Saints Nation: Saints Pull Away in Second Half for 45-28 Playoff Win Over Detroit Lions

The Lions gave the Saints a much better shot than their matchup last month, but in the end there was too much Saints’ offense and too much Drew Brees for Detroit to handle. The end score was 45-28, but what that final number won’t show is that the Saints were down 14-10 at halftime. Amongst all the scoring and yardage was a handful of crucial defensive plays that were precious to the outcome. The Saints will breathe a deep sigh of relief as they definitely got a tough battle from the Lions, and now they go on the road next week to face the San Francisco 49ers. For now we’ll enjoy this game and focus on the big game in the Superdome on Monday night (LSU vs. Alabama for the National Championship) before thinking about that trip to the West Coast. Below are my thoughts, bullet style, on the game.

• The Saints’ defense was not good at all in this game. They doubled and even tripled Calvin Johnson at times and it was useless. They could do almost nothing to stop him. He finished with 12 catches for 211 yards and 2 touchdowns and honestly it felt like more. Malcolm Jenkins’ help over the top was atrocious.
• As bad as the Saints’ defense was, credit Jabari Greer for 3 huge plays. A massive breakup on a pass to Megatron on 3rd down with the Saints down 7-0 after a turnover, and 2 second half interceptions. He only had 1 INT all regular season long. Big time plays on the biggest stage.
• There were a combined 86 passing attempts in this game and only 2 sacks. That is pathetic. Both sacks were by the Lions, by the way.
• Drew Brees and his receivers played a little off at times, especially in the first half. By the 2nd half, though, all things were firing on all cylinders.
• Sean Payton decided to go for it on a number of crucial 4th down plays. It paid off as the Saints converted each one.
• Marques Colston’s stat line was good, but make no mistake, he took an absolute beating out there and his dropped touchdown and fumble weren’t exactly shining moments.
• Pierre Thomas may have been on a pitch count this season, but the Saints didn’t hold him back in this one. He had 14 touches and he just never went down. His ability to break the most sure of tackles was astonishing. His agility and strength is unreal. He looked like Barry Sanders out there.
• Meachem dropped the easiest deep ball he’ll ever see in his life. No matter, he still had 4 catches for 111 yards.
• Brees has some low/wide throws where Sproles, Colston, Graham and Meachem each made ridiculous catches look easy. As good as Brees is, which is pretty much the best, you have to give credit to the playmakers around him too.
• The Lions did a good job on Jimmy Graham, clearly they weren’t going to let him beat them.
• The Lions ran the ball 10 times for 32 yards. At least they ignore what they’re not good at. 
• Tracy Porter was absolutely horrible.
• I never had much of an opinion on Matt Stafford before this game but after it I don’t like his personality. I feel like he’s got a bit of that immature Philip Rivers “bitch” in him. Not a fan. Stafford also came a bit unglued in tight moments, perhaps suggesting the moment got the best of him. He played very well overall, though. This was just one of those games where any mistake could kill you.
• The offensive line largely played INCREDIBLY WELL. Their ability to pickup blitzes is just flawless. The schemes the staff designs are on point and the execution is just too good.
• I don’t understand how the referee can blow a ball dead and call Drew Brees’ fumble a fumble. Was it a fumble? Absolutely. What I didn’t like was the blown whistle followed by a ruling on the field that there was a fumble. They blew that one. A complete contradiction. You have to stick to your call one way or another. You can’t blow a play dead and change your mind.
• Is there even any suspense about the players of the game? Pierre Thomas on offense. Jabari Greer on defense. No question.
• The Saints’ ability to rush the passer, even with blitzers, sucks.

Huge win for the Saints as they survive to see another week in the NFL playoffs. On to San Francisco!