Quick Take: Bills-Saints

It was over when ...
John Carney's 35-yard field goal gave the Saints a 20-7 lead with 5:17 remaining. With an offense that struggled to move the ball all day, the 13-point deficit proved to be too much for the Bills.

Game ball
After missing the first two games with a knee injury, Saints RB Pierre Thomas recorded 126 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries, all in the second half. While the Bills held Drew Brees without a touchdown, Thomas gave the Saints the spark they needed with a 34-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Key stat
With neither offense able to make an impact through the air (Brees: 172 passing yards, 0 TDs; Trent Edwards: 156 passing yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT), the running game was the difference. The Saints gained 222 yards on the ground, while the Bills totaled 89 rushing yards.

Noteworthy
The Saints started 3-0 for the first time since 2006, when they eventually reached the NFC title game. ... Terrell Owens did not make a catch for the first time in 185 consecutive games. ... Brees failed to throw a touchdown for the first time since a Week 7 loss to the Panthers last season. ... Bills CB Leodis McKelvin left the game in the first half with an undisclosed leg injury and did not return.