The New Orleans Saints have made it five wins from five at the start of the NFL season with a 26-18 victory over the Chicago Bears.
The Saints took the lead in the first quarter through a 47-yard Garrett Hartley field goal before a fumble by the Bears allowed Hartley to make it 6-0, this time from 19 yards.
Pierre Thomas got the first touchdown of the match in the second quarter when he reached over the line from close range, just about getting the ball into the end zone before losing control.
The Bears announced themselves on the scoreboard with a touchdown of their own as Alshon Jeffrey caught a pass from Jay Cutler in the end zone for a three-yard score.
Thomas restored the Saints' 13-point advantage late in the first half, however, catching another short Drew Brees pass before weaving his way through a number of tackles for his second touchdown of the match.
Hartley increased this lead with a 36-yard kick in the third quarter, but Robbie Gould responded with a field goal of his own to make it 23-10.
The Bears raised hopes of a late fightback when Brandon Marshall caught Cutler's pass for a two-yard score before Matt Forte ran for a two-point conversion to reduce the deficit to eight.
No such comeback materialised, however, as the Saints moved to 5-0 for the season, ending Chicago's unbeaten home record in the process.
