Live Updates From Lions-Saints Week 13 Game

The Saints are in a spot where they honestly have to win on Sunday, but that's going to be a very tall task hosting a stronger Lions team.

Author:
John Hendrix
Updated:
Dec 3, 2023 4:11 PM EST
Original:
Dec 3, 2023

In this story:

New Orleans Saints

NEW ORLEANS -- It's very cliché to say the Saints are in a must-win situation today when they take on the Lions, but that's the reality. After giving up the NFC South lead to Atlanta last week and the Falcons playing the Jets on Sunday, New Orleans has to simply keep pace here and hope they can get back to .500.

Dan Campbell's squad is certainly going to play inspired as everything, so Dennis Allen will have to pull some rabbits out of the hat to combat it. We'll see what team shows up in Week 13, however. Stay updated with all things related to the game from the Superdome with our weekly game thread, which will give you notes, thoughts, scoring and observations from all four quarters.

Pregame Notes

Cam Jordan was a game-time decision coming in, and with him being active, I'm curious to see what his exact role will be. He could be used on first and second down only, or he could also be rolled in as a third down rusher.
Chris Olave was torching the Falcons defense before leaving the game with a concussion last week. He's got to be your safest and smartest play today, and he should get a lot of targets against the Lions secondary.
Even with Jimmy Graham in the lineup today, the usage is really going to be in question. He has two targets all season and 1 catches for 8 yards that went for a touchdown against the Packers. In the past two games he actually played in, it was less than 20 snaps.
Without Marcus Maye or Pete Werner in the lineup today, it'll be interesting to see how that assignment gets handled. The Saints run defense has had their fair share of opportunity too, so that'll be another area to play close attention to.
There's a good bit of Lions fans here before Saints fans pile in. It wouldn't surprise me to see a much lesser attendance today.
Cam Jordan was with the first-team defensive line during walkthroughs. Nephi Sewell was in Pete Werner's spot and Jordan Howden was in Marcus Maye's safety position.
Max Unger is today's Saints Legend of the Game. He's slimmed down considerably since his playing days.
Saints offense was introduced today, and Derek Carr drew some mixed reactions from the crowd.
Lions fans are plentiful today. There's a sea of blue I'm looking at across from the press box.

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) runs the ball against Detroit Lions

Scoring

Lions, 11:15 - David Montgomery 2-yard run. (7-80, 3:45)
Lions, 10:24 - Sam LaPorta 13-yard reception from Jared Goff. (3-17, 0:40)
Lions, 8:15 - Amon-Ra St. Brown 25-yard reception from Jared Goff. (3-54, 1:19)

Notes

Nice special teams tackle by Zack Baun on the opening kickoff. Saints won the toss and deferred.
Botched snap and false start to start the game for the Lions. That's fortunate considering how much blue is in the seats.
Good first and second down plays for the Saints, but they gave up a 9-yard run on 3rd-and-7. That's incredible.
Paulson Adebo and Carl Granderson got penalties on the same play, but Granderson's roughing the passer penalty cost them 15.
The Lions had 59 yards rushing on the first possession, including a 36-yard run by Jahmyr Gibbs. David Montgomery capped off the drive, and it's going to be a long day for the Saints run defense if they can't figure it out.
First offensive play of the game for the Saints saw Derek Carr's first pass was tipped and fell into the arms of Brian Branch after trying Juwan Johnson. Johnson has to make that catch. A.T. Perry was wide open.
Saints defense is lost. There's nothing that is going to save them at this point in this game.
Saints first real offensive play was a 1-yard loss with Jamaal Williams. They went three-and-out after a fairly uninspiring series. A.T. Perry was the choice on 3rd-and-11, who had double coverage on him.
Defense had plenty of trouble against T.J. Hockenson, and it feels like the Lions are using that to their advantage with Sam LaPorta. He had a big catch of 27 on the third scoring drive for the Lions.
Why is Zack Baun on Amon-Ra St. Brown? This game is going to get really ugly really fast.
Taysom Hill started the third offensive series with a run, and fans booed Derek Carr when he came back in. That's where we're at, folks. He got sacked on third down for the team's third three-and-out.
This has to be one of the worst starts I've seen from the Saints in probably 8 or 9 years. The writing has to be on the wall in New Orleans.
Saints defense finally settled in following the punt, getting off the field with a sack via Zack Baun. That series is the one the defense needs to put on display.
Trevor Penning isn't even the top jumbo option for the Saints anymore. That job is Landon Young's. That's something.
Another Taysom Hill at QB play that gets Saints fans cheering before the snap. He rattled off a nice 21-yard run. Derek Carr is becoming Public Enemy No. 1 in the Superdome and is getting a chorus of boos coming back on the field. Alvin Kamara and Lynn Bowden were calling for the crowd to quiet down.
Carl Granderson didn't exactly plan on it, but had a nice pass breakup with Goff trying to hit St. Brown on something quick out to the right.

Second Quarter - Lions 24, Saints 7

Scoring

Saints, 9:08 - Jimmy Graham 6-yard reception from Derek Carr. (13-64, 6:39)
Lions, 0:08 - Riley Patterson 26-yard field goal. (12-62, 5:16)

Notes

Getting Alvin Kamara involved works, so we'll see if the Saints can stick with it. He does so many good things, and if they want to get back in the game, it's going to be necessary for him to produce.
There's not many plays for a 3rd-and-16, but Derek Carr did a nice job navigating the pocket and avoiding pressure to connect with A.T. Perry for 30 yards.
Another good 3rd Down play with Carr connecting to Chris Olave for 24 yards to set them up inside the 10-yard-line.
Amazing that the red zone threat you signed in the offseason cashes in a touchdown for you. Carr to Jimmy Graham for 6 yards to help get New Orleans back in the game. That was a good pass by Carr too.
Andrus Peat left earlier due to a hand injury, but he is probable to return.
Saints defense did their part again forcing a second straight three-and-out. New Orleans really needed to put something on the board here, but instead ran a three-and-out.
There was a stoppage here for several minutes due to an official on the Lions sideline getting hit from Alvin Kamara running out of bounds. That leg is broke. The replay wasn't good.
Real nice job by Nephi Sewell to help set the edge on the direct snap 1-yard loss with David Montgomery.
Sam LaPorta is problem for New Orleans. He's up to 5 catches for 68 yards and a score. He just gets open and it's bringing back T.J. Hockenson flashbacks.
Two fairly big plays for the Lions out of the two-minute warning, with Goff hooking up with St. Brown for 24 yards on 3rd-and-7 that was followed up by a Kalif Raymond 9-yard run. Detroit is primed for points before the half.
Nice pressure by Bryan Bresee on 3rd-and-7 to help force an incompletion. Jared Goff had some people open in the end zone.

Third Quarter - Lions 27, Saints 21

Scoring

Saints, 10:04 - Alvin Kamara 2-yard run. (10-75, 4:56)
Saints, 4:34 - Taysom Hill 1-yard run. (7-62, 3:37)
Lions, 0:00 - Riley Patterson 32-yard field goal. (7-65, 4:34)

Notes

Getting Kamara going on the ground helps open things up. He got a key first down to start the drive.
Like the call dialing up a play action pass to Chris Olave, but that has to be a bit better throw by Taysom Hill.
That play design with Kamara over the middle has been severely missed and lacking this season. When they work, they work.
Carr had some good patience and found Taysom Hill over the middle for 18 yards. Saints are on the move this drive, which needs to see some kind of points.
Great adjustment by Chris Olave to get the Derek Carr pass inside the 5. It was 3rd-and-12.
Alvin Kamara capped off the drive with a nice run. Great blocking on the left side as well. He tied Mark Ingram for the most career Saints rushing touchdowns at 52.
Really nice defensive stand by the Saints following the touchdown drive. They didn't allow a gain on first down with the David Montgomery run and then got a false start and incomplete pass to set up 3rd-and-15.
Two really good strikes to start the drive following the Lions punt with Carr hitting Olave for 28 and then Foster Moreau for 19 to get the Saints inside the red zone.
Khalen Saunders came in for the jumbo package as part of three beefy blockers. It helped spring Taysom Hill to get to the 1-yard-line.
Alvin Kamara appeared to have taken it in the following play for his franchise record 53rd rushing touchdown, but further review said his knee was down. Taysom Hill capped it off the following play.
Busted coverage on the Sam LaPorta play. There was no one around him and he got 48 yards.
Big 3rd Down stop for the Saints. The Lions tried to get them to jump on 4th-and-4, but New Orleans wasn't having any of it and forced the field goal attempt.

Fourth Quarter - Lions 33, Saints 28

Scoring

Lions, 14:07 - Jameson Williams 19-yard run. 2-point attempt fails. (2-26, 0:49)
Saints, 7:30 - Alvin Kamara 1-yard run. (12-75, 6:37)

Notes

Didn't note this earlier, but with Rashid Shaheed out, Taysom Hill is handling kickoff returns. That could stick for a few games.
Just as soon as the Saints get the ball, they give it away. Carr took the snap and it hit James Hurst as he was dropping back to give Detroit back the ball with prime field position. Unreal how this team shoots themselves in the foot.
Two plays later, the Saints get fooled on a double reverse. There was no one remotely close to getting to Jameson Williams.
Totally unrelated note, but with so many watching this game today, Ben Johnson will end up being a head coach somewhere in 2024.
Good time to pull out the screen play to Kamara, picked up 13 and put the Saints across midfield.
Saints go from 2nd-and-9 for 3rd-and-17 after Carr takes a sack. Looks like they wanted a deep shot there, but the trigger was never pulled. Looked like some options were open.
Lions got to Carr on 3rd Down and Bruce Irvin ended up getting a roughing the passer call. Carr was hurt on the play and stayed on the field for a few minutes. The cart originally came out for him, but he sat up and was helped to the sideline and he's in the medical tent.
Horrible time to dial up a reverse style play with Lynn Bowden. You went from 2nd-and-3 to 3rd-and-13. Somehow, Jameis Winston got the ball to Chris Olave off the tip drill for 30.
Two plays later, Kamara officially set the rushing touchdown record.
Carr ended up going back to the locker room after being looked at in the medical tent.
Really nice play by Nephi Sewell to start the defensive series, being in prime position for a stop on 1st Down. Saints defense caught a break on 3rd-and-10 with Goff nearly connecting on a pass to David Montgomery. He might have been of to the races.
Officially, Carr is doubtful to return with three injuries: Concussion protocol/shoulder/back. He might not play next week.
Kamara for 11. Kamara for 16. Do you see what works?
Winston throwing a little hot fastball to Olave. I know that is how it goes sometimes, but the timing will have to come.
Those look like misfires to Kamara and Olave, but in the same breath the skill players need to locate that ball a little better.
Really nice pass breakup from Paulson Adebo on 2nd-and-7. He's been relatively quiet today, but that was a big play.
Sam LaPorta cashes in at the best time possible for Detroit, picking up 10 on 3rd-and-7. That probably does it for the Saints.
You needed one play to get a stop, and it just doesn't happen. Too many questions for the Saints still and they lose again.