<div><p>The New Orleans Saints had to go the distance to match the Indianapolis Colts with a perfect record by beating the Atlanta Falcons 26-23 Sunday and run their win streak to 13 games.</p><p>Drew Brees tossed three touchdown passes and Jonathan Vilma helped shut down the Falcons offence as the Saints joined the Colts as one of just seven teams in NFL history to reach 13-0.</p><p>Brees completed 31-for-40 passes for 296 yards, while Reggie Bush had two touchdown catches for the Saints, who clinched a first-round bye with the win and a franchise record for wins in a season.</p><p>"It's big. We did it back in 2006 and it just gives the team a chance to rest up, get guys healthy and try to make a run," said Brees about clinching a first-round bye.</p><p>New Orleans also set a team record for points in a season with 466. Bush had six carries for 33 yards and another half dozen catches for 46 yards.</p><p>"It was a hard fought game today," said Saints head coach Sean Payton. "It certainly feels good to get a win on the road. We knew it was going to be a tough game, but we came up with a few plays at the end."</p><p>The Saints and Colts become just the seventh teams to start out a season 13-0. The Colts beat Denver 28-16 on Sunday.</p><p>"We are really just focused on our next opponent and giving ourselves the best opportunity in the postseason," said Payton about being undefeated. "All of our focus will shift to a good, balanced team on a short week."</p><p>In Minneapolis, Adrian Peterson racked up 137 total yards and scored two touchdowns as Minnesota clinched a playoff spot with a 30-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.</p><p>Peterson ran for 97 yards and had three catches for 40 yards in the Vikings' win which raised their record to 11-2. It is the first time since 2000 Minnesota has won at least 11 games.</p><p>"We came out and we knew it was going to be a physical game," Peterson said. "We wanted to establish the run early, hit it with them along with play-action and we were able to do what we wanted from the start."</p><p>Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre threw for 192 yards and a touchdown on 17-of-30 passing as the Vikings rebounded from a loss at Arizona last week.</p><p>Carson Palmer completed 15-of-25 passes for just 94 yards for Cincinnati, who lost for just the second time in seven games.</p><p>Chad Ochocinco scored the Bengals only touchdown and finished with three catches for 27 yards. Cedric Benson had 16 carries for 96 yards.</p><p>DeSean Jackson returned a punt 72 yards for a touchdown as the Philadelphia Eagles gained sole possession of first place in the NFC East with a 45-38 win over the New York Giants.</p><p>Jackson, who missed last Sunday's 34-7 win over Atlanta with a concussion, finished with six catches for 178 yards, as Philadelphia (9-4) won their fourth consecutive game and moved a game past Dallas for the top spot in the division.</p><p>The Cowboys suffered a 20-17 home loss to San Diego earlier Sunday.</p><p>Philip Rivers had 272 passing yards and a touchdown as the Chargers continued Dallas' December woes at Cowboy Stadium.</p><p>The Cowboys also lost DeMarcus Ware, who sprained his neck in the fourth quarter. Ware was put onto a stretcher and carted off the field and taken to hospital for tests.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=65402994&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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