Detroit Lions beat Saints in New Orleans

Lions quarterback MATTHEW STAFFORD (22 of 25 for 254 yards, 3 touchdown passes and no picks) was a model of efficiency tonight, as he found ways to aggravate the Saints’ 30th ranked pass defense with short, intermediate, and deep throws mostly down the seam or middle areas of the field.

Detroit led 21-3 at halftime and then scored on the first series of the second half on running back Ameer Abdullah’s 15-yard run around left end to cap a six-play, 78-yard drive.

They fell to 5-9 with Monday’s loss and will miss the postseason for the second straight year and the third time in their last four campaigns.

On fourth-and-goal, before the play was run, Detroit attempted to call timeout even though the Lions didn’t have any remaining. “I don’t know exactly what we have going on here, but we will see after the MRI (exam Tuesday).”…

NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Drew Brees thought he had led the Saints to a momentum-shifting touchdown three times late in the first half, only to wind up with nothing. Matthew Stafford was on point with contributions coming from all over on offense while the defense held the potent New Orleans Saints offense at bay. When they do that, it gives us time to throw the ball downfield, allowing me to go through the progressions. Abdullah made the big play on the drive, converting a third-and-1 with a 21-yard run on a quick pitch around right end to the New Orleans 24.

“Tough scenario there at the end of the first half where you feel like you have a touchdown”, Brees said. Stafford led another touchdown drive, their fifth of the game, capped off by a one-yard touchdown run by Joique Bell to extend the lead to 35-20.

Matthew Stafford and Co. scored early and often, and when it was all said and done, it was enough to escape New Orleans with a 35-27 win on Monday Night Football.

RISING YOUTH: Saints second-year receiver Brandin Cooks made a career-high 10 catches for a career-best 124 yards receiving, including a 27-yard touchdown.

The Saints asserted that Kelemete reported on the play before he was penalized and should not have had to report again. Saints receiver Willie Snead had a career-high 10 catches for 76 yards.

The Saints did pull it together to make a few stops and let Brees get back into the game, but they turned back into a sieve late in the fourth quarter, allowing Stafford to retake a two-possession lead. Brees drove the ball back into the red zone at the two-minute warning and hit Benjamin Watson to keep things close, but the Lions recovered the onside kick and bled enough clock to seal the game.

Brees connected on a 27-yard touchdown pass to Brandin Cooks and an 11-yard touchdown throw to Marques Colston with a 22-yard Kai Forbath field goal sandwiched in between to lift New Orleans within 28-20 with 10:06 remaining.

NOTES: Johnson, nursing an ankle injury, had one catch for 19 yards, his second straight game with just one reception…. Tate was his main target with six receptions and two touchdowns, but he only totaled 45 yards. It certainly wasn’t one of Ellerbe’s best games in a Saints uniform, as the Detroit running backs piled up yards through the air and on the ground.