The Times-Picayune

The momentum gained by the St. Louis Rams – scoring a pair touchdowns just before halftime to take a 17-0 lead into the break – was a game-changer and possibly the decisive factor in the New Orleans’ Saints ultimate 31-21 loss, Coach Sean Payton said Monday.

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Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune

St. Louis – Trick, or treat? It changes from week to week with these New Orleans Saints, who continued a frighteningly inconsistent October with one of their worst all-around performances in recent memory.

The Saints lost 31-21 Sunday to a previously winless St. Louis Rams team inside a sparsely filled Edward Jones Dome, falling to 5-3 at the halfway point of the season.

“It’s disappointing. I’m disappointed,” said Coach Sean Payton, who had just spent the past two weeks stressing to his team the importance of giving a more consistent effort – a point that seemed to get through to them when they routed the Indianapolis Colts 62-7 just seven days earlier.

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Previewing the New Orleans Saints’ (5-2) game Sunday against the host St. Louis Rams (0-6). Kickoff is scheduled for noon and the game will be televised by Fox.

Opening line: Saints by 13

Record vs. spread: New Orleans 4-3; St. Louis 0-6

Series record: Rams lead 38-31

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Recapping the New Orleans Saints 62-7 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday night at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Taking a closer look at key matchups and outstanding players in the Saints’ record-breaking performance.

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One statistic clearly stood out from all others in the New Orleans Saints’ 26-20 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday: turnovers. The Saints had four, the Bucs had zero and that summed up the game.

The Saints are now minus-7 in turnover differential, and when the league rankings are released Monday they likely will be in 26th place or lower. Not good.

Some other key numbers:

Red-zone efficiency: Saints, 1 for 4 (25 percent). Bucs, 1 for 1 (100 percent).

Third-down efficiency: Saints, 5 of 12 ( 42 percent). Bucs, 4 of 14 (29 percent).

Net yards rushing: Saints, 70. Bucs, 117.

Sacks: Saints, 0. Bucs, 0.

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Both New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said Friday they do not believe the team’s reputation for physical play has made it a target of scrutiny by NFL officials. The topic arose this week after Saints safety Roman Harper was fined $15,000 by the league for a late hit on Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith in the end zone, and the Saints also drew two roughing-the-passer penalties that kept alive Carolina touchdown drives. In particular, the first of those roughing-the-passer calls on New Orleans defensive end Turk McBride seemed dubious.

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