unez and OF/INF Matt Olson made their major league debuts. Nunez and Ols

NEW ORLEANS -- The grin on Drew Brees face as he discussed the longest of New Orleans seven touchdowns against the Los Angeles Rams showed how much the Saints record-setting quarterback enjoyed the 50-yard pass -- even if he wasnt the one who threw it.Theres an old adage: Let the throwers throw and let the catchers catch, but, man, that was pretty impressive, Brees said.All Brees had to do was zip a quick backward pass to Willie Snead, and then watch as the young receiver unloaded a deep throw to wide-open running back Tim Hightower. The play exemplified how well New Orleans offense was clicking en route to 555 total yards and a season-high point total in a 49-21 demolition of Los Angeles on Sunday.Saints coach Sean Payton might have had a particular motivation to call the trick play, given that the coordinator of the opposing defense was Gregg Williams, who was fired by Payton after the 2011 season. A few months later, both wound up suspended for 2012 in connection with the NFLs bounty probe. Sundays game marked the first time they had coached on opposite sidelines since.When I heard the play in the huddle, Im like, `Oh, here we go, Snead recalled. I was coming off the field and (Payton) said, `No, stay in, get back in the huddle.Its just a great feeling to make a play like that, said Snead, who played quarterback in high school. We practiced it all week, and I was 3 for 3, and we got out here and (Payton) had the confidence in me to make the throw.New Orleans (5-6) already led 42-21 when the play was called with about 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter.Payton said the play was installed last week because of tendencies Saints coaches had recognized in the Rams defense. The play was called when it was because the Saints got the right look from the defense, Payton said.Rams coach Jeff Fisher said he didnt take it personally.We have to do a better job defensively, he said. Weve got to do a better job coaching.Whatever the case, the play will go down as one of the more memorable aspects of the Saints victory over the Rams (4-7). Here are some others:GOFFS GROWTH: The last person Fisher was about to blame for the lopsided loss was rookie quarterback Jared Goff, who was making his second start and first on the road. Goff was 20 of 32 for 214 yards and three touchdowns to Tavon Austin, Kenny Britt and Lance Kendricks. He lost a fumble on rookie Sheldon Rankins sack and was intercepted by Kenny Vaccaro, but Fisher said the performance of last springs top overall draft choice got better, which was encouraging.TIGHTENING UP: The Saints defense looked shaky in the first half, when Goff threw all three of his touchdown passes. But New Orleans shut out the Rams in the second half and continued to demonstrate improvement over early this season, when it gave up more than 400 yards in four of the teams first five games. In five of the Saints past six games, their defense has yielded fewer than 360 yards, including fewer than 300 yards in the past two games. The Rams finished with 247 yards.DERAILED DEFENSE: The Saints yardage and point totals were even more impressive in the context of how Los Angeles has played on defense this season. The Rams came in ranked sixth overall defensively, as well as sixth against the pass and 15th against the run. New Orleans finished with 346 net yards through the air and 209 on the ground. The Saints 49 points were one fewer than the Rams gave up in their previous four games combined.Fisher sounded particularly bothered by running back Mark Ingrams 21-yard touchdown on a screen pass.Anybody and everybody in the bayou knew it was going to be a screen but us, Fisher said.INGRAMS BACK: Ingram was knocked unconscious during New Orleans previous game at Carolina 10 days earlier and placed in the NFLs concussion protocol. He was cleared to return against Los Angeles and came back with one of his better games this season, gaining 146 yards on just 14 carries, highlighted by a 61-yard scamper and 10-yard scoring run to go with his receiving TD.Ingram said he felt good and that his production stemmed in part from an entire offense playing with purpose against Williams.We tried to do everything we could to make sure his coming back here wasnt a good experience, Ingram said.ROOKIE RESURGENCE: Rookie receiver Michael Thomas, who was relatively quiet during New Orleans recent two-game skid, responded with arguably his best game this season , catching nine passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns. His longest catch was a 35-yard grab in traffic over the middle and he broke tackles on his 21-yard score.He is pretty good after the catch so he made a few guys miss, Payton said. He is physical when he gets the ball. He is a tough guy to tackle.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLCheap Nike Shoes China . Duchene scored two goals and had an assist, helping the Colorado Avalanche beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Friday night to match the best 10-game start in team history. Cheap Adidas Shoes China . -- Anaheim Ducks defenceman Luca Sbisa will be out at least six weeks with a torn tendon in his right hand. http://www.cheapshoeschinaonline.com/cheap-salomon-shoes-china-253a.html . - After leading the Saints to a fourth playoff appearance in five seasons, Drew Brees expressed confidence in the direction of his team and, perhaps more importantly, showed a willingness to listen to contract proposals if the team needs his help getting under the NFLs salary cap. Cheap Supra Shoes China . - Blake Griffin had 30 points and 12 rebounds, J. China Shoes Sale . -- Brandon Jennings made the most of his first game with the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night.KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Oakland Athletics looked like a team battling for a playoff spot Monday night, and the Kansas City Royals looked like a team checked out and ready for the offseason.It was supposed to be the other way around.Khris Davis and Marcus Semien hit three-run homers, the lowly Athletics matched a season high with 17 hits while drawing 10 walks, and they trounced the Royals 16-3 in their series opener.Its great to have a game like that, As manager Bob Melvin said. For a team that struggles to score runs, its nice to have a positive mood in the dugout.In the opposite dugout, the reigning World Series champions could only rue another game slipping away. The Royals (74-69) began the day four back of the final wild-card spot with 20 games to go, and hoped an eight-game stand against Oakland and the White Sox would allow them to gain ground.But with five teams standing in their way, time is running out.These games are easy to turn the page, a lot tougher is losing a one-run game, Royals manager Ned Yost said. We just got beat. We didnt play good, we didnt pitch good and we got beat.Daniel Coulombe (3-1) earned the win in relief of Ross Detwiler, though it was the Oakland offense that led the way. The As scored their most runs this season for their largest margin of victory.Royals starter Dillon Gee (6-8) was battered for five runs on five hits and four walks in 3 1/3 innings, though he wasnt the only pitcher to melt down. He was followed by three relievers in a span of four batters in the fourth inning, when the As marched nine to the plate and scored three times.When youre out there trying to find something in a big league game against big league hitters, it makes it real tough, Gee said. They scored a lot of runs, but its just one game.By the end, everybody in the As starting lineup had a hit. Stephen Vogt was 3 for 3 with two walks and two RBI, while Joey Wendle, Arismendy Alcantara and Ryon Healy drove alsso drove in two apiece.ddddddddddddWe were swinging at a lot of good pitches, said the As Brett Eibner, who began the season with Kansas City. We swung at pitches we want to hit and when you do that, the runs seem to pile up.Davis delivered the first big blow in the third inning when he splashed his 36th homer into the fountains in left field, a shot estimated at 447 feet.When the Royals matched him with three runs in the bottom half, the As bounced right back to score three more: Bruce Maxwell and Eibner opened the fourth with back-to-back singles, Wendle hit a sacrifice fly, and the As churned out four hits and two walks in taking a 6-3 lead.It was 8-3 when Semien went deep in the sixth, and Oakland merely piled on from there.Theres not much to say, Yost said. Just one of those nights.BIG LEAGUE DEBUTSRoyals OF Hunter Dozier and As INF Renato Nunez and OF/INF Matt Olson made their major league debuts. Nunez and Olson were brought up from Triple-A Nashville prior to the game, with Olson taking the spot of departed DH Billy Butler on the 40-man roster.In Olsons case his parents were here, Melvin said, so it was nice to get him in the game.SALVYS BABY BOYRoyals C Salvador Perez was scratched from the starting lineup after his fiance gave birth to a boy on Monday. His name is Johan Salvador and the Royals said mother and baby are doing well.TRAINERS ROOMRoyals RHP Kris Medlen (right rotator cuff inflammation) will not return this season, manager Ned Yost said. LHP Jason Vargas (Tommy John surgery) is also unlikely to pitch for Kansas City this season after making three rehab outings for Triple-A Omaha.UP NEXTRHP Jharel Cotton makes his second career start for the As after beating the Angels in his debut last week. LHP Danny Duffy goes for his eighth win since the All-Star break for Kansas City. ' ' '