Instead, the Packers are left to wonder whether their season has suffered terminal meltdown after the 51-29 smackdown administered by quarterback Drew Brees and the rest of the Bourbon Street bullies at the Superdome.

Listen to Green Bay defensive tackle Ryan Pickett: "(Brees) was hot, and we had nothing to cool him down. ... He beat us, flat out."

Packers coach Mike McCarthy agreed with Pickett's heated assessment.

"He was on fire coming into the game," he said. "And we didn't cool him off any."

Those sentiments tell the story perfectly after the NFL's leading passer threw for 323 yards and four touchdowns on 20-for-26 efficiency.

The Saints improved to 6-5 and remained viable in the tough NFC South, where everyone is in contention.

The Packers fell to 5-6 and took solace only in the fact that the two teams ahead of them in the NFC North, the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings , are 6-5.

Brees, whose team returned to the Superdome for the first time in more than a month, obviously appreciated the outcome but was quick to note that all New Orleans did was keep its head afloat.

"Just like a lot of other teams," he said. "This is the time where a few of those teams start to separate themselves, and we want to be one of those teams."

Multipurpose back Reggie Bush is one of those players the Saints hope will be there to help them this weekend when they visit the division rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers .

But Bush and his ailing left knee remained on the sideline Monday night, leaving the stage to second-year man Pierre Thomas (15 carries, 87 yards, two touchdowns) and veteran Deuce McAllister.

McAllister carried five times for only 5 yards, but 3 of those yards resulted in a touchdown that gave the team's career rushing yards leader the most career TDs (54) in franchise history.

It was the second of three third-quarter touchdowns that pretty much sealed the deal for the Saints.

When he scored, the crowd roared and McAllister suppressed a smile -- but not for long. He kept the ball and had a grand reception when he jogged to the sideline.

"It was special to share it with my teammates on the sideline," he said, "and in front of these great fans."