Saints can’t overcome slow first half in loss to Lions

Watching the defense give up easy pass completions hurt to the core.

Even Detroit’s writers were at a loss for words at how the Saints managed to come up empty on their last possession of the first half. The 148.6 passer rating was the Lions’ seventh highest single-game rating since 1950 and the highest by a quarterback on the road.

“Senio is one of the smartest guys on our team”, coach Sean Payton said.

“There’s no comparison to his shoulder, but there is a similarity in that unknown as to how it feels”, Payton said. It’s a complex system, and that complex system is not necessarily for everybody. “You see more people fail in it than advance and prosper within it”.

Burton, the rookie out of Rutgers University, has made his presence felt all season, helping the Lions in pass coverage and leading the way for a committee of running backs. “I’m sure there will be explanations and maybe apologies about that”. “I threw my hands up in the air on that one. We know we’re good”.

-The Lions had their second best rushing performance of the season with 150 yards, but it wasn’t all good as backs Ameer Abdullah and Joique Bell each fumbled in otherwise strong outings. Abdullah’s 15-yard run widened the lead even more in the third quarter. Abdullah and Bell would combine for 148 yards on 17 carries with two touchdowns on the ground. Overall, Detroit averages 3.9 yards per carry.

“They did a nice job”, Caldwell said. Don’t let the 33 sacks the Jaguars have this season fool you, the Jaguars have simply not been able to consistently pressure/hurry opposing quarterbacks at all in 2015.

Rex Ryan’s first year with the Bills was a flop: This has to be the most disappointing season for the Buffalo Bills since the four straight Super Bowl losses.

“I just finished building a home here”, he said.

First, Cooks made a spectacular one-handed catch of Brees’ 28-yard pass and was initially ruled to have scored as he was tackled near the goal line, but the call was changed after a video review, marking Cooks down at the 1. The Lions ran the ball and passed with little resistance from a defense that continues to look confused on near every play.

“For me as an offensive player, and really as a team, we deal with injuries like this all the time”. It makes you take a long look at the personnel and think that either the young players will eventually get it or maybe the scheme in place is just disgusting and confusing.

Stafford was 22-of-25 passing for 254 yards and three touchdowns as the Lions (5-9) raced to a 28-3 lead before holding off a late surge by the Saints (5-9).