CLEVELAND (AP) - The Bush Era began with a W.

Rookie Reggie Bush didn't dazzle but certainly didn't disappoint in his NFL debut. He and Drew Brees led the rebuilt New Orleans Saints to a season-opening 19-14 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

Bush, whose arrival in New Orleans has given the city's football fans renewed optimism in the wake of Hurricane Katrina's devastation, finished with 141 total yards. The Heisman Trophy winner had 61 yards rushing on 14 attempts, caught eight passes for 58 yards and returned three punts for 22.

He never got loose on one of the trademark breakaways he made commonplace in college, and a few times he would have been better off falling down than trying to escape tacklers.

But Bush helped get the Saints off to a winning start in this season of rebirth.

John Carney kicked four field goals, the last one with 5:42 remaining, and Brees, who signed a six-year, $60 million free agent contract in March, threw a 12-yard TD pass to rookie Marques Colston in the third quarter.

The Saints also got 90 yards on 22 carries from Deuce McAllister, making his return after missing the final 11 games last season following knee surgery.

However, New Orleans didn't clinch rookie coach Sean Payton's first win until the final two minutes, when safety Josh Bullocks intercepted a pass that deflected off the hands of receiver Braylon Edwards in New Orleans territory.

The Browns, celebrating their 60th anniversary, fell to 1-7 in season openers since returning to the league in 1999. They didn't have much to feel good about until the second half.

Cleveland was held to 56 total yards and blanked in the first 30 minutes. But the Browns came back as Charlie Frye threw an 18-yard TD pass to Kellen Winslow, and the second-year quarterback scored on a 1-yard sneak to bring Cleveland within 16-14 with 11:20 to go.

The Saints, though, marched down for Carney's fourth kick and held off Cleveland's rally.

Brees finished 17-of-31 for 176 yards with one interception. Frye, making his sixth career start, was 16-of-27 for 132 yards with the TD and two picks.

Winslow looked fully recovered after missing 30 games the past two seasons and had eight catches for 63 yards.

Bush made some rookie mistakes early. He misjudged Cleveland's first punt, retreating when it sailed over his head. Late in the first quarter, he slithered through traffic on an 18-yard run and several other carries where he came close to getting free.

But Bush also dropped a third-down pass near the 5 that he might have scored on, and the 21-year-old had other moments where he tried to do too much.

The Browns scored on their first series in the third quarter as Frye connected with Winslow. Playing in just his third game after missing most of two seasons with serious leg injuries, Winslow stiff-armed rookie Roman Harper on his way to the end zone.

Winslow immediately ran to the Browns bench, spiked his helmet and hugged head trainer Marty Lauzon, who spent countless hours in rehab with the tight end.

New Orleans built its 9-0 lead at halftime on field goals of 43, 25 and 21 yards by Carney, a 16-year veteran.

Cleveland's season began with a thud on the opening play.

Frye connected with Edwards for an apparent 74-yard touchdown pass, but it got called back because Browns left tackle Jeff Shaffer was penalized for holding. From there, the Browns went further backward and accumulated minus-23 yards on their first three possessions.