The Detroit Lions got back into the win column in Week 13, as they defeated the New Orleans Saints, 33-28. The Lions got off to a quick start with a 21-point first quarter. Derek Carr did engineer a bit of a comeback in the third stanza with two straight touchdown drives, but the Saints quarterback exited with head, shoulder and back injuries in the fourth quarter after taking a brutal shot in the pocket.
Jared Goff completed 16 of 25 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns in the victory. Rookie tight end Sam LaPorta was his favorite target with 140 receiving yards and one touchdown on nine catches, while Amon-Ra St. Brown caught just two passes for 49 yards and a touchdown. Jahmyr Gibbs carried eight times for 60 yards, and David Montgomery rushed 18 times for 56 yards and a touchdown.
For the Saints, Carr completed 17 of 22 passes for 226 yards, one touchdown and one interception before exiting early. Taysom Hill rushed 13 times for 59 yards and a touchdown, and Alvin Kamara became the Saints' all-time rushing touchdowns leader with two trips to the end zone on Sunday. Chris Olave was the Saints' leading receiver with 119 yards on five receptions.
Let's take a look at what went down in New Orleans on Sunday.
Football games are 60 minutes long, but seven minutes into this one, there was certainly a feeling the Lions were going to move to 9-3. Detroit raced out to a 21-0 lead in the opening quarter. Goff marched the offense 80 yards down the field on seven plays to kick things off, and Montgomery punched in the first score of the game. Carr was then picked off by rookie Brian Branch on the Saints' first play from scrimmage, which gave Detroit a short field and set up a 13-yard LaPorta touchdown. The next drive, St. Brown caught a 25-yard score to make it 21-0.
This was the Lions' largest lead through a first quarter since 1944. They are the first team since the 1986 Vikings to score three offensive touchdowns in the first seven minutes of a game, and the fastest team to 21 points since the Raiders in 2010. Without this hot start, the Lions probably would have lost. The Saints outscored the Lions 28-12 in the final three quarters.
You have to credit the Saints for coming back from down 21-0 in the first quarter. That deficit would have completely broken some teams, but not the Saints. Unfortunately, they ran into some adversity in the second half, which did not pair well with New Orleans' general inconsistencies.
After the Saints put together two straight touchdown drives with relative ease, they had a freak fumble, where offensive lineman James Hurst inadvertently knocked the ball out of Carr's hand. It gave the Lions a short field, which they took advantage of with a touchdown. The next drive, Carr went down with his injuries. While Winston did come through on that possession, leading the Saints to a touchdown, he turned the ball over on downs the next possession thanks to a couple of misfires.
The Saints still had three minutes left in the ball game and two timeouts to work with. However, the defense couldn't get off the field! Detroit's offense burned all three minutes, and converted two third-and-longs to ice the game. The Saints offense and defense failed at the most critical junctures late in the game.
After the unfortunate Saints fumble that gave the Lions possession at the New Orleans' 26-yard line, Jameson Williams ran in a 19-yard touchdown that pushed the lead back to double digits. It was clear momentum was shifting toward the Lions.
The Lions started this game on fire. On the Saints' first play from scrimmage, Juwan Johnson let a Carr pass bounce off his hands, and it was picked off by the rookie Branch -- who needed just one hand!
The Lions will remain on the road in Week 14, and pay a visit to the rival Chicago Bears. The Saints on the other hand will remain at home, and play host to the Carolina Panthers next Sunday.
Dan Campbell is one of the best when it comes to icing the game. Either him or Ben Johnson. A play action on third and 9 instead of a run. Josh Reynolds picked up 12. That will do it.
Down five points with the ball at the 40-yard line, Winston missed Olave on fourth-and-6. Hard to tell whose fault that was. Olave didn't know where the ball was, but the pass was a little behind him. Lions have the ball with 2 minutes remaining.
Carr out with a right arm/shoulder injury, Winston in. Kamara finishes the drive.
Lions 33 Saints 21 with 13:36 remaining.
Oh no, James Hurst knocked the ball out of his own quarterback's hand, and the Lions recover the loose football at the 26 yard line.
Saints finally stop the Lions in the red zone. Riley Patterson is good from 32 yards out. DET 27 NO 21 at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
Here comes the Saints offense, which has scored two straight touchdowns.
Now the Lions are waking up. A Huge pickup of 48 yards by the rookie LaPorta. He was WIDE OPEN on the right side of the field. Detroit in the red zone.
Just sort of realizing the Lions haven't scored a touchdown since that explosive first quarter. Meanwhile the Saints are on a 14-0 run.
DET 24 NO 21 4:27 left in the third quarter
Saints go 62 yards on seven plays, and score ANOTHER touchdown. Taysom Hill punches it in from 1 yard out. New Orleans 3-3 in the red zone today.
Oh baby. Carr hits Olave for 28 yards, and then Moreau for 19 yards. Saints are rolling.
Now the Lions punt. Goff and Co. pick up just 3 yards on three plays. LaPorta false start put Detroit behind the sticks.
Nice opportunity for the Saints to trim the lead to 7 points.
Here come the Saints. 10 plays, 75 yards and Kamara scores from two yards out.
First downs: DET 12 NO 6
Total yards: DET 224 NO 123
Third downs: DET 4-8 NO 3-7
Penalties: DET 3-20 NO 4-35
TOP: DET 16:02 NO 13:58
Jared Goff 9/15 127 yards 2 TDs
Derek Carr 7/12 84 yards 1 TD 1 INT
Jahmyr Gibbs 6 carries 49 yards
David Montgomery 11 carries 47 yards 1 TD
Taysom Hill 4 carries 28 yards
Alvin Kamara 7 carries 16 yards
Sam LaPorta 5 catches 68 yards 1 TD
Amon-Ra St. Brown 2 catches 49 yards 1 TD
A.T. Perry 1 catch 30 yards
Chris Olave 2 catches 28 yards
Alvin Kamara 2 catches 14 yards
Goff leads a 12-play, 62-yard drive and sets up a Riley Patterson 26-yard field goal to make it 24-7 at halftime.
Game was delayed because it appeared a member of the chain gang suffered a serious leg injury.
Saints to punt after going three-and-out. A lot of time left before halftime: 5:30
Fair to say the Saints defense has settled down. They force their third punt in a row.
What a great play by the rook
TD SAINTS
Derek Carr find Jimmy Graham for a 6-yard score. The veteran TE absolutely shook Tracy Walker out of his cleats.
Saints convert another third down on this drive. Chris Olave for a gain of 24 yards. Nice throw from Carr.
New Orleans has converted three third downs on this possession.
You can hear it.
Game has slowed down a ton. We've seen four straight punts now.
Taysom Hill with the first big play of the game for the Saints. Rushes for 21 yards off the right side.
Lions punt for the first time today after going three-and-out. A third-down sack ruined the possession.
Another three-and-out from the Saints offense. The veteran Bruce Irvin got to Carr on third-and-5.
The Saints have run four offensive plays. Lions have 3 TDs.
