No confetti floated down from the Superdome ceiling this time.
But the New Orleans Saints sure showed signs of the high-powered offense that helped them win big last season in their first home game since the NFC championship.
The Saints held the football for 40 minutes, ran 75 offensive plays and rushed for 198 yards in a 38-20 victory over the Houston Texans on Saturday night.
Drew Brees , who played for only one quarter, led New Orleans to two touchdowns - handing off to Bush for a 9-yard score and leaping over center for a 1-yard TD that put New Orleans up 14-0.
There was not much of a dropoff when Chase Daniel took over in the second quarter. The Saints outgained Houston 409 yards to 291 and had the football for 40 minutes.
Brees completed five of 10 passes for 36 yards for the defending Super Bowl champs.
Daniel worked the last three quarters and completed 15 of 21 passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns. He was intercepted once.
Houston quarterback Matt Schaub was 8 of 10 for 117 yards. Dan Orlovsky was 12 of 19 for 140 yards and a touchdown.
The Texans did little to sort out their running back situation. Arian Foster started Saturday's game, and had six carries for 28 yards and a touchdown, but lost a fumble in the second quarter.
Steve Slaton - Foster's main challenger for the starting spot - ran five times for 19 yards, Slaton also had two kick returns for 88 yards, including one for 68 yards.
The Saints ran for 198 yards, including 66 by rookie Chris Ivory.
Kris Brown has been the Texans' kicker since the franchise began. This year he's competing with Neil Rackers. Houston coach Gary Kubiak said preseason performance will settle the competition. Against the Saints, Rackers kicked a 52-yard field goal and Brown hit a 43-yarder.
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