The San Francisco 49ers return from their bye to host the New Orleans Saints in Week 9 of the NFL season. The 49ers are looking to end their current six-game losing streak while the Saints enter the matchup as winners of three of their last four contests.

Keep it logged on here for updates throughout Sunday's action.

Pregame

The team announced that Pierre Garçon (shoulder) is inactive on Sunday. The 49ers starting running back will miss his second consecutive game after injuring his shoulder in Week 6 against the Buffalo Bills. San Francisco will deploy a running back by committee against the Saints. Mike Davis, DuJuan Harris and Shaun Draughn are all likely to see reps, with Chip Kelly likely taking a "hot hand" approach to distributing touches.

San Francisco will also be without top pass-rusher Aaron Lynch (ankle) and rookie cornerback Rashard Robinson (knee). Eli Harold gets the start in place of Lynch and Keith Reaser could see an increased role in Robinson's absence.

Mike Purcell is inactive for the first time this season. That could mean more playing time for Glenn Dorsey, who will start on Sunday after missing one game.

Here's the 49ers full list of inactives: Hyde, Lynch, Robinson, Mike Purcell, John Theus, Keshawn Martin and Christian Ponder.

And for the Saints: Dennell Ellerbe, Daniel Lasco, De'Vante Harris, Marcus Murphy, Landon Turner, Tommylee Lewis and John Jenkins.

First Quarter

The 49ers started on defense and quickly got a stop against Drew Brees and the Saints offense. An offensive pass interference penalty against Brandin Cooks got New Orleans behind the sticks. Arik Armstead did come off the field injured after a second-down play, but walked off the field under his own power. It didn't appear to be serious.

Harris got the start at running back and promptly gained 15 yards on a short pass from Colin Kaepernick. A 7-yard run for Harris and 31-yard pass to Quinton Patton got San Francisco into New Orleans territory.

San Francisco's drive stalled, but a Phil Dawson 48-yard field goal put the 49ers up 3-0.

The kick marked the 395th career made field goal in Dawson's career.

San Francisco announced that Armtead was questionable to return with a shoulder injury. Eli Harold left with an injury on the following drive, as well.

A 23-yard completion on 3rd-and-5 from Brees to Michael Thomas got the Saints offense going. Brees followed with a deep ball to tight end Josh Hill for a 32-yard gain. On an ensuing 3rd-and-9 play, Coby Fleener got just enough to move the chains.

Tim Hightower punched it in from there with a 4-yard touchdown run to put the Saints up 7-3.

It's been all Hightower thus far for the Saints offense, rather than normal starter Mark Ingram.

Kaepernick was picked on San Francisco's next possession by Saints linebacker Craig Robertson. The quarterback was looking for Jeremy Kerley on a quick slant and Robertson jumped the route. A 15-yard personal foul was tacked onto the return after a horsecollar tackle.

Brees found Thomas for a 1-yard touchdown pass to extend the Saints lead, 14-3.

The rookie wideout now has four scores on the season.

Kaepernick closed the first quarter with completions of 20 yards to Patton and 22 yards to Garrett Celek. The 49ers signal-caller posted 107 passing yards on six completions in the first 15 minutes.

Second Quarter

San Francisco's drive stalled at the Saints 24-yard line, but Kelly opted to go for it on 4th-and-1. Harris was stuffed at the line of scrimmate and New Orleans took over on downs.

The Saints continued to move the ball well against the 49ers defense. Completions of 15 yards to Cooks, nine yards to Thomas and eight yards to Ingram moved the ball across midfield. A 15-yard pass to Hightower set up 1st-and-goal from San Francisco's 8-yard line.

Brees found Ingram for a 5-yard touchdown to put New Orleans up 21-3 midway through the second quarter.

The Saints quarterback now has 20 touchdowns on the season.

Kaepernick and the 49ers responded quickly. JaCorey Shepherd returned the ensuing kickoff for 36 yards to give San Francisco great field position. Then Kaepernick hit Celek for a 15-yard gain.

Two plays later, Kaepernick found Harris on a short pass to the right that the running back took all the way for a 47-yard touchdown reception. The score pulled the 49ers closer, 21-10.

The play was Harris's longest career reception and first career touchdown catch.

On the very next play from scrimmage, Ingram took off and sprinted away from the 49ers defense for a 75-yard touchdown run up the right sideline to put New Orleans up 28-10.

Ingram now has two touchdowns on the day, one rushing and one receiving.

Kaepernick found Celek once again deep down the middle of the field, this time for a gain of 31 yards. An 11-yard gain on a screen pass to Harris got the 49ers in field-goal range.

Dawson drilled the 48-yard try to make it 28-13, Saints.

San Francisco's kicker is now up to 396 career makes.

The 49ers defense followed with a much-needed stop of Brees & Co. Tramaine Brock broke up a pass deep down the left sideline intended for Thomas.

After two Harris runs for seven yards, San Francisco struck big on 3rd-and-3.

Kaepernick found McDonald near the right sideline, who got a block from Harris and took it all the way for a 67-yard touchdown.

The score gave Kaepernick two for the first half to go along with 286 passing yards.

New Orleans grabbed another field goal before the end of the half. A 26-yard pass to Fleener and 17-yard completion to Cooks set up the try.

Will Lutz knocked it through from 26-yards out to put the Saints up 31-20 at halftime.

Here's Kaepernick's first half line: 14-of-18 for 286 passing yards, two touchdowns, one interception and 12 rushing yards. Harris tallied 90 total yards (21 rushing, 78 receiving).

Third Quarter

San Francsico's offense kept rolling to begin the third quarter. Kaepernick completed his first pass of the second half to Patton for 11 yards. Harris followed with a 17-yard run. On 3rd-and-6, Kaepernick hit Kerley for a gain of 17 yards. It looked like Mike Davis was on his way into the end zone when he fumbled near the goal line.

The Saints recovered the loose ball to take over possession, but went three-and-out and punted the ball back to the 49ers.

A 16-yard run by Harris and 12-yard completion to Smith got San Francisco back in Dawson's range.

The kicker drilled a 46-yard attempt to pull the 49ers within one score, 31-23.

Dawson is now at 497 career made field goals.

Brees drove the Saints back down the field to get into field-goal range. Eric Reid made a clutch pass breakup on a third-down pass intended for Fleener. Lutz missed the following field goal to give the 49ers the football near midfield in a one-score game.

San Francisco went three-and-out and punted it back to New Orleans.

On 3rd-and-6, Brees connected with Cooks down the left sideline for a 28-yard gain to close the third quarter.

Fourth Quarter

Three plays into the final quarter, Brees notched his third touchdown of the game.

The quarterback threw up a jump ball in the end zone to Thomas, who made a circus catch in tight coverage for the 33-yard score.

Thomas's second TD of the game put New Orleans up 38-23.

The 49ers followed with a three-and-out.

Ingram's first-down carry of 14 yards put the running back at 126 yards on just nine carries. His performance marks the seventh straight game San Francisco has allowed a 100-yard rusher. A 19-yard pass to Brandon Coleman set up a Lutz field-goal try.

The Saints kicker was good this time around from 41-yards out to put New Orleans up 41-23.

Two passes of 19 yards to Patton put San Francisco's fourth-year wideout over 100 yards for the first time in his career. Patton's six receptions are also a career high. On 4th-and-5 from the New Orleans 10-yard line, Kaepernick fumbled the snap and the Saints recovered.

New Orleans won the contest, 41-23, improving to 4-4 on the season. San Francisco dropped its seventh straight game and is now 1-7 for the year. The 49ers will head to Arizona in Week 10 for a divisional matchup against the Cardinals.