Lions Send Saints Marching Home

The Detroit Lions rallied late in their Week 7 matchup to overcome Sean Payton’s prolific New Orleans Saints offense 24-23.

The Lions did not waste a second scoring 14 of their points in the last four minutes of the game. The stout Lions defense pitched another shutout against the run game, holding the crowded Saints backfield to only 60 yards. Averaging 133 yards per game on the ground, Drew Brees realized early that the game would have to be won through the air. Brees’ lights out performance of 342 yards and two touchdowns was not enough to beat the Detroit Lions.

If a weakness was exposed on that No. 1 defense, it was the abuse on the secondary from a no-huddle deep threat passing game. This no-huddle offense limited the defense to only one sack all game, keeping Brees’ jersey clean.

Luckily, for the Lions’ struggling first half offense, the defense was able to create two turnovers. Overall, the Lions scored 10 points off of turnovers, but it was Glover Quin’s late game interception that led to the go-ahead score.

No detrimental kicking woes for the Lions in Week 7, it was all on the offense for turning around and winning this game. With the defense doing all they could to limit Brees, the Lions offense’s number was called.

Off to yet another slow start, it was unsure if the Lions would ever click on offense. Luckily the call was answered, and Matthew Stafford led a second half game-winning campaign, throwing a touchdown to Golden Tate (73 yards) and Corey Fuller (five yards).

Tate, Stafford’s new favorite weapon, now has 48 receptions for 649 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Leading the league in receptions and yards after the catch, Tate is already showing his worth as the de facto No. 1 receiver.

With a healthy Calvin Johnson, the Detroit Lions’ passing offense will be a nightmare to opposing defensive coordinators if Stafford can continue to play solid ball.

Jim Caldwell leads his first place Lions on the plane to London to play a struggling road team in Atlanta next Sunday. Matt Ryan and Atlanta’s elite passing game will face a true test against the ruthless Lions defense that has not been pacified yet.

After the London game, the Lions will receive a much-deserved bye week. Expect Megatron to come back healthy Week 10 against Miami and all other minor injury reports to clean up after a needed week of rest.


Chris Boggus is co-host of Lions Den and multimedia journalist for Impact Sports.