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NEW ORLEANS -- Drew Brees pulled himself up in the end zone after his diving touchdown scramble and held both arms high, basking in the cheers pouring forth from the rollicking Superdome crowd. It has only been a year since the Saints were 0-3, shrouded in scandal and going nowhere. It might as well have been a lifetime ago. Brees passed for three touchdowns to go with his scoring run and the Saints beat the Arizona Cardinals 31-7 on Sunday to improve to 3-0 for the first time since 2009, when they won the Super Bowl. "Hopefully we can just continue to get a little bit better, and gain confidence and momentum and keep the train rolling," said Brees, who connected twice with tight end Jimmy Graham for scores and once with Robert Meachem. "Im very happy to be 3-0, 2-0 in the (NFC South) division, 3-0 in the NFC. All those things are significant." Defensively, New Orleans couldnt ask for much more. The Saints allowed a single-season record 7,042 yards a year ago. This season under new co-ordinator Rob Ryan, New Orleans has allowed four TDs in the first three games. The unit produced four sacks and two interceptions of Arizonas Carson Palmer. Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan sacked Palmer twice. Outside linebacker Junior Galette added another, as did rookie defensive end Glenn Foster. "It was all just pressure everywhere," said Jordan, who exchanged high-fives with fellow defensive lineman Akiem Hicks in the locker room afterward. "When youre part of a D-line like that, I mean, its a party." First-round draft choice safety Kenny Vaccaro made his first career interception, and Keenan Lewis, acquired in free agency last off-season, had his first interception with the Saints. Coach Sean Payton, who looks to be building another contender after returning from last seasons bounty ban, summed it up as a "really good afternoon." "We finished this game the way we like to," Payton said. "Im proud of our guys." Arizona (1-2) had a 7-0 lead after driving 80 yards on the games opening possession, with Alfonso Smith scoring on a 3-yard run. After that, the Cardinals didnt score. "They can rush the passer. Theres two really good pass rushers that people dont know a lot about," said Palmer, who was 18 of 35 for 187 yards. "Cameron Jordan is really good. He showed that today. Junior Galette is really good. They are physical guys. They stop the run. They rush the passer and are a really good combination." Brees was 29 of 46 for 342 yards. He was intercepted once by New Orleans native and former LSU star Tyrann Mathieu. That ended a scoring threat, but only delayed the inevitable on a day when Arizonas short-handed defence was little match for the prolific Saints passing attack. Arizona, whose defence was missing four starters by early in the second half, had no answer for the 6-foot-7 Graham, who caught nine passes for 134 yards, one week after catching 10 passes for 179 yards in Tampa Bay. "We had critical injuries, and some young guys had to chip in and play," Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said. "They didnt handle it as well as I hoped." The Saints responded quickly to the Cardinals opening score with Brees pinpoint 27-yard pass to Meachem. New Orleans took the lead in the second quarter on Brees 16-yard, back-shoulder throw to Graham, who went up high and twisted to make a grab that safety Yeremiah Bell was powerless to stop. "Its just run, jump and get it," said Graham, a former college basketball power forward. "Thats just what we do." Brees TD scramble made it a three-score game early in the fourth. Vaccaros interception thwarted the next drive and started the series that culminated with Grahams second TD on a quick 7-yard pass over the middle. "Today was a huge step for us," said Saints middle linebacker Curtis Lofton, who joined New Orleans as a free agent in 2012, only to be part of the first Saints team to miss the playoffs in three seasons. "Last year, I dont know what that was, but this year is what I definitely expected. I love being here." NOTES: Cardinals starting NT Dan Williams was excused for the death of his father in a car accident. OLB Lorenzo Alexander (right foot) and S Rashad Johnson went out in the first half, and OLB Sam Acho (left ankle) went down in the third quarter. ... Saints WR Lance Moore left the game in the second half and the Saints did not provide an update on his condition. Cheap Adidas Free Shipping . Listen to the Rangers vs. Kings live on TSN Radio starting at 7pm et/4pm pt. You can also stream the post-game press conferences live on TSN. Adidas Fashion Shoes . -- Josh MacDonalds second goal of the game kept his team alive as the Peterborough Petes edged the host Kingston Frontencas 6-5 in overtime on Friday in Ontario Hockey League playoff action. http://www.adidasshoessaleuk.com/ . With newly minted president of hockey operations Trevor Linden looking on from above one day after being handed the keys to the franchise, it was more of the same on Thursday night. Adidas Shoes Clearance Sale . The Rainbow FlickNext up is the Rainbow Flick, or as you probably know it, the trick that everybody at soccer camp thought they knew how to do. Adidas Shoes Sale Uk . The Toronto Maple Leafs were holding a news conference, so they got curious. It didnt take long for them to find out via social media that coach Randy Carlyle was coming back — with a two-year extension — and assistants Greg Cronin, Scott Gordon and Dave Farrish were being let go. PORTLAND, Ore. -- Kevin Durant said the mutual admiration between the Thunder and the Trail Blazers only goes so far. "We respect this team and they respect us, but we dont like them and they dont like us," Durant said after Oklahoma Citys hard-fought 98-95 victory over Portland on Tuesday night. "Point blank." Durant had 36 points and 10 rebounds as the Thunder evened the series against the Blazers 2-2 in their final regular-season meeting this year. Jeremy Lamb had 19 points, including a key 3-pointer with 1:38 left for the Western Conference-leading Thunder, who have won 14 of their last 16 games. Nicolas Batum had 18 points for slumping Portland, which has lost five of seven but still ranks third in the conference behind San Antonio. Robin Lopez finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds for his 19th double-double of the season. LaMarcus Aldridge, who missed a mid-range jumper in the final seconds that could have salvaged the win for Portland, was asked what he thought of Durants comment. "Were not trying to make friends out there," he said. "Were trying to win games." Portland led by as many as 13 points in the first half and held a 55-45 advantage at the break, but the Thunder kept chipping away and the teams went into the fourth quarter tied at 80. Derek Fisher hit a 3-pointer and Lamb made a layup to put the Thunder up 85-84. Portland reclaimed the lead on rookie CJ McCollums running shot, but Durant re-tied it at 91 with a long hook. The teams wrestled for the lead until Lambs 3-pointer gave the Thunder a 96-95 advantage. Damian Lillard missed a 3-pointer for Portland with 45.9 seconds left. Portland got the ball with 12.3 seconds left after officials reviewed an out-of-bounds call, but LaMarcus Aldridges mid-range jumper with 2 seconds left was off and Reggie Jackson hit free throws for the final margin. "We fought hard," Durant said. "Were a resilient team. Weve kept our heads up through adversity and tough times. Im proud of our team." Portland won two of the first three meetings between the two teams, but the Thunder won the last 105-97 in Oklahoma City last month. Durant paced the Thunder with 42 points in that one. Aldridge was a game-time decision because of soreness, but he started and finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds. The Blazers are the only team that has started the same five players in all of their games this season.dddddddddddd Aldridge was disappointed with the loss -- and especially his final missed shot. "I couldnt throw a rock in a lake tonight," Aldridge said. Portland jumped out to a quick 18-6 lead, but the Blazers were hurt late in the opening quarter when reserve forward Joel Freelands right knee buckled underneath him and he had to be helped off the court. The extent of the injury was not immediately known, but the Blazers depend on the 6-foot-11 Brit to spell starting centre Lopez. The Thunder closed to 25-21 on Lambs 12-foot jumper early in the second quarter. Portland held them off, but Lambs dunk narrowed it to 34-32 and the Thunder finally pulled ahead 41-39 on Lambs 3-pointer. The Blazers answered with a 16-4 run to take a 55-45 lead into halftime. The Thunder again threatened when Kendrick Perkins jumper got them within 66-63. Serge Ibakas jumper with 2:18 left in the third finally gave Oklahoma City a 76-75 lead, their first of the second half. Jackson led the rally with 13 points after going 0-for-6 in the first half. The teams went into the fourth quarter tied at 80. "It was a physical game, but I like the fact that we kept competing and didnt let anything bother us," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "We just competed, possession by possession. And thats what good teams do." The Blazers were coming off a 2-2 road trip, including 117-110 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday. Following the loss to the Thunder, they were headed to Los Angeles for a game against the Clippers on Wednesday night before the All-Star break. The Thunder were coming off a 112-100 victory over the New York Knicks, with Durants 41 points leading the way. NOTES: Portland was without guard Mo Williams, who had just returned from attending to a family matter. It was hoped that Williams could travel with the team to face the Clippers on Wednesday night. ... Aldridge and Lillard were presented with their All-Star jerseys before the game. ... Thunder guard Thabo Sefolosha appeared to injure his right hand in the first half, but he returned to start the second half with his hand taped. ... Freeland was scheduled for an MRI on his knee. ... The Thunder had three technical in the game, and the Blazers had one. ' ' '