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Sunday's loss dropped the Saints to 0-3 in the preseason heading into their finale Thursday night at Green Bay. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. CDT. * This was the eighth all-time preseason meeting between the Saints and Texans. The series is tied 4-4. * The Saints and Texans meet again in the regular season on Nov. 29 in Houston. * The Saints gained 393 total yards Sunday, just off their preseason average of 397.0 in the first two games. * Quarterback Drew Brees played the first series, completing four-of-six passes for 40 yards. Brees has engineered a scoring drive in all four of his possessions in the preseason, throwing two touchdowns and setting up two field goals. Playing the majority of the first half, QB Luke McCown completed 8-of-14 passes for 117 yards. QB Garrett Grayson, playing most of the second half, was 7-of-16 for 96 yards. QB Ryan Griffin entered the game for the final series of the fourth quarter; he was 1-of-3 for 12 yards and one interception. S Kenny Phillips, making his first start since he started for the Giants on Nov. 25, 2012, against Green Bay, led the Saints in tackles with eight, including six solo stops. RB/KR Marcus Murphy shared the team lead with eight carries, rushing for 43 yards. Murphy added a team-high 67 yards on three receptions and had an additional 31 yards in returns. Running back Edwin Baker rushed for a team-high 49 yards and scored one touchdown on two carries. Baker rushed for a 45-yard score in the third quarter. Wide receiver Willie Snead led the Saints in receptions, accumulating 56 yards on four catches, with a long of 23 yards. In limited time, receiver Brandin Cooks caught two passes for 19 yards. WR/KR Jalen Saunders returned five kickoffs for 132 yards, including a 50-yard return. Defensive end Tavaris Barnes and defensive tackle Tyeler Davison combined for a sack in the third quarter. Cornerback Delvin Breaux, a New Orleans native making his first start, finished with two tackles. Kicker Zach Hocker handled duties in the first half and connected on both of his field goal attempts, including a 53-yarder on the final play of the first half. It was Hocker's second made field goal of 50 yards or longer this preseason.

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New Orleans Saints-Houston Texans notebook

Teams played Sunday at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome