New Orleans Saints go marching over Detroit Lions, 52-38

The Detroit Lions played a mistake-filled game, and surrendered a total of 52 points to the Saints while turning the ball over five times.

For the second straight week, the Detroit Lions dug themselves into an early hole from which they would never recover. After a woeful performance on both sides of the ball, the Lions found themselves trailing 31-10 at halftime.

The defense was unable to contain any part of the Saints offense in the first half and the early part of the third quarter. A lack of pressure up front allowed clear running lanes and afforded Drew Brees plenty of time to pick apart the secondary. The tandem of Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara combined for 190 yards on 36 carries and two touchdowns. Brees was efficient while doing most of his damage in the first half, and finishing the game 21/31 for 186 yards and two touchdowns.

The offense did not fare much better until it was too late. The offensive line suffered numerous injuries throughout the game, and the results were less than encouraging. The makeshift unit did little to keep Stafford upright, allowing five more sacks after allowing six in each of the last two games.

When Stafford did throw, the Saints were ready. The home defense forced the Lions signal-caller into five turnovers – three interceptions and two lost fumbles – and also batted down 12 pass attempts at the line of scrimmage.

Lions Roar Late

The Lions once again showed that, against them, no lead is safe. After falling behind 45-17 in the middle of the third quarter, the team rallied to score 21 consecutive points in spite of losing several key players to injury.

With under five minutes to go in the third quarter, Miles Killebrew forced an Ingram fumble, and the Lions rally began. Stafford capped off an 11-play drive with a 22 yard touchdown pass to Darren Fells. After the defenses traded stops, rookie Jamal Agnew returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown.

Trailing 45-31, the Lions punted deep inside Saints territory. On second down from the one-yard line, Brees’ pass was picked off by A’shawn Robinson, who scampered in for the defensive score.

The Lions forced the Saints to punt on the ensuing drive, but mistakes brought the rally to an end.

Agnew muffed the punt, recovered in his own end zone, and fought his way back to the Lions one-yard line. After an incompletion, Stafford’s next pass was batted into the air and picked off by the Saints in the end zone.

Bye Week Ahead

Given a series of injuries to key players, that bye week could not come at a better time.

Glover Quin left the game in the third quarter after taking a knee to the head, several members of the offensive line left the game with various injuries, Golden Tate left the game with a shoulder injury, and Stafford continued to take punishment behind a line that simply could not protect their quarterback.

The week of rest will give the Lions (3-3) a chance to return to full strength, and prepare for a grueling schedule ahead. The Lions next take the field on October 29 for a Sunday night showdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers.