The Sports Xchange

NEW ORLEANS — According to local lore, the Mercedes-Benz Superdome is built over an old voodoo pit, and for the first 60 minutes against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night, it looked as though the New Orleans Saints were sticking pins all over their bodies.

When Saints kicker Zach Hocker clanged what would have been a game-winning 30-yard field goal off the left upright with 12 seconds left in regulation — a glorified extra point — the Saints and Cowboys headed to overtime tied at 20.

However, Saints quarterback Drew Brees had the perfect antidote to Hocker’s curse.

On the second play of overtime, Brees calmly connected with running back C.J. Spiller on a wheel route down the right sideline, and Spiller used his power to shake off a diving tackle attempt by safety Barry Church and his speed to race 80 yards for the game-winning touchdown and a 26-20 overtime victory.

New Orleans (1-3) snapped its three-game losing streak, while Dallas (2-2) fell for the second week in a row.

The touchdown pass just 13 seconds into overtime — Brees’ second of the game — gave the veteran 400 touchdown passes for his career. Spiller rushed over to Brees after the score and handed him the ball.

“I told him, ‘Brother, you deserve it,'” Spiller said. “He’s probably the best teammate I’ve ever played with — just his preparation. He deserves it.”

Saints coach Sean Payton attributed the winning play to Brees’ arm and craftiness. After running back Khiry Robinson dropped a first-down pass on the Saints’ 20-yard line, Brees noticed that the Cowboys’ defense was slow to line up on second down.

“I believe they struggled getting aligned, and Drew was smart enough to snap the ball,” Payton said. “It was a vertical route, a play we had run earlier. The tackle C.J. broke on the safety was huge. A great play.”

What we learned about the Saints:

1. As impressive as Drew Brees’ statistics looked (33 of 41 for 359 yards and two touchdowns), the quarterback’s right arm still is not 100 percent. Two of his throws should have been easily intercepted (one was nullified by a defensive penalty and the other was dropped). In the first half, Brees also badly underthrew wide receiver Brandin Cooks on a deep sideline throw. Asked about his arm, Brees said: “I felt good — good enough to get the job done. … Like I said, I got the job done. It’s fine.”

2. The Saints had some abysmal drafts from 2011-14, but this year’s draft seems to have hit on a pair of speedy, hard-hitting defenders: linebacker Stephone Anthony from Clemson and linebacker Hau’oli Kikaha of Washington. The pair combined for 15 tackles Sunday night, and each had a sack. “I think I made some big plays when the opportunity presented itself,” Anthony said. “I think (we) are coming along pretty good. We are still young, but we are continuing to grow each week.”

3. Don’t take placekicker Zach Hocker for your fantasy team next week. The rookie may be out of a job after missing a 30-yard field goal at the end of regulation, no more than a glorified extra point. Saints coach Sean Payton usually does not criticize players in public, but he didn’t hide his disgust. “We have to clean up that operation because it’s three (misses) now,” Payton said. “A snap one time, a hold one time, now a kick. We are going to have to start going for two when it comes to PATs.”

Etc.

–RB C.J. Spiller is beginning to get more comfortable with an increasing workload. After missing the entire training camp while recuperating from minor knee surgery, Spiller had five catches for 99 yards, including his 80-yard game-winner, and added two carries for 10 yards. The Saints want to use Spiller’s speed on the edge. “You never know when you’re going to be out there,” Spiller said. “I’m not worried about how many times I’m touching it. During the game, I’m just keeping my legs loose.”

–P Thomas Morstead sustained an undetermined leg injury and could not punt in the fourth quarter. K Zach Hocker replaced him and nailed a 43-yard punt dead at the Dallas 9.

–QB Drew Brees’ 80-yard touchdown pass just 13 seconds into overtime — Brees’ second of the game — gave the veteran 400 TD passes for his career. Brees finished 33-for-41 for 359 yards with no interceptions. He also reached the 5,000 career completion mark.