After a roaring start, Detroit played to scare itself. But the hare finally defeated the tortoise, and New Orleans lost Derek Carr to injury.
New Orleans Saints (5-6) – Detroit Lions (8-3): 28-33
The Lions played to scare each other. After a great start which saw them take a three touchdown lead in 7 minutes, the Michigan team came up against a determined New Orleans team who played their luck until the end. But the delay was too great for the Louisianans to close the gap.
On the Detroit side, if Jared Goff gave a very correct but without dazzling performance, we note the XXL performance of Sam LaPorta, who performed a benchmark match for a rookie tight end. In the block, at reception, he was regularly the solution and the man of confidence for the White attack.
For New Orleans, Chris Olave, Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill will have carried out the offensive effort. But with the delay accumulated at the start of the meeting, the gap was too wide to cross. There remains the anxiety of Derek Carr's exit due to injury. If the quarterback were to miss playing time, the hopes of a potential qualification for the playoffs would be severely damaged.
Turbo start for Detroit
In possession of the leather to open the game, Detroit immediately sends a message to New Orleans. Relentlessly hitting the race, the offensive squad immediately reached the goal thanks to its solid duo made up of David Montgomery (RB, 56 yards, 1 TD) and Jahmyr Gibbs (RB, 60 yards). And for its part the defense intercepts Derek Carr (QB, 17/22, 226 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) from the first snap, which allows Jared Goff (QB, 16/25, 213 yards, 2 TD) to connect with Sam LaPorta (TE, 140 yards, 1 TD) to worsen the score. Less than five minutes into the game, and the Saints already have their heads underwater. And drowning awaits when Goff touches Amon-Ra Saint Brown (WR, 49 yards, 1 TD) full center, who goes towards the third touchdown of the first quarter. The only flashes from Louisiana came through the legs of Taysom Hill (slash, 74 yards, 1 TD) but not enough to reverse the trend, however.
The Lions try to regain their footing in the second half. Behind the versatility of Alvin Kamara (RB, 51 yards, 2 TDs rushing, 58 yards receiving), Carr reframes his game, connects with AT Perry (WR, 30 yards) and Chris Olave (WR, 119 yards) , before offering the touchdown to Jimmy Graham (TE, 6 yards, 1 TD). There is improvement, but is it enough to make up for an already significant gap? Especially since at this stage the defenses tighten up, and Detroit snatches a field goal before returning to the locker room with a still comfortable lead, 7 to 24.
The return of Jameis Winston
New Orleans returns to the field with the best intentions. In attack, the squad relies on its playmakers Hill, Olave, and Kamara, moves up the field, and the running back reduces the score at the end of the series. On the other side of the ball, the defense takes the measure of the opponent and forces quick exits, which offers new opportunities. After a nice drive, Hill breaks away from contact to cross the line, and the Saints come back to score while putting pressure on the Lions. Detroit then decides to react by using the recipes that worked in the first half: ground, and a LaPorta clutch. Despite everything, these are efforts which only bring 3 points, and the Saints remain threatening.
The Michigan franchise puts a big boost at the start of the last period. Carr was hit by one of his linemen on the snap and lost the ball, covered by the white defense. And in the process, Jameson Williams (WR, 30 yards, 1 TD) escapes on a reverse run to put the Lions back in the right direction. With two scores in advance, they seem to be temporarily safe. Because Carr is injured on a big contact, and must give way to Jameis Winston (QB, 2/5, 41 yards). However, the entry of the replacement quarterback is crowned with success: a deflected pass lands in the hands of Olave who runs to put the Saints a few centimeters from the goal. Kamara goes for his double, and New Orleans hangs on. But Winston plunges back into his old demons. He misses four passes in a row to Olave and Kamara and fails on the last chance drive. Detroit just has to run out the clock, victory is achieved. The Lions come out of a match that could have escaped them, and continue their race towards a deserved qualification in the playoffs.
Jameson Williams takes the reverse and flies in! @bigsgjamo
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