• Advocate staff report
• Published: Dec 8, 2008 - UPDATED: 7:05 a.m.

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NEW ORLEANS — Thanks to a federal court ruling on Friday, which temporarily overturned an NFL-imposed suspension, New Orleans Saints running back Deuce McAllister and defensive end Will Smith were on the field for Sunday’s game with the Atlanta Falcons.

After rejoining the team on Saturday, Smith started at his usual right defensive end spot and totaled six tackles — one for a loss — in a 29-25 win. McAllister didn’t start, but entered the game early in the second quarter and had no gain on his only carry of the game.

Rob Ninkovich and Tearrius George, a pair of defensive ends signed this week, received roster exemptions from the NFL. But they were not part of the 53-man active roster and were not eligible to play Sunday.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees went over the 4,000-yard mark in passing for the third consecutive season late in the first half of Sunday’s game.

That ties Brees for the second-longest streak in NFL history, equaling the streaks of Dan Fouts, Dan Marino and Trent Green. Peyton Manning holds the record with six straight 4,000-yard seasons from 1999-2004.

Before Brees’ arrival in 2006, the Saints never had a 4,000-yard passer.

He finished with 230 yards and has an even 4,100 this season — leaving him 985 yards shy of breaking Marino’s NFL single-season record of 5,084 yards.

The interception by Saints cornerback Jason David off Matt Ryan on Atlanta’s first possession of the game was the fourth of the season for David.

It equaled David’s career high for interceptions, which he set as a rookie with the Indianapolis Colts in 2004. It’s also the most for a Saints player in one season since Mike McKenzie had five in 2004.

Saints coach Sean Payton said he gave a game ball to rookie kicker Garrett Hartley, who booted field goals of 26, 46 and 25 yards in the victory.