Ditka Doesn’t Take Any Chances

With an offense that struggled for much of the game, New Orleans Saint Coach Mike Ditka didn’t hesitate--he sent in the kicker on first down.

Doug Brien kicked a 38-yard field goal after Warren Moon was intercepted on the first play of overtime, giving the New Orleans Saints a 20-17 victory Sunday over the Seattle Seahawks.

“Are you kidding me?” Ditka said. “There’s a big mirror up there and I took a look at ours and all I saw was our offense and I said, ‘Uh-oh, we better kick it.’ ”

It’s the first time the Saints (4-7) have won back-to-back games since October 1996.

“We were kicking and warming up and [special teams coach] Bobby April was pulling his hair out trying to get me over there because we were going to kick it right away,” Brien said. “I was surprised.”

Winfred Tubbs returned his interception of a Moon pass 15 yards to the Saint 20. The crowd immediately began chanting “Kick it, kick it,” and on came Brien.

The Seahawks (6-5) had a chance to win in regulation, but Todd Peterson missed his second field-goal attempt of the game with 22 seconds left, a 45-yarder that sailed wide right. That miss followed Moon’s 34-yard touchdown pass to James McKnight that tied the score with 1:40 left.