Saints start title defense with 14-9 victory over Vikings

Drew Brees threw for 237 yards and a score and Pierre Thomas ran for the decisive touchdown in the third quarter, as the Saints opened their title defense and the 2010 season with a 14-9 win over the Vikings.

New Orleans captured its first championship seven months ago with a 31-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV, and is looking to become the first repeat champion since New England in 2003 and 2004.

The Saints (1-0) took one step toward that end with a victory Thursday in a rematch of last year’s NFC Championship game.

Brett Favre, who ended the uncertainty of his playing status when he returned to the Vikings (0-1) in mid-August, passed for 171 yards and a touchdown, and was intercepted once.