49ers’ offense can’t keep pace in 41-23 loss to Saints

Nearly five years after the 49ers' 36-32 playoff win against New Orleans, which featured one of the most frenetic finishes in playoff history, they combined for 51 points and 663 yards in the first half. Mark Ingram (158 yards) became the seventh straight running back to gain 100 yards against them; New Orleans had 248 rushing yards against the NFL's 32nd-ranked defense and the Saints' 571 yards were the fourth-most allowed in franchise history. The 49ers' 32nd-ranked offense had some fun, at least for 30 minutes, against an opponent that arrived on pace to allow the sixth-most points in NFL history. The 49ers had 319 yards in the first two quarters — one yard shy of their single-game season-high — and Colin Kaepernick's 286 first-half passing yards marked the sixth-most he'd posted in any game in his 49-start career. Considering their previously inert offense, it appeared any suspense vanished after Ingram's 75-yard touchdown run gave the Saints a 28-10 lead with 5:45 left in the second quarter. [...] Phil Dawson drilled a 48-yard field goal to trim the gap to 28-13. Next, the 49ers forced a punt, stopping the Saints' streak of four consecutive touchdown drives....