For about 50 of the 60 minutes of the Week 13 game in New Orleans, the host Saints were better than the visiting Lions. Fortunately for Detroit, the spectacular first 10 minutes to start the game was just enough to carry the Lions to the win.
The Lions raced out to a 21-0 lead before the first quarter was half over. A physically dominant opening drive put the Lions up 7-0, and then a quick takeaway by Brian Branch off a deflection from Jack Campbell put Detroit right back in business again. The shell-shocked Saints were behind by three scores before they had positive yardage on offense.
And then the roles reversed. New Orleans settled down and smartly attacked the holes in the Lions defense. Detroit’s offense fluctuated between too cute and too conservative, allowing the Saints to creep back into the game with each exchange of possession. The early Lions lead faded to 24-21 Detroit midway through the third quarter.
The Lions defense did come up with a huge takeaway off a botched snap, and it led to the game-winning play. Jameson Williams raced through the Saints defense on a well-executed, well-blocked end-around for a 19-yard touchdown that made the score 33-21.
New Orleans answered with a touchdown drive of its own, but the Lions defense got a late stop after the offense meekly went three-and-out. Jared Goff sealed the win with a clutch third-down throw to Josh Reynolds to cap the game at 33-28.
The win advances the Lions to 9-3 and in firm control of the NFC North. New Orleans fell out of a first-place tie in the NFC South with the loss and Atlanta’s win over the Jets. The Saints are 5-7. Detroit heads to Chicago for it’s final outdoor game of the 2023 season in Week 14.
