National Football League

Steelers and Saints scoreless after 1st quarter

Published Oct. 31, 2010 10:25 p.m. ET

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Defense dominated as the Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers remained scoreless at the end of the first quarter on Sunday night.

Neither team picked up more than one first down on its first three possessions, with matching five-play, 18-yard drives setting the tone to start the game.

New Orleans reached the Pittsburgh 31 on its second series after Chris Ivory converted a fourth-and-1 with a 6-yard run, but the drive stalled.

Running back Julius Jones was penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct after jawing with Pittsburgh's Troy Polamalu helmet-to-helmet on a third down incompletion, moving New Orleans out of field-goal range.

Pittsburgh was on the move at the end of the quarter after Emmanuel Sanders returned a punt 38 yards to the New Orleans 44.

New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees was 7 of 11 for 42 yards and was victimized by two drops. Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger was 4 of 7 for 21 yards and was sacked once.

Neither team was at full strength. The Saints played without their top two running backs Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas as well as starting cornerbacks Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter.

The Steelers did not have starting defensive ends Aaron Smith (torn triceps) and Brett Keisel, who was scratched with a hamstring injury.

New Orleans also lost cornerback Patrick Robinson to an ankle injury after the opening series. He was listed as probable to return.

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