NEW ORLEANS -- While Mark Ingrams lost fumble practically handed the Seattle Seahawks a touchdown, it also gave Saints running back Tim Hightower an opportunity to lead New Orleans running game.It was a pivotal play, indeed, from which New Orleans arguably benefited most.Ingram was benched, Hightower became the first Saint to rush for more than 100 yards this season, and New Orleans pulled out a 25-20 victory over the favored Seahawks on Sunday.Saints coach Sean Payton labeled Hightowers 26-carry, 102-yard performance tough and gutsy.In New Orleans first six games combined, Hightower carried 19 times for 87 yards. As the game against Seattle wore on, Hightower started to break loose for longer gains, including a 28-yard scamper that set up a go-ahead touchdown pass to Brandin Cooks in the fourth-quarter, and a 12-yard gain that set up a crucial 41-yard field goal by Wil Lutz on New Orleans final possession.I definitely thrive on these kinds of situations. I try to pride myself on being a physical runner, Hightower said. This is the kind of game Im built for. Im kind of old school. I like the physicality of the game and thats what this was.The Seahawks (4-2-1), who have one of the top-ranked defenses in the NFL, have allowed more than 100 yards rushing in just three of their seven games this season and have allowed fewer than 65 yards in the other four games. The Saints (3-4) entered the league ranked 28th in rushing with 82.3 yards per game, but finished with 123 against Seattle.That was one story line in the Seahawks-Saints clash. Here are some others:RUFFLED FEATHERS: Several Seahawks defensive players expressed dissatisfaction over the officiating, with cornerback Richard Sherman using the word egregious, and safety Earl Thomas calling several calls horrible.One gripe concerned a pair of third-down defensive holding calls that extended Saints scoring drives in the second half.They didnt let us play today, Thomas said. On third-and-5 slants, we were locking guys out and they called illegal contact.The Seahawks also protested non-calls on what they viewed as pick plays by Saints receivers running overlapping routes.Seattle defensive backs could be seen arguing that such a pick got Brandin Cooks open for his fourth-quarter TD on a 2-yard slant.Its hard to play defense like that, Sherman said. Its tough to play in this league with the way games are being officiated. The rules are already skewed to the offense.PENALTY DIFFERENTIAL: There was a substantial discrepancy in the amount of offensive and defensive penalties called against Seattle compared to New Orleans. The Seahawks were penalized 11 times for 76 yards. The Saints were flagged twice for 10 yards.We made it hard on ourselves, Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. My team is getting a lot of penalties the last couple of weeks. It is not any one position, necessarily. I just need to do a better job.ENCOURAGING INGRAM: Payton said he felt compelled to sit Ingram after his fumble because it was his second costly turnover in two games. A week earlier, he fumbled inside the Kanas City 10 in a six-point loss. Against Seattle, Cliff Avrils strip sent the ball into the arms of Thomas, who returned it 34 yards for a score .Brees said the Saints still have great confidence in Ingram. Added Hightower: Ive been in his shoes. ... Were going to need him just like today they needed me.BALANCE: Brees is at his best in the Superdome, where he has twice passed for 400-plus yards this season. Against Seattle, his 265 yards passing represented a season low at home by more than 100 yards. He had only one TD pass, but also scored on a 1-yard keeper. The Saints finished with 35 passes and 35 rushes.That was the formula for today, Brees said with a grin. Thats something everybody had a hand in today and we knew the importance of it.STAYING THE COURSE: Russell Wilson passed for 253 yards without a TD and was intercepted once by linebacker Nathan Stupar. But he still nearly led Seattle on a winning drive -- from the Seattle 32 to the Saints 10 -- in the last 1:50 with no timeouts. The game ended when Wilson lofted a pass to the corner of the end zone, where Jermaine Kearse made a leaping grab but came down with one foot out of bounds.The last drive was a testament to our resilience, Wilson said. We have a lot of clutch players who can make a lot of plays. We are just going to stay the course.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Paul Pierce Jersey . "Theyve both been real good," said Babcock. "Havent changed our minds." A decision has seemingly been made - Sundays Group B-deciding tilt against Finland ahead - but it could not have been an easy one. Price opened the tournament with a sturdy 19-save performance against the Norwegians, yielding just one goal. Isaiah Thomas Jersey . The Browns coaching search remains incomplete. https://www.cheapceltics.com/462n-bailey-howell-jersey-celtics.html . A lawyer for MLB, Matthew Menchel, confirmed Wednesday the league dropped its case against Biogenesis of America, its owner Anthony Bosch and several other individuals. The lawsuit had accused Biogenesis and Bosch of conspiring with players to violate their contracts by providing them with banned performance-enhancing substances. Walter McCarty Jersey . And when it opened, every player was at his stall. Thats a sure sign that a team is in a slump and is searching for answers. "Its embarrassing to be at home and play the way we did," said defenceman Josh Gorges. K. C. Jones Jersey .ca! Kerry, Two nights after the Scott-Eriksson incident in Buffalo, the Bruins returned home to play San Jose. In that game, Zdeno Chara put a check on Tommy Wingels that clearly targeted his head. Back in the day, before thigh pads came into common use, towels (and a Readers Digest) were pressed into service for leg protection. Even so, this photo (above) of Jack Hobbs and Herbert Sutcliffe walking out to bat at The Oval in 1930 is surprising with its naked thumbs (and partially exposed fingers) on their left/top hands. The oppositions bowlers werent all that fast - Tim Wall and Alan Fairfax were Australias opening quicks - but the gloves still look more suitable to motorbike-riding than batting in a Test.Even today the thumbs of top-hand gloves arent padded, but the rest of the fingers get solid protection, if you go by MS Dhonis hamburger-style bite here.West Indies keeper Carlton Baughs glove flies off, presumably after he took it off to grab the ball and throw it - just a glimpse of the multitasking that is routinely expected of wicketkeepers.Not only do they multitask, they are also multiskilled. Reserve keeper Chris Read (right) helps mend Alec Stewarts gloves inn Cape Town, 2000.ddddddddddddSometimes even umpires need protection.Brian Lara indulges in some glove love with Runako Morton, Mumbai, 2006. Matthew Hayden had a story about the Australians disdain for such fancy behaviour. He writes in his autobiography: For years, Australian teams had taken the rise out of the glove-touching fad, and to the mirth of the boys, Ricky Ponting became the first one to do it when he batted with Brian Lara in the tsunami game at the MCG. Brian raised his gloves and Ricky had nowhere to go. He knew hed cop it from the rest of us, and he wasnt disappointed. Right then, so youll do it with Lara and the rest of us get brushed - is that the deal, we said.No mirth for Ponting here as England use the delaying tactic of calling for gloves in order to bat out a draw in Cardiff, 2009. Share the (g)love, guys, thats what we say. ' ' '