Who dat? Saints, Vikings different from first meeting

STATS, LLC

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – In most cases, the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings would take a strong look at their Week 1 matchup as they prepare for Sunday's NFC playoff game.

In this case, what happened in that Sept. 11 opener is indicative of the teams meeting in Minnesota for the second time this year.

Both teams underwent significant changes since the Vikings' 29-19 victory.

Minnesota quarterback Sam Bradford completed 27-of-32 passes for 346 yards and three touchdowns in the first meeting, earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Bradford played only a single half the rest of the season as Case Keenum replaced the injured Bradford and put himself in MVP consideration.

New Orleans jettisoned former Vikings running back Adrian Peterson after a miserable four-game run and thrived with Mark Ingram and rookie Alvin Kamara, becoming one of the league's most dangerous running back duos. The Saints' defense also started to find its way.

"They're a different team than they were Week 1, but so are we," said Minnesota tight end Kyle Rudolph, who scored a touchdown in the first game. "Everyone in the NFL is trying to find their identity early on. They're different from a personnel standpoint and they're also different from a team, like us, who has found their identity."

The teams found their identity but had plenty of personnel changes along the way. The Vikings' defense is healthy, but Keenum has taken hold of the starting quarterback spot and rookie running back Dalvin Cook, who ran for 127 yards and a touchdown in the first meeting, has been out since Week 4 because of a torn ACL.

"There are some similarities in regards to scheme, but I think when you go through a course of an NFL season and you look at the attrition that takes place, there are eight or nine of our starters that are playing in that game that aren't playing in this game, and I'm sure the same exists for Minnesota," New Orleans coach Sean Payton told reporters this week, according to the team's website. "And you begin to take shape as the season progresses to who you become and I think both teams have done that."

In the Saints' case, they altered their offensive identity to rely on Ingram and Kamara. New Orleans ranked fifth in the league in rushing this season as Ingram ran for a career-high 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns. Kamara led the league with 6.1 yards per carry as the Saints had an NFC-best 4.7 yards per carry as a team.

Peterson had six carries for 18 yards in the first meeting in Minnesota. With the carries being split three ways, Ingram had six carries and Kamara touched the ball 11 times on offense.

"They got a little bit of everything," Vikings defensive end Brian Robison said. "Ingram's more of a downhill runner. Kamara is definitely a guy that can bounce to the outside. He's got speed to hit the edge and they're both really good in the screen game."

The Vikings were second in the league in run defense, allowing 83.6 yards per game. They've held two of their past three opponents to fewer than 46 yards.

Selling out to stop the run isn't a solid strategy either. In last week's win against Carolina, the Saints ran 22 times for 41 yards as the Panthers dared New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees to beat them.

Brees had 376 passing yards and two touchdowns, and receivers Michael Thomas and Ted Ginn each had more than 100 yards receiving against the Panthers.

"We've been telling y'all all year, man, don't sleep on Drew," Ingram told the New Orleans Times Picayune. "And if you're going to stack the box and try and stop the run and take us out the game, he's going to hurt you. We've been telling you he's the best quarterback in the league and he's still Drew Brees. He proved that (Sunday)."

Perhaps the biggest change for the Saints has been the development of the defense. After allowing 470 total yards to Minnesota in Week 1, New Orleans gave up 555 to New England the following week. Slowly, communication improved on the back end combined with the play of rookie Marcus Lattimore and Ken Crawley at cornerback.

The Saints were third in the NFL and first in the NFC with 20 interceptions in the regular season. Lattimore led the team with five.

"He's a good player," Vikings Pro Bowl receiver Adam Thielen said of Lattimore. "He's physical. He can run with anybody. He's playing with a lot of confidence right now. He's got great ball skills. He's pretty much got everything you need to be a really good corner in this league."

New Orleans also pressures the passer. Cameron Jordan tied Minnesota's Everson Griffen for fourth in the league with 13 sacks. As a team, the Saints' 42 sacks were tied for seventh in the NFL.

Like Brees, Keenum didn't make mistakes once replacing Bradford. He threw seven interceptions, one fewer than Brees, and the Vikings allowed the seventh-fewest sacks in the league behind a patchwork offensive line.

"He is playing well," Payton told the team's website of Keenum. "You can see him getting the ball to a lot of different guys. These guys, I think, have done a great job on offense. I think they are playing a game really that suits both sides of the ball."

Minnesota should head into Sunday healthy, including the return of rookie center Pat Elflein from a shoulder injury.

New Orleans is battered. Left guard Andrus Peat and defensive tackle Tony McDaniel were placed on injured reserve this week. Receiver Brandon Coleman also missed Wednesday's practice with a neck injury. Tight end Michael Hoomanawanui (back), left tackle Terron Armstead (thigh), defensive end Trey Hendrickson (ankle), defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (ankle) cornerback P.J. Williams (ankle), Jordan (knee) and defensive tackle David Onyemata (thumb) were limited in the week's first practice.

Saints try for trifecta vs. Panthers

Stats, LLC

NEW ORLEANS – The commonly accepted myth about the difficulty of beating a team three times in one season will be put to its latest test when the NFC South champion New Orleans Saints (11-5) host their division rivals, the Carolina Panthers (11-5), in a wild-card playoff game Sunday at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

The Saints turned around an 0-2 season by beating the Panthers 34-13 in Charlotte in Week 3, igniting an eight-game winning streak. They then beat them in the Superdome 31-21 on Dec. 3.

Since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970, teams that swept the regular-season series also won the playoff game 13 of 20 times, a 65 percent edge.

The Saints are not banking their hopes on statistical probabilities but on a balanced offense that does not rely on 45 throws a game by Drew Brees and on a revitalized defense that so far has withstood a withering number of injuries to starters.

Brees, who will turn 39 on Jan. 15, said he does feel an internal clock ticking on his career but treats every game with respect.

"I prepare like every game could be my last or (like) it's a playoff game or I've got something to prove and I've got an edge," Brees said. "It's not like, 'Oh, the playoffs are here, it's time to ramp it up or things are a little more important.' It's always important for me."

There were some common threads in the Saints' two regular-season victories over Carolina. The Panthers are ranked No. 7 in the NFL on defense, allowing 317.2 yards per game, and just 88.1 yards rushing, third best in the league. But Carolina yielded their most yards rushing this season to the Saints -- 149 yards in Week 3 and 148 in Week 13.

That's a credit to rookie sensation Alvin Kamara and veteran running back Mark Ingram as well as to the Saints' offensive line. Brees is the biggest beneficiary of a powerful running attack that is averaging 4.7 yards per carry, best in the NFL, and 129.4 yards per game, fifth in the league.

Brees threw 137 fewer passes this year (536) but connected on 386 for an NFL-record 72.0 completion percentage. His 4,334 passing yards are nearly 800 yards fewer than his 2016 totals but just about equal to his 4,388 passing yards in 2009, the Saints' Super Bowl season.

"Sure is nice," Brees said, smiling. "Does it change the way I prepare? No. Does it change my mindset going into a game? No. It's just that when you add up the number of throws ... if you take away five, seven, 10 attempts a game and those are going to the run game, that means you're doing something right in the run game, and it probably means you're playing good defense. It doesn't force me to take as many chances."

The Saints also have done an excellent job putting a vise around Carolina quarterback Cam Newton, who happens to be the Panthers' leading rusher. Newton has passed for just 350 yards in the two losses. He threw three interceptions in the first meeting, including one in the end zone. He is a dangerous runner, but his only gash run against the Saints this year was a 32-yard scramble in garbage time.

The Panthers could have won the NFC South outright last week but were hamstrung by an inept offensive performance in a 22-10 loss to the Falcons. Newton completed just 14 of 34 passes for 180 yards and was picked off three times.

Newton said the Panthers have erased that game from their memory banks and are poised to make a playoff statement.

"This is when real football starts," said Newton, who led the Panthers to the Super Bowl in 2015 with a 15-1 regular-season record. "(We're) explaining it to the young guys and the guys who haven't witnessed playoff football. This is where you are made or broke. I look forward to these types of moments because it brings out the best in individuals because there is so much pressure. We all know what they say about pressure -- it does one of two things -- and we're hoping to shine like diamonds."

Each team will have a significant player available who did not play in either of the first two games: Carolina tight end Greg Olsen, who has been battling a foot injury all season, and Saints rookie cornerback Marshon Lattimore.

Saints coach Sean Payton said if Olsen is healthy, it could pose a threat to his defense because Olsen is "one of the better tight ends in the game. Not having him is significant and having him is huge."

Carolina coach Ron Rivera knows that Lattimore, who made the Pro Bowl, can help the Saints shut down any deep threat the Panthers have. Lattimore normally shadows the opponent's best receiver, so he may draw Devin Funchess, who has 63 catches for 840 yards.

"When I watch (Lattimore), he's a terrific football player," Rivera said.

The Panthers hope to have guard Trai Turner back after missing three games with concussion symptoms. Saints starting left tackle Terron Armstead (thigh) and wide receiver Michael Thomas (hamstring) were limited in practice on Wednesday but should be able to go.

Defense propels Saints past Falcons, into playoffs

By BRETT MARTEL
AP Sports Writer

NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Whether it was the weirdest interception of Marshon Lattimore's football life or a ball-dislodging hit by Tyeler Davison near the goal line, the Saints' defense poetically tipped the scales in a long-awaited playoff-clinching victory.

Shoddy defense was widely seen as the reason the Saints missed the playoffs the last three seasons. Those days are over.

Lattimore corralled a momentum turning interception off his backside, New Orleans made two defensive stands from inside its 2-yard line, and the Saints clinched their first postseason berth since 2013 with a 23-13 victory over the rival Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

"We want the team to win because of the defense, not in spite of the defense, and I feel like we've all kind of hung our hat on that," Davison said. "We saw it in our mind and we turned it into real life, man, and it feels amazing. It feels just as you thought it would when you pictured it 100 times."

Ted Ginn caught a 54-yard pass for a touchdown, which came a few plays after Lattimore's interception and shortly before halftime. Mark Ingram used a sharp cutback to break loose for a 26-yard touchdown for New Orleans ( 11-4), which kept its tenuous hold on first place in the NFC South heading into the final week of the season.

While the loss eliminated the Falcons (9-6) from the NFC South race, Atlanta can clinch a wild-card berth by beating Carolina in the final regular-season game.

The Falcons entered the game with a second straight division crown within reach, but they needed to beat the Saints. They squandered chances spectacularly, much to the delight of a deafening Superdome crowd - and certainly to the chagrin of scattered fans wearing Falcons red. The Falcons were taunted on their way to the game by a plane towing a banner that read "28-3 Merry Xmas," a reference to Atlanta's Super Bowl collapse.

Atlanta trailed 6-0 when Lattimore's interception of Matt Ryan set the Saints up to double their lead.

Early in the third quarter, Atlanta linebacker Deion Jones intercepted a pass that deflected off Ginn's hands and returned it 41 yards to the New Orleans 2. But Devonta Freeman fumbled on a hit by Davison two plays later and linebacker Manti Teo recovered.

"That was my fault," Freeman said. "No matter what play is called, you've got to get in the end zone and score, and I've got to protect the ball. I've got to do better at that. I'm going to do whatever it takes to fix it."

Early in the fourth quarter, Freeman was stopped on fourth-and-goal from the 1, preserving a 20-3 Saints lead. One play earlier, Julio Jones caught a third-down pass with his feet in the end zone, but he was unable to pull the ball across the goal line after reaching back to make the catch. Atlanta challenged the spot, but the call on the field was upheld.

"That's kind of the tale of the day," Ryan said. "We can't do that in these type of games and we missed too many opportunities."

FORTUITOUS PICK

Lattimore, drafted 11th overall last spring out of Ohio State, said he'd never had a more unusual interception at any level of football. Lattimore had been beaten on the play and launched into a desperate dive as Ryan's high pass deflected off the hands of receiver Marvin Hall and fell on Lattimore as he lay face down.

He curled his leg up on the ball to try to prevent it from touching the ground, reached back with his right hand to swipe it from players from both teams who grasped at it.

"I felt the ball on the back of my leg. I knew it didn't touch the ground because everybody was trying to fight for it," Lattimore said . "I just went back and reached for it and got it."

FINAL NUMBERS

Drew Brees completed 21 of 28 passes for 239 yards. Ginn finished with 76 yards receiving and Michael Thomas - who'd been listed as questionable with a hamstring injury - caught four passes for 66 yards. Brees became the third quarterback in NFL history to eclipse 70,000 career yards passing, joining Peyton Manning and Brett Favre.

Ryan was 22 of 36 for 288 yards. He was sacked five times, twice by Cameron Jordan.

Jones had seven catches for 149 yards, but the Falcons' running game struggled.

Freeman was held to 36 yards on 11 carries.

INJURY REPORT

Falcons: Tight end Levine Toilolo was sidelined by a knee injury in the second half.

Saints: Left tackle Terron Armstead left the game in the second half with a thigh injury.

UP NEXT

Falcons: Finish regular season at home against the Panthers.

Saints: Try to wrap up the division title at Tampa Bay on New Year's Eve.

Brees tosses 2 TDs as Saints stop Jets to stay in first place

NEW ORLEANS -- The New Orleans Saints entered Sunday's game against the undermanned New York Jets as 16-point favorites -- the largest margin in their 51-year history -- so their 31-19 victory at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome wasn't as much of a surprise as it was a 60-minute grind.

The Saints at times looked disinterested and disoriented -- committing three turnovers and eight penalties for 92 yards and converting just 3 of 10 third downs -- but they did just enough to get to 10-4 on the season to set them up squarely for the final two weeks of the season in what coach Sean Payton is calling a "round robin tournament" for the NFC South title.

The victory kept the Saints in first place in the NFC South. Even though they are tied with Carolina (10-4), the Saints swept the Panthers in two games this season and own the head-to-head tiebreaker.

The Saints will close out the season by hosting Atlanta (8-5) next Sunday and finish in Tampa Bay on Dec. 31.

"We're in a round-robin tournament here, and everyone's playing everyone, whether it's Carolina, Atlanta or Tampa Bay," Payton said. "We've just got to focus on the game we're playing. I know that sounds a little cliche, but, honestly, it's the truth. ... We looked a little sloppy, and we'll get that corrected. We have to."

Quarterback Drew Brees threw two touchdown passes, including a 4-yard slant to Michael Thomas with 7:39 left, and Mark Ingram II broke through an 11-man front for the clinching touchdown with 1:33 left to ice the victory.

The Jets (5-9) kept the game close with their defensive pressure and ability to stuff the run into the fourth quarter, but they could not generate enough offense behind quarterback Bryce Petty, a third-year player making his fifth NFL start for injured starter Josh McCown.

Brees completed 26 of 36 passes for 285 yards, and nine of the completions, for 93 yards, went to Thomas, a second-year receiver who has caught at least 90 passes in his first two NFL seasons.

After wide receiver Brandon Coleman fumbled the ball away on consecutive drives in the second half, killing Saints' scoring opportunities, Brees targeted Thomas four times for 50 yards on the decisive, 64-yard touchdown drive that put the Saints up 24-13.

Thomas made a critical, 17-yard catch on a third-down crossing route to keep that drive alive and then climbed the ladder on the next play to outjump Jets rookie safety Jamal Adams for a 20-yard completion on a back-shoulder throw from Brees, setting up the Saints at the Jets' 24-yard line.

Thomas got the touchdown by running a slant from the New York 4 and easily beating cornerback Morris Claiborne to the inside.

"He was superb," Brees said of Thomas. "He had a big third-down conversion and then he went up and made a great catch. It was just a tough, physical play on his part. Really, on that entire drive, you could just see it in his eyes. He wanted the ball and he wanted to make the plays."

Petty finished 19 of 39 for 179 yards, two interceptions and one touchdown -- a 2-yard pass to running back Elijah McGuire with 1:51 left, which drew the Jets within 24-19. The Jets went for two hoping to make it a field goal game, but defensive end Cam Jordan batted away Petty's pass. Jordan, who is having a monster season, deflected five passes during the game.

"It was like Dikembe Mutombo or something, playing D-end," Brees said of Jordan. "It was pretty awesome. Listen, those are game-changers. No bigger one than the two-point conversion."

The Saints recovered the onside kick and Ingram ran 50 yards for a late score with 1:33 left to ice the game. The Jets had held the Saints' running game in check until that point, limiting Ingram and rookie Alvin Kamara to 3.0 yards a carry.

The Jets, who dropped to 1-6 on the road, chipped away at a 17-10 second-half deficit by driving 58 yards in nine plays for a 26-yard field goal by Chandler Catanzaro, making it 17-13 midway through the third quarter.

The Saints wasted two excellent chances to take command of the game after that, but two drives deep in Jets territory ended with fumbles by Coleman. The first came on a hit by Jets safety Jamal Adams at the New York 17, and the second on a strip by cornerback Buster Skrine at the Jets 23.

The Jets, however, failed to convert either takeaway into scores. Still, coach Todd Bowles was proud of his team's effort after falling behind 17-7 after the Saints scored on their first three possessions.

"They fought, the entire team fought," Bowles said. "They made more plays than we did. They're going to keep fighting, obviously. This is going to turn (around), I believe. This is a good core group. We've just got to eliminate some of the mistakes."

Bowles said he wasn't disappointed with Petty's performance. Petty will start next week against the Chargers.

"It's his first game (of the season)," Bowles said. "Number one, he plays with confidence. He's going to see some things (defensively). It's a faster pace down here, a tough environment. He handled himself well. Obviously, we don't want the turnovers, that's No. 1. He'll be more accurate as we go."

NOTES: The Saints lost TE Michael Hoomanawanui and RG Larry Warford to concussions in the first half. ... Jets DE Leonard Williams also suffered a concussion. ... The Saints gambled on fourth-and-2 from the Jets 7 in the first half, and QB Drew Brees made it pay off with a 6-yard bubble screen to Michael Thomas. RB Mark Ingram II scored on the next play. ... Brees had success throwing to his backs, completing 11 passes for 122 yards to Ingram and Alvin Kamara.

Jones makes game-saving INT, Falcons beats Saints 20-17

By PAUL NEWBERRY
Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) — With the season potentially hanging in the balance, Deion Jones leaped high in the air, about as high as he could go.

He reached even higher, snatching the ball away before it could reach the intended target.

Holding on for dear life with both arms, the Atlanta Falcons linebacker landed flat on his back in the end zone, the ball secured tightly against his chest.

(AP Photo/Danny Karnik)

No way he was letting go.

Jones made a leaping interception in the end zone with 1:25 remaining and the Falcons held on for a crucial 20-17 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night, setting up a three-way race for the NFC South title.

"It was all about the ball," Jones said. "I just opened up my eyes, and all my brothers were right there, standing over me. It was great."

Matt Ryan shook off three interceptions to guide the Falcons to Matt Bryant's 52-yard field goal with 3:49 to go. The Saints (9-4) were in position to pull out the victory, driving to the Atlanta 11 after Drew Brees converted on fourth-and-1 with a quarterback sneak, as coach Sean Payton passed on attempting a tying field goal.

On second down, Brees attempted to hit tight end Josh Hill in the back of the end zone.

Jones had other ideas.

"When it takes a while to land, you know you're up there," Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. "He definitely went up and reached for it."

The Falcons (8-5) climbed within one game of the division-leading Saints with three weeks to go, as New Orleans squandered a chance to build a three-game lead on the defending division champs. Atlanta is back in the race and gets another crack at New Orleans when the teams meet again in the next-to-last week of the regular season at the Superdome.

The Carolina Panthers (8-4) also are right in the thick of things.

Ryan had three interceptions in a stretch of nine plays at the end of the first half and the beginning of the second. But he tied the game with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Mohamed Sanu with 9:55 remaining, finishing 15 of 27 for 221 yards.

Brees was 26 of 35 for 271 yards and two TDs. Yet he was kicking himself for trying to force one at the end.

On the opening possession, New Orleans lost half of its dynamic 1-2 punch in the backfield when rookie Alvin Kamara took a shot to the helmet and staggered off with a concussion.

Mark Ingram was left to carry the load as the "Boom and Zoom" duo became simply "Boom." He was held to 49 yards on 12 carries as the Saints largely abandoned one of the league's top rushing attacks. Michael Thomas had 10 catches for 117 yards and a TD .

With Atlanta trying to drive into position for a tiebreaking field goal in the waning seconds of the opening half, Ryan threw a terrible pass that was picked off by rookie Marshon Lattimore, who was back in the lineup after missing two games with an ankle injury.

Lattimore returned it 33 yards to the Atlanta 29 with 4 seconds remaining, setting up Wil Lutz to boot a 47-yard field goal as time expired. But the Falcons caught a break when the Saints failed to have seven blocked on the line of scrimmage, and the penalty resulted in a mandatory 10-second runoff that ended the half with the score tied at 10.

MATTY PICK

After getting picked off on Atlanta's last play of the first half, Ryan went to the air again on the first play of the second half.

Same result, though it wasn't Ryan's fault.

The ball went through the arms of tight end Austin Hooper, rolled up on his back and was intercepted by Chris Banjo, setting up the 1-yard scoring pass to Thomas.

On Atlanta's next possession, Ryan guided the Falcons to the New Orleans 9. On third down, he attempted to force a pass into the end zone for Julio Jones only to be picked off again by Marcus Williams.

It was the second time this season and ninth time in his career that Ryan has thrown three interceptions in a game.

INJURY REPORT

It was a brutal night for the Saints, which is sure to raise more questions after the health risks of playing on Thursday nights.

In addition to Kamara's injury, New Orleans lost another offensive guard and three starters on defense.

Guard Senio Kelemete, filling in for injured starter Andrus Peat (groin), left with a concussion. That forced the Saints to go with Josh LeRibeus, the backup center.

On defense, the Saints lost linebacker A.J. Klein in the first half with a groin injury. Starting defensive end Trey Hendrickson left with an ankle injury and strong safety Kenny Vaccaro was sidelined with a groin injury.

"A lot of different guys go down," coach Sean Payton said. "That became challenging."

(AP Photo/John Bazemore)

UP NEXT

Saints: Host the New York Jets (5-7) on Dec. 17 in the first of two straight home games.

Falcons: After a short turnaround for the Thursday night game, Atlanta has an 11-day break before returning to action with a Monday night contest at Tampa Bay (4-8) on Dec. 18.

Jared Goff, stingy defense lead LA Rams past Saints, 26-20

By GREG BEACHAM
Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams methodically drove downfield on their opening possession, and Sammy Watkins caught a precise slant from Jared Goff for a touchdown.

Drew Brees then got the ball for New Orleans' first drive, and the Rams sacked him on back-to-back plays.

From that auspicious start to the recovery of the Saints' final onside kick, the Rams emerged from a dismal decade of losing football on Sunday with their most impressive win of the season.

And Goff's squad seems capable of accomplishing a whole lot more.

Goff passed for 354 yards and hit rookie Josh Reynolds for another touchdown , and the Rams snapped the Saints' eight-game winning streak with a 26-20 victory in a meeting of NFC division leaders.

The Rams (8-3) also ended a streak of their own: This franchise's 10-year run of losing regular seasons is finally over.

For the first time since 2006, the Rams will finish at least at .500 after doubling their win total from their relocation season in 2016.

"That's the best feeling ever, just being on a winning team," said Watkins, who had four catches for 82 yards. "It makes it easy to go out there every week and work hard."

The victory was an enormous statement about the Rams' ability to play with the NFC's best, but their fifth win in six games has put them in position for much bigger accomplishments.

After bouncing back soundly from a loss at Minnesota, this revitalized franchise is steaming toward its first playoff berth since 2004 and its first winning season since 2003.

"There were some games this year where we realized we could play with anybody," Goff said. "This was, for sure, one of them."

Alvin Kamara made a brilliant 74-yard touchdown run and a late TD reception for the Saints (8-3), who finally lost for the first time since Sept. 17.

Veteran coordinator Wade Phillips' defense turned in a gritty effort against the high-scoring Saints, holding Brees to 246 yards passing — just 96 in the first three quarters.

"We never found a good rhythm of run-pass," Brees said. "It just felt like everything was really tough sledding. The minute we'd get something going, there would be a penalty that would set us back, and then we'd be off the field."

One week after rallying from 15 points down late in the fourth quarter to beat Washington in overtime, the Saints fell behind on the opening drive and never caught up.

New Orleans struggled to stop Goff's passing game with its top two cornerbacks sidelined by injuries, and the Rams steadily moved the ball to win a meeting between two of the NFL's top three highest-scoring teams.

"You could point to a number of things, but really, in so many areas, I thought we were sloppy," New Orleans coach Sean Payton said.

"We hurt ourselves. ... We've got a big game coming up next week (against NFC South co-leader Carolina), and we'll get ready to play it, but we can't gloss over this, though. We've got to look at this closely."

The Rams made two lengthy drives ending in fourth-quarter field goals, and Watkins recovered the onside kick after the Saints finally trimmed Los Angeles' lead to one score on Kamara's TD catch with 1:45 to play.

DYNAMITE D

Aside from Kamara's remarkable capacity for big plays, the Rams largely limited the NFL's most prolific offense. Even with Brees getting rid of the ball quickly, Los Angeles held the Saints to 346 yards — 69 below their average, and just 189 in the first three quarters.

Defensive tackle Aaron Donald was his usual nightmare, getting his fifth sack in six games along with two tackles for loss.

"I thought our defense did a great job today making them earn tough yards," Rams coach Sean McVay said. "We've got some pretty good players on defense."

CARVING IT UP

Goff went 28 of 43, patiently picking at the Saints' defense in his fourth 300-yard game of the season despite the absence of top receiver Robert Woods. Rookie Cooper Kupp set career highs with eight catches for 116 yards, and Reynolds made his first career TD catch in the second quarter.

GREG THE LEG

NFL scoring leader Greg Zuerlein kicked four field goals for the Rams, giving him 127 points in 11 games this season. He also missed a 63-yard attempt into the wind at the halftime gun, but McVay didn't regret trying it: "More times than not, he's going to hit that kick."

INJURIES

Saints: Starting cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore (ankle) and Ken Crawley (abdomen) sat out as expected. ... LT Terron Armstead injured his hamstring during the third quarter.

Rams: Linebacker Connor Barwin was ruled out shortly after halftime with an arm injury. ... Woods (shoulder) missed his first game of the season.

UP NEXT

Saints: Return home to host the Panthers on Sunday in a showdown for first place in the division.

Rams: A trip to Arizona on Sunday to face the Cardinals, who got blown out by the Rams in London earlier this season.

Ingram, Collins, Lockett named NFC Players of Week 11

​Running back Mark Ingram of the New Orleans Saints, safety Landon Collins of the New York Giants and kick returner-wide receiver Tyler Lockett of the Seattle Seahawks are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played in Week 11 (November 16, November 19-20).

Ingram led the Saints in rushing in the team's 34-31 thrilling overtime victory over Washington with 11 carries for a season-high 134 yards with one touchdown. Ingram recorded the longest run of the day with a 36-yard touchdown run. Ingram also surpassed 5,000 career rushing yards becoming only the second Saint to do so. Ingram's two runs in overtime set up Wil Lutz's game-winning field goal.

Collins led the Giants with a career-high 14 tackles (10 solo) and intercepted his second pass of the season. He had nine tackles (seven solo) and the interception in the second half and overtime.

Lockett piled up 197 yards on five kick returns, which was not only a career high for him, but the fifth highest single-game total in franchise history behind Leon Washington (253), Maurice Morris (231), Washington again (222) and Charlie Rogers (198). That was also the highest kick return total in a game since the NFL moved the touchback on kickoffs from the 20 to the 25-yard line in order to discourage returns.

Saints extend win streak to 8, roar back, 34-31 in OT

By BRETT MARTEL
Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Saints extended their winning streak to eight games with an unlikely comeback, erasing a 15-point deficit inside the final six minutes or regulation and kicking a short field goal in overtime to defeat the Washington Redskins 34-31 on Sunday.

Mark Ingram capped a 131-yard rushing performance with gains of 20 and 31 yards on back-to-back carries in overtime to set up Wil Lutz's winning 28-yard kick.

Drew Brees passed for 385 yards and two touchdowns, going 11 of 11 for 164 yards and his only two touchdowns on New Orleans' final two possessions of regulation. His first TD went to tight end Josh Hill with 2:53 to go and the last to Alvin Kamara with 1:05 left.

The Saints (8-2) set up their final drive with by stopping Samaje Perine on third-and-1 at the two-minute warning when a first down would have allowed Washington (4-6) to run out the clock.

After Kamara had corralled a bobble while running between two converging defenders to score from 18 yards out, he took a pitch on a misdirection play to the left side and easily reached the end zone for a 2-point conversion as the Superdome crowd — at least those who hadn't left early — went wild.

Washington managed to get into winning field-goal range in the final minute of regulation, only to be pushed back by a fluky grounding penalty that appeared to result from Kirk Cousins' miscommunication with a receiver, followed by a sack as time expired.

The Redskins also received the ball first in overtime, but the Saints' hobbled defense, which gave up more yards than in any game during its winning streak, rallied to force a quick punt and Ingram did the rest.

Cousins passed for 322 yards and three touchdowns.

Aggressively looking down field against a hobbled Saints secondary, Cousins completed 22 of 32 passes with no interceptions. His touchdowns went for 40 yards to Ryan Grant, 16 to Chris Thompson and 7 to Jeremy Sprinkle. Grant's TD, which made it 24-13 in the third quarter, capped a drive extended by a successful fake punt on fourth-and-1 from the Redskins 15-yard line.

Perine carried 23 times for 117 yards, including his 1-yard TD.

New Orleans' defense entered the game without veteran safety Kenny Vaccaro and then lost top cornerback Marshon Lattimore at the end of Washington's first possession when he twisted his left ankle while diving to break up a pass in the end zone. The Saints also entered the game without leading tackler and starting middle linebacker A.J. Klein.

The Redskins gained 456 yards — their second most this season — against a Saints defense that had not allowed more 347 yards in any game during New Orleans' winning streak.

INJURIES

Redskins: Guard Shawn Lauvao left in the first half with what team officials described as a stinger and did not return. Reserve defensive end Terrell McClain left the game for good in the first half with an injured toe.

Saints: Lattimore tried to return for the first defensive series of the second half, but came off the field soon after and went to the locker room. Defensive end Alex Okafor needed help off the field, favoring his left leg, in the fourth quarter.

UP NEXT

Redskins: Host the New York Giants on Thanksgiving night.

Saints: Travel to Los Angeles to play the Rams.

Saints O-line paves way for ground game

METAIRIE, La. -- The New Orleans Saints' offensive line was healthier Sunday and it showed in the running game.

Right guard Larry Warford returned after a two-game absence due to an injured abdomen, and left tackle Terron Armstead returned after missing much of last week's game due to a chest injury.

The line paved the way for 298 rushing yards and a franchise-record six rushing touchdowns in a 47-10 rout of the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Mark Ingram II and rookie Alvin Kamara both had 100-yard rushing days and Ingram ran for a career-high three touchdowns.

"I think overall, the runners played well," Saints head coach Sean Payton said Monday. "There was some good yards after contact. I thought we had one of our better days on the perimeter blocking, with the receivers. The offensive linemen did a good job."

New Orleans' longest drive of the game went for 94 yards and was comprised exclusively of runs. The 10th rush was Drew Brees' 7-yard scramble to the end zone.

"It was one after the next, just first down, first down," fullback Zach Line said. "I've never seen a drive like that. Our offensive line, credit to them, were on point. Our tight ends, our running backs were trusting their eyes. Even if you go back and watch the film like I did last night, the receivers were getting to the second level and blocking their secondary.

"It takes a unit so it's collective when it comes to the running game. Passing game it doesn't take everybody, but the running game it's all 11 guys doing their job to have a successful drive like that. I mean it was the whole game, but if you just look at that one drive that was a big drive for the points."

--An ankle injury to starting linebacker A.J. Klein and the opportunity to rest starters because of the lopsided score led to linebackers Gerald Hodges and Michael Mauti seeing their most action on defense this season. Hodges played 11 snaps and Mauti, a special teams stalwart, played four.

--When the Saints faced a fourth-and-1 from the Bills 30 on their first possession, head coach Sean Payton chose to go for the first down rather than try a long field goal. Mark Ingram II broke loose for a 25-yard gain, setting up a touchdown and setting the tone for the rest of the game. New Orleans finished 2-for-2 on fourth-down conversions and is 6-for-8 for the season.

NOTES: RB Daniel Lasco will miss the rest of the season because of a neck injury suffered covering a kickoff Sunday. "He's got a bulging disk and it's a procedure they'll do that will put him out for the year, but won't be career-threatening," head coach Sean Payton said. "He flew home with us last night on the plane and the prognosis is good and we're fortunate that it wasn't more severe and I know his teammates and everyone, coaching staff, all of us felt relieved that he was able to come back on the plane with us and can have this surgery ASAP, probably within the week." ... WR Michael Thomas had his first 100-yard receiving game of the season, finishing with 117 yards on nine receptions. He has consistently been Drew Brees' primary target, catching at least three passes in every game and averaging more than six receptions per game. But he had a season-high in catches Sunday in addition to surpassing his previous high in yards by 28. ... RB Trey Edmunds made the roster as an undrafted rookie primarily because of his ability to play special teams. He did not touch the ball on offense before Sunday, but got an opportunity in the fourth quarter. Edmunds ran 41 yards for a touchdown and finished with nine carries for 48 yards.

REPORT CARD VS. BILLS

--PASSING OFFENSE: A - The Saints didn't have to pass much because the running game was so dominant, but it was effective when it was utilized. QB Drew Brees completed 18-of-25 passes for 184 yards. Even though WR Michael Thomas had half of the catches, Brees still was able to connect with five other targets. The only blemish was a lost fumble by TE Josh Hill.

--RUSHING OFFENSE: A-plus - The Saints rushed for 298 yards, the first time they have exceeded 250 rushing yards since 1986. New Orleans averaged 6.2 yards per carry as the offensive line dominated the Buffalo front, especially right up the middle.

--PASS DEFENSE: A - Bills QB Tyrod Taylor was just 9 of 18 for 56 yards before being replaced by rookie Nathan Peterman. Taylor was intercepted by defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, whose 27-yard return to the Buffalo 3 set up a touchdown. The Saints didn't have a sack, but they had an effective rush and the coverage was outstanding.

--RUSH DEFENSE: A - LeSean McCoy broke free for a 36-yard gain on the Bills' first possession, but otherwise had 13 yards on seven carries. Buffalo totaled just 69 rushing yards as it ran the ball just 15 times for a respectable 4.6 average. But New Orleans held the ball for more than 41 minutes and the Bills running game was never a factor.

--SPECIAL TEAMS: A-minus - P Thomas Morstead didn't participate except as the holder. Wil Lutz made both of his field goals, from 23 and 53 yards, but he was wide on an extra point a week after one of his extra points was blocked by Tampa Bay.

--COACHING: A-plus - The Saints dominated against an opponent that was 5-3 and 4-0 at home coming into the game. The cold weather was more conducive to an outdoor team from the North than an indoor team from the South, but New Orleans came in prepared to dominate on both lines of scrimmage. Head coach Sean Payton and his staff embraced the circumstances and had the team primed from the opening kickoff.

Kamara, Brees help Saints win 6th straight, 30-10 over Bucs

By BRETT MARTEL
Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Saints rookie cornerback Marshon Lattimore caused Tampa Bay's second-ranked passing game so much frustration that several Buccaneers lost their composure.

New Orleans rookie running back Alvin Kamara stirred the Superdome into a frenzy by turning a short catch into a serpentine, tackle-escaping touchdown.

These first-place Saints, winners of six straight, look nothing like the club that languished at .500 or below throughout the previous three seasons. A pair of 2017 draft choices are a big reason why.

Kamara had 152 yards total yards and two touchdowns, Lattimore helped hold Tampa Bay's standout receiving tandem of Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson to three catches for 38 yards, and the Saints routed the reeling Buccaneers 30-10 on Sunday.

Lattimore also was in the middle of a briefscuffle along the Tampa Bay sideline , and said later of the Buccaneers, "I could tell they were frustrated."

Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who completed 81.2 percent of his passes (22 of 27) for 263 yards and two touchdowns, had strong praise for Kamara.

"Alvin's doing a lot of good things. He's very versatile," Brees said. "He can be in the game in any moment."

The Buccaneers (2-6) were trying to stem a four-game skid, but instead were not just beaten, but beaten up. Quarterback Jameis Winston left with shoulder soreness after the first half. Starting defensive end William Gholston was carted off the field with a neck injury. And tensions boiled over when Winston, after he had left the game, appeared to instigate the scuffle along the sideline.

Bucs coach Dirk Koetter said he was "embarrassed," and hoped Bucs players were, too.

Winston said he didn't want leave the game and that his status for next week was unclear, but the quarterback also criticized his recent play.

"I know I'm not doing my job, so I have to do a better job," said Winston, who was 7 for 13 for 67 yards. "Everyone needs to do a better job."

Brees' touchdowns went for 33 yards to Kamara and 36 yards to Ted Ginn Jr. Kamara, who had six catches for 84 yards, also scored on a 6-yard run.

Kamara caught four passes on the drive that ended with his long touchdown on a screen pass .

"I'm just trying to bob and weave and get in the end zone," Kamara said. "I was smelling it."

New Orleans also got pressure in the backfield, finishing with four sacks. Cameron Jordan had 1 1-2 sacks.

Tight end Luke Stocker scored the lone touchdown for Tampa Bay on a pass from backup Ryan Fitzpatrick.

SUPERDOME SCUFFLE

The scuffle erupted in the third quarter and was ignited when Winston vigorously pressed his finger into the back of Lattimore's helmet during a dead-ball period between a failed third-down pass and a punt.

"I told him to go to his sideline," Winston said.

Lattimore turned and shoved Winston, after which Evans leveled Lattimore from behind.

"I'm going to protect my quarterback no matter what, but I shouldn't have done that. That was kind of malicious. I shouldn't have hit him in his back like that," said Evans, who also called his own behavior childish and unprofessional. "I should have just shoved him away trying to break it up."

Saints defensive back De'Vante Harris then came charging into the melee to defend Lattimore. As the scuffle was broken up, Saints coach Sean Payton marched halfway across the field, gesturing angrily at the Tampa Bay bench before officials chased him back to the Saints' sideline.

The score was 30-3 at the time. Evans was called for unnecessary roughness. Payton said he thought Evans should have been ejected, but Lattimore said he was glad Evans stayed in the game.

"I wanted to go at him after that," Lattimore said, comparing his coverage of Evans to "a fight after that every play."

"It's bigger than football at that point when you do something like that," Lattimore added.

BLOCK PARTY

Justin Hardee's touchdown came on the first of two blocks on consecutive snaps.

Hardee, an undrafted rookie, said there appeared to be a missed blocking assignment, which allowed him to come in clean up the middle for a smothering block on punter Bryan Anger. The ball then bounced high and behind Anger, allowing Hardee to run under it practically in stride and glide into the end zone for a 7-yard score.

The Bucs' Ryan Smith then blocked Wil Lutz' extra point, leaving New Orleans with a 9-0 lead.

INJURIES

Buccaneers: In addition to Winston's and Gholston's injuries, left tackle Donovan Smith went out with a knee injury.

Saints: Left tackle Terron Armstead took himself out of the game with a chest injury late in the first half, but said after the game that he was hurt on his first play and tried to play through it. In the third quarter, the Saints announced safety Kenny Vaccaro was out with a groin injury.

UP NEXT

Buccaneers: Host the New York Jets on Sunday.

Saints: Visit the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

Saints make plays to protect lead

METAIRIE, La. -- For the first time this season, a New Orleans Saints victory required protecting a one-score lead in the final minutes.

The Saints entered their game against Chicago on Sunday having won four consecutive games, all by nine points or more. But on Sunday in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, the Bears cut New Orleans' lead to five points with 3:58 remaining.

The Saints were up to the challenge, but not without some anxious moments.

Drew Brees completed a 52-yard pass to Ted Ginn Jr. to put them in scoring range, but Mark Ingram II lost a fumble for the second consecutive possession. The Saints' defense then stopped Chicago on four downs.

After Wil Lutz's 49-yard field goal increased the lead to eight, the Bears started their next possession at the New Orleans 43 following Tarik Cohen's 46-yard kickoff return and a horse-collar penalty on Lutz.

But two plays later, rookie cornerback Marshon Lattimore intercepted rookie Mitchell Trubisky's pass with 1:11 left, securing the 20-12 victory.

"We counted on the offense for years," Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro said. "It feels good that we had to go out there and hold them in a crucial situation."

NOTES, QUOTES

--The Saints' offense did poorly on third downs for the second time in three games, converting just 2 of 9. Two weeks earlier against Detroit, they converted 2 of 12. In between they converted 8 of 15 against Green Bay.

--The Saints scored a touchdown on their first possession for the first time this season, but needed an assist from the Bears' special teams to do it. Chicago was offside on Lutz's 32-yard field goal, giving New Orleans a first down. On the next play, Alvin Kamara ran 8 yards for a touchdown.

--For the second consecutive week, the Saints won despite having more turnovers than takeaways. They gave the ball away twice on running back Ingram's fumbles and took it away on Lattimore's interception.

A week earlier, Brees threw interceptions on the Saints' first two possessions and New Orleans didn't take it away until safety Kenny Vaccaro intercepted Brett Hundley's pass late in the fourth quarter. Prior to the game against Green Bay, New Orleans had lost its last 10 games in which it turned the ball over more than it took it away.

--The Saints had just three defensive ends active -- starters Cam Jordan and Alex Okafor as well as rookie Trey Hendrickson. Hau'oli Kikaha and rookie Al-Quadin Muhammad were both inactive. Despite the shortage of ends, the Saints used a five-man defensive front, utilizing tackles Sheldon Rankins, Tyeler Davison and David Onyemata at the same time.

NOTES: G Senio Kelemete started in place of injured RG Larry Warford and the offensive line didn't seem to have any drop-off. Kelemete had started at left guard earlier in the season when the Saints rearranged the line to adapt to the absence of injured RT Zach Strief. ... CB Delvin Breaux (leg) is eligible to play in the next game although head coach Sean Payton was non-committal Monday about Breaux's return. "I think it is just getting the physical, the cardio, all the football-playing elements up to speed," Payton said. "I do not think you just flip the switch and then, 'Bang.'"

REPORT CARD VS. BEARS

--PASSING OFFENSE: A-minus -- Drew Brees didn't throw an interception after throwing two in each of the last two games. He was very efficient, completing 23 of 28 passes for 299 yards. He didn't throw a touchdown pass.

--RUSHING OFFENSE: C -- The most glaring thing was Mark Ingram's two lost fumbles. He and Alvin Kamara each ran for a touchdown, but the Saints had just 101 yards and averaged 3.4 per carry.

--PASS DEFENSE: A -- For the second consecutive game, the Saints held an inexperienced quarterback to less than 50 percent completions. Mitchell Trubisky completed 14 of 32 passes for 164 yards. He did not throw a touchdown pass, was intercepted once and was sacked twice.

--RUSH DEFENSE: B-minus -- The Bears' rushing total (157 yards) was higher than the Saints would have liked, but 46 of the yards came on a Trubisky scramble against the blitz. Otherwise, Chicago averaged 3.7 yards.

--SPECIAL TEAMS: A -- Wil Lutz was 2 for 2 on field goals and Thomas Morstead continued his All-Pro-caliber season with another outstanding performance (46.3 net on four punts with two downed inside the 20). A 46-yard kickoff return that was compounded by a horse-collar penalty on Lutz was the lone blemish and was rendered harmless by Marshon Lattimore's subsequent interception.

--COACHING: A -- It's hard to find fault after a fifth consecutive win. The Saints leaned on the run game and a relatively conservative passing game against Chicago's big-play defense. The defense had a solid plan to contain the run game and the limited pass game with Trubisky at the helm.

Saints recover late to topple Packers 26-17

By GENARO C. ARMAS
Associated Press

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The way that the New Orleans Saints won on the road on Sunday might serve as a valuable lesson in their quest to return to the playoffs.

The defense gave up a long touchdown run on the first series to the Green Bay Packers. Drew Brees had two interceptions — and the Saints weren't even out of the first quarter yet at Lambeau Field.

But Brees bounced back to throw for a touchdown and run for another, Mark Ingram rushed for a score and the Saints recovered for a 26-17 win.

Green Bay lost its first game with Brett Hundley starting at quarterback for the injured Aaron Rodgers.

"Well, (we) find a lot of ways to win, pretty resilient," Brees said.

Will Lutz kicked two second-half field goals, including a 44-yarder to put New Orleans up for good 19-17 with 10:26 left in the game. Brees' 1-yard sneak gave the Saints a two-score lead with 4:55 left.

The sloppy Saints were fortunate to get their fourth straight victory. But after taking the first three games by at least 14 points, they'll savor a win earned following several early mistakes in addition to Brees' picks.

New Orleans' defense gave up a 46-yard touchdown run to rookie Aaron Jones on the opening drive. Lutz had a blocked extra point and New Orleans (4-2) was penalized seven times for 80 yards.

Still, the Saints pulled away late at overcast Lambeau Field, scoring on four second-half drives before running out the clock. It's a good sign for a club hoping to make its first playoff appearance since the 2013 season.

"I wouldn't call us a dominant team, but we're striving to be that type of team," Brees said. "I think what I like is that we're encountering a lot of different situations and things in games and finding different ways to win."

After holding the Packers (4-3) to a three-and-out inside the 20, New Orleans drove 55 yards in eight plays to seal the game with Brees' sneak over the goal line.

Brees finished 27 of 38 for 331 yards, while Ingram ran for 105 yards on 22 carries.

The Packers couldn't generate big plays late without Rodgers. He's out indefinitely with a broken right collarbone.

Instead, coach Mike McCarthy turned to a running game that initially threw off the Saints.

Jones had 131 yards on 17 carries. Hundley showed toughness in running for a 14-yard score to give Green Bay a 14-7 lead with 8:37 left in the second quarter.

But the Packers managed just a 46-yard field goal from Mason Crosby in the second half, which gave them a brief 17-16 lead.

The Saints took over from there, and the Packers couldn't keep up through the air.

"I'm particularly disgusted with the second half," McCarthy said. "As a head coach, when your team doesn't perform and drops off the way it did in the second half, I'm disappointed."

Hundley finished 12 of 25 for 87 yards. He was intercepted by safety Kenny Vaccaro on a deep ball down the middle of the field with 4:20 left, ending the Packers' comeback bid.

SLOW START

Besides Brees' two picks, the Saints' rough first quarter also included a punt fumbled by Ted Ginn Jr. at his 20. But New Orleans got a break and retained possession when the Packers' Josh Jones was whistled for fair catch interference.

MILESTONE

Brees added another milestone to his impressive 17-year career, becoming the fourth player in NFL history with at least 500 touchdown passes, including the playoffs. He joined Peyton Manning, Brett Favre and Tom Brady.

RECEIVERS

Saints: Ginn had 141 yards on seven catches, while fellow receiver Michael Thomas finished with 82 yards on seven receptions.

Packers: Their playmakers at receiver were shut down with Hundley running the offense. Tight end Martellus Bennett was the leading receiver with 17 yards on two catches. Jones had three catches for 7 yards.

"The name of the game is we have to execute," Hundley said. "I didn't play well enough, we didn't score enough points to win the game."

EMOTIONAL RETURN

Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr made an emotional return to Lambeau Field. The 83-year-old Starr joined other former Packers when the organization honored members of the 1967 championship team. That squad that won the "Ice Bowl" against the Dallas Cowboys before taking the title against the Oakland Raiders. Starr is recovering from two strokes and a heart attack suffered in 2014.

INJURY REPORT

Saints starting right guard Larry Warford did not return after halftime because of an abdominal strain.

UP NEXT

Saints: Host the Chicago Bears on Oct. 29.

Packers: Bye week before returning to host the Detroit Lions on Nov. 6.

Saints' big-play defense fuels wild 52-38 win over Lions

By BRETT MARTEL
Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Saints defensive lineman Cam Jordan saw the goal post right in front him and couldn't resist the urge to rise up for a basketball-style dunk of the football over the cross bar.

Jordan had just tipped quarterback Matthew Stafford's pass to himself in the Detroit end zone — a climactic moment in a game defined by bizarre bounces, unusual plays, extraordinary momentum swings and a historical first for New Orleans' defense. Only a forbidden, fineable touchdown celebration would do.

"I realized my regular sack dance wasn't going to cut it," said Jordan, who expects to be fined and said it will have been worth it. "Fourth quarter, game was sort of tight. We had to seal that. I had been preaching: 'This is our chance to respond.' I'm glad I was the one to do it."

Running backs Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara combined for 237 yards from scrimmage, the Saints' resurgent defense forced five turnovers and scored a franchise-record three times, and New Orleans took a 52-38 victory over the Lions on Sunday in a contest that wound up being nowhere near over after the Saints took a five-TD lead.

New Orleans (3-2), which has a winning record for the first time since its last playoff season in 2013, had to gut out a remarkable bid by Detroit (3-3) to pull off the greatest comeback in NFL history.

"It was a different one from sure," said Stafford, noting that he and Saints QB Drew Brees even brought up the strange nature of the game when they greeted each other on the field before heading to the locker room. "He came up and said, 'That was a weird one, huh?' And I said, 'Yeah, it was crazy.'"

Already renowned for leading Lions comebacks, Stafford only regretted three interceptions he described as fluky and his two fumbles.

"I'll probably be more frustrated with the fumbles than anything else," he said. "I've got to find a way to hold on to the ball."

The Lions scored four straight TDs, including one on a 74-yard punt return by Jamal Agnew and another on A'Shawn Robinson's close-range interception near the Saints goal line, in less than 15 minutes off the game clock to pull as close as 45-38 with 6:41 still left.

"We just don't give up," Lions coach Jim Caldwell said. "Our guys show a lot of resolve. I don't think they ever feel they are out of a game."

But after Agnew muffed a punt and barely got it out of the end zone, Jordan scored about the same way Robinson had.

Saints coach Sean Payton's voice was hoarse after a game in which Superdome crowd noise was fueled by the high-octane drama, and he forecast a long night of reviewing game video in an effort to see how dominant play for nearly three quarters nearly morphed into a collapse for the ages.

"We did a lot of dumb things, but fortunately our defense did a lot of good things," Payton said. "I'm trying to be happy today, but it's hard."

TURNOVER CENTRAL

The teams combined for eight turnovers.

The Saints' defense produced its first points on Detroit's first possession, when end Alex Okafor sacked and stripped Stafford in the end zone and safety Kenny Vaccaro recovered. In the third quarter, rookie cornerback Marshon Lattimore, New Orleans' top draft choice last spring, made his first interception and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown.

"I just love how we're coming together as a team; that was one thing we had to do," Lattimore said. "The first game, we were giving up stuff and just not communicating and right now we're doing a good job."

Vaccaro also intercepted a tipped fourth quarter pass and linebacker Craig Robertson forced and recovered Stafford's second fumble.

The Saints hadn't turned the ball over once this season before Brees was intercepted by Darius Slay, who ripped a potential catch from receiver Michael Thomas' hands. Ingram fumbled in the second half.

"Probably one of the crazier games I have been a part of," said Brees, now in his 17th season. "We have some momentum but we have to get better."

THE NUMBERS

Playing on a sore right ankle that visibly limited his mobility, Stafford was hit often, sacked five times and had about a dozen passes tipped or batted down. He finished 25 of 52 for 312 yards and touchdowns of 45 yards to Golden Tate, 22 yards each to Marvin Jones and Darren Fells.

Brees was 21 for 31 for 186 yards and touchdowns of 20 yards to Ted Ginn and 2 yards to tight end Michael Hoomanawanui.

Ingram scored two TDs on short runs and rushed for 114 yards on 25 carries in the first game since the Saints traded Adrian Peterson to Arizona.

INJURIES

Lions: Safety Glover Quin left the game to be evaluated for a head injury in the second half. Offensive tackle Greg Robinson limped off the field in the third quarter.

Saints: Linebacker Nate Stupar appeared to have a right leg injury during punt coverage in the fourth quarter.

UP NEXT

Lions: Enter their bye week having lost three of four.

Saints: Play next Sunday at Green Bay, which is dealing with an injury to star QB Aaron Rodgers.

___

For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

Saints' second half propels them to shutout win vs. Dolphins

By ZAC BOYER
Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — Alvin Kamara wasn't sold on it when the New Orleans Saints installed a shovel pass at practice during the week. On Sunday, he became a believer.

Kamara scored a touchdown on that very play, taking Drew Brees' left-handed toss 12 yards to the end zone, and the Saints used it to punctuate their 20-0 victory over the Miami Dolphins on a rainy afternoon at Wembley Stadium.

A rookie out of Tennessee, Kamara finished with a season-high 96 all-purpose yards, including 71 receiving, and had Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael to thank.

"That's one of those special plays where we're like, 'All right, we're practicing it, but are we going to run it?'" said Kamara, who scored with 3:57 remaining. "We dialed it up and ran it."

Brees threw for 268 yards and two touchdowns, with Michael Thomas catching the other, as New Orleans (2-2) picked up the first shutout in 19 games held in Britain's capital.

It was the first time the Saints didn't allow a point since Dec. 16, 2012, a 41-0 win against Tampa Bay. Miami (1-2) finished with 186 total yards — its fewest since its last shutout, a 19-0 loss at Buffalo on Dec. 22, 2013.

"The defense got a shutout," Brees said. "Offensively, we sustained drives. We did all the things you need to do for winning football."

It was expected to be a big homecoming for the Dolphins' Jay Ajayi, who was born in the city, but the running back finished with 46 yards on 12 carries.

Jay Cutler completed 20 of 28 passes for 164 yards with an interception for Miami, which has now scored only once in its last eight quarters — a touchdown on the final play of a loss at the New York Jets in Week 3.

"On offense, we need to have some pride in ourselves, some respect for ourselves," Ajayi said. "Put some points on the board. We're not doing that. We need to get back to what we know we can do."

The teams threatened to have the first scoreless opening half since Week 14 of the 2011 season until Saints kicker Will Lutz connected from 43 yards with no time remaining.

Lutz made two other field goals, a 43-yarder and a 45-yarder, and Thomas, who had eight catches for 89 yards, caught a 4-yard pass from Brees to push the score to 10-0 in the third quarter.

STREIF'S STRIFE: Saints right tackle Zach Streif, active despite missing time in practice during the week with a knee injury, left the game after sustaining a knee injury on the first play of the fourth quarter when a Dolphins defender fell on his legs. He did not return.

Also leaving the game injured were Saints TE Josh Hill (concussion) and LB Alex Anzalone (shoulder), and Dolphins LB Mike Hull (shoulder), none of whom returned.

The Dolphins were also without cornerback Byron Maxwell, who injured a hamstring in the team's walk-through on Saturday and was replaced by rookie Cordrea Tankersley, a third-round pick out of Clemson who was inactive for the Dolphins' first two games.

HOMETOWN HEARTBREAK: Ajayi, who was with the Dolphins for their last international trek in 2015 but did not play because of an injury, expected 30 to 40 family members to attend the game, including his three younger siblings, all of whom were born in the United States and had never before been to London.

"This was all that mattered for the trip, this game on Sunday," Ajayi said. "Regardless of anything else I did these last couple of days, this was the primary objective, and we didn't get that done."

FLAGS FLYING: The teams combined for 19 penalties, 11 by the Dolphins, with five called in a four-minute span at the end of the second quarter. Saints coach Sean Payton was not pleased. "Don't get me going here," he joked after the game. "I'm in a good mood."

CRAWLEY'S CATCH: With P.J. Williams taken out of the starting lineup as punishment for a violation of team rules, cornerback Ken Crawley made the most of his second consecutive start, intercepting Cutler on a fade intended for tight end Julius Thomas to end the game's opening drive. "I saw it," Crawley said, dismissively. "It's a tight end ... and I just played the fade."

UP NEXT

Saints: A Week 5 bye means they'll next be in action at home against the Detroit Lions on Oct. 15.

Dolphins: The home debut, at last, against the Tennessee Titans — Miami's latest opener since 1987.

___

For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

Bradford, Vikings cruise past Saints 29-19 in opener

By DAVE CAMPBELL
Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Sam Bradford set the NFL record for completion percentage for Minnesota last season, his accuracy aided by the volume of short passes under heavy pressure.

With protection from the rush, he showed Monday night he can throw the ball down the field with the best of them.

Bradford started his second year with Minnesota in style, passing for 346 yards and three touchdowns to help the Vikings beat New Orleans 29-19 and spoil Adrian Peterson's first game with the Saints.

"When I've got time to sit back there and kind of evaluate things, I've got all the confidence in the world that our guys outside are going to win," Bradford said.

Stefon Diggs had seven receptions for 93 yards, two for scores and all in the first half, and Adam Thielen racked up 157 yards on nine catches as Bradford carved up a Saints defense that looked again like one of the worst in the league despite a major renovation. Rookie Dalvin Cook rushed for 127 yards on 22 carries in the formal takeover from Peterson.

Peterson was limited to 18 yards on six carries, in a time share with Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara and an afterthought once the Saints fell behind. Drew Brees was quiet, too, with 291 yards on 27-for-37 passing padded by the late push to catch up.

"We didn't do anything different or try to out-trick them," Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr said. "You know, line up and play, do your job."

Coby Fleener caught the only touchdown toss, after the 2-minute warning. Will Lutz made four field goals, three under 25 yards.

"The bottom line," Brees said, "is you've got to score touchdowns."

Brees and Bradford are both in the final year of their contracts, with the same agent, Tom Condon, who is sure to cash in on both clients. Brees has by far the better resume, nine seasons further into his career, but Bradford stole the show on this prime-time stage.

Behind mostly clean pockets created by a remade offensive line, Bradford completed 27 of 32 passes without a turnover. With three rookies and three free agents in the starting lineup, the Saints tried hard to better a defense that has held Brees and company back since the Super Bowl title eight years ago. The first performance left a lot to be desired, with Diggs and Thielen consistently finding favorable matchups underneath and along the sideline.

"I just try to run a route, catch the pass, but Sam, you know, he's a slinger," Diggs said.

FLAGS FLY

The Saints had three unnecessary roughness calls in the first half. Two of the personal fouls extended a drive that ended with one of three field goals by Kai Forbath. The other 15-yarder was on safety Kenny Vaccaro for head-hunting Diggs during an acrobatic catch in the closing seconds of the first half. Diggs came right back with another highlight-reel grab to give the Vikings a 16-6 lead at the break after a 10-play, 95-yard drive.

Cameron Jordan and A.J. Klein each had their hands on a tipped pass in the end zone that fluttered off Cook's hands, missing a critical opportunity to thwart that drive and keep the deficit at four points.

DECENT DEBUT

Cook became the first Vikings rookie running back to start a season opener since Michael Bennett in 2001. Despite trouble hanging onto a couple of passes thrown his way, he helped salt away the game in the second half. Bradford and Cook were the primary beneficiaries of the work done by an offensive line with four new starters and plenty of old external skepticism after a lackluster 2016 performance.

"In the building, we felt great about those guys," Bradford said. "We've seen what we're capable of doing."

BACK AGAIN

Ten years and two days after Peterson made his NFL debut in purple with 103 yards rushing and a 60-yard touchdown reception on this same block of downtown Minneapolis, albeit in a different stadium, he returned in black, white and gold as a part-time player for the pass-first Saints.

The crowd was really fired up for the reunion with another former Vikings great. Former wide receiver Randy Moss, already on site as an analyst for ESPN, became the 22nd member of the team's Ring of Honor in a halftime ceremony punctuated by a passionate speech and shout-out to the fans.

TACKLE TROUBLE

With Terron Armstead still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, rookie Ryan Ramczyk started at left tackle for the Saints. Then right tackle Zach Strief injured his left leg in the second quarter, forcing Senio Kelemete into action. Vikings defensive ends Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter caused havoc.

UP NEXT

The Saints play Sunday against New England, their only home game in the season's first five weeks.

The Vikings visit Pittsburgh on Sunday, their only road game over the first four weeks of the schedule.

___

For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

Dynamic debut: Garrett struts stuff as Browns beat Saints

By TOM WITHERS
Associated Press

CLEVELAND (AP) — After a brief, brutal and breathtaking NFL exhibition debut, Myles Garrett was asked what he didn't do well.

"Nothing," he said.

Finally, the beleaguered Browns may have something.

Garrett showed flashes of dominance in his first preseason game, and Cleveland rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer threw a late touchdown pass and the Browns rallied to beat New Orleans 20-14 on Thursday night while Saints stars Drew Brees and Adrian Peterson watched.

The No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft,Garrett had a tackle for loss and blazed off the edge to pressure Saints backup QB Garrett Grayson in the first half.

"I played my game," Garrett said. "I got to where I wanted to go, hustled hard and made the plays I'm supposed to make."

The Browns haven't solved their endless QB dilemma, but Garrett appears to be a long-term answer at defensive end.

"I thought he held his own," Browns coach Hue Jackson said. "I thought when he had an opportunity to rush, he rushed well. Thought there was a little pressure here and there, he made one play in the backfield."

Garrett vowed to "send a message" in his first preseason game as a pro, and he did just that in limited time. On one play, Garrett timed the snap perfectly and pushed past third-string tackle Khalif Barnes to hit Grayson.

"I could have got a sack, but it is what it is," Garrett said.

Kizer was the most impressive of Cleveland's three quarterbacks and completed a 45-yard TD pass to Jordan Payton with 1:52 left as the Browns rallied for their first preseason win in two seasons under Jackson.

Kizer finished 11 of 18 for 184 yards and had two long throws — the 45-yarder to Payton and 52-yarder to Richard Mullaney.

With his performance, Kizer may have closed the gap on Brock Osweiler and Cody Kessler. The trio have been competing throughout training camp, but Jackson isn't ready to make one of them his starter.

"It's way too early," he said.

The Saints lost their 10th straight preseason game.

As expected, Brees didn't play and neither did Peterson, New Orleans' new addition who signed with the club as a free agent in April after 10 seasons in Minnesota.

Coach Sean Payton was disappointed with his team's overall effort.

"I'm sure we're going to have a lot of things to correct in that film," said Payton, who not address any injuries.

"There are a handful of things penalty-wise, kind of sloppy. There are some plays at the end that were foolish, some substitutions that were troubling."

And while New Orleans can count on the 38-year-old Brees to lead them, the Browns' QB search is still stalled.

Osweiler started and struggled during his four series, Cody Kessler didn't do much to help his cause and Kizer shook off a slow start, played the entire second half and showed off his strong arm.

Kizer said the game-winning play reminded him of his first win at Notre Dame.

"You let it go and you know you just put it right in the right spot, so that was a really cool experience there," he said.

SITTING OUT

Saints: Brees warmed up but spent the evening on the sideline wearing a baseball cap. He's expected to play at some point in the preseason as is Peterson, who stayed close to his QB during the first half. Rookie CB Marshon Lattimore, a first-round pick from Ohio State, injured his knee during practice this week and didn't play.

Browns: Pro Bowler Joe Thomas got the night off. He was replaced at left tackle by Cam Erving, who is battling Shon Coleman for the starting job on the right side. Erving, who failed miserably at center, was called for a false start and hold on consecutive plays to end Cleveland's first offensive possession.

NICE SNAG

Saints WR Tommylee Lewis made a diving catch for 32 yards and had 10 for 128 yards. Lewis is battling for a backup job.

ROOKIE WATCH:

Saints: With Mark Ingram also out, RB Alvin Kamara started. The third-round pick from Tennessee ripped off a 22-yard run and had 35 yards on four carries.

Browns: S Jabrill Peppers served as the initial kick returner. He ran back one for 27 yards, returned a punt for 13 and made a fair catch he immediately regretted. RB Matthew Dayes scored the game's first TD on a 1-yard plunge.

CHEERIO

Saints DE Alex Jenkins, an International Pathway Initiative player from England, had a sack in his debut. He's ineligible to be on the active roster, but will spend the entire season on the practice squad. "I dreamed of this moment for years," he said.

INJURIES:

Saints: QB Ryan Nassib was checked for a head injury in the fourth quarter, but came back for the final drive.

Browns: Starting S Ibraheim Campbell sustained a concussion on the second play from scrimmage.

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL