SANTA CLARA -- Ahmad Brooks thinks there may be a "ray of light" over him whenever he plays the Saints.
After all, the 49ers' outside linebacker has registered at least one sack in the last five games against New Orleans and was part of the most pivotal play in the teams' last two meetings.
In 2014, Brooks knocked the ball from quarterback Drew Brees and the ensuing fumble recovery set up the 49ers' game-winning field goal in overtime. The year before that, a similar sack-and-fumble sequence late in the game seemed to preserve a 49ers win.
Brooks' arm, however, rose up to the quarterback's neck and Brooks was flagged for unnecessary roughness, which allowed the Saints to retain possession.