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Detroit Comes Away With Week 1 Victory By The Skin Of Their Teeth[/size]
Box Score
- 7 - 7 - 7 - 7 -
28
- 0 - 17 - 3 - 9 -
29
Detroit would head down south to New Orleans to face WarMachine's Saints to kickoff the inaugular Golden Turducken season in a NFC conference week 1 game against krul's Detroit Lions.
The Saints would receive the ball to start off the game. Trent Edwards would also make his first appearence with the Saints in an off-season trade that would send Drew Brees packing. Julian Peterson would greet Edwards on the second play with a vicious sack that would injure Trent, bringing in a familiar face to Lions fans as Joey Harrington would come in the game. Trent Edwards would be back soon though as he was just suffering from back spasms.
The Lions would receive the ball on their own 29 yard line as Matthew Stafford would make his career debut with, completing his first NFL pass to newly aquired vet, "Starvin" Marvin Harrison for 18 yards. Very next play, a 12 yard WR Screen to Calvin Johnson for another 1st down. Unfortunately for Stafford and his offense, backup HB Maurice Morris would fumble on the 18 yard line on his first rushing attempt as the Saints would recover.
Detroit's defense would continue to step up with another big sack on Edwards, but this time they would convert on a long 3rd and 16 for the first down. Following play, a big 14 yard rush by Pierre Thomas bringing the Saints to midfield. 2 plays later New Orleans would face another 3rd and long, 3rd and 13 to be exact. And yet again, the Saints would get a big play to TE Jeremy Shockey for another first down as Coach krul was livid on the sidelines. 3rd and 1 from the 23 as Pierre Thomas would take a run to the outside with one man to beat as he was tackled into the endzone as the refs signaled for the touchdown. 7-0 Saints.
Stafford and crew would step on the field once again with just seconds left in the 1st quarter. On 2 consecutive pass plays Stafford would feel the pressure getting hit as he threw the ball. On 3rd and 10 he would finally throw strike to Dennis Northcutt for a HUGE gain, but as he was running down the sidelines he would take a big hit as he fumbled right on the sidelines as the Saints would recover another fumble! Trent Edwards would throw a pick a few plays later as Anthony Henry would take the ball all the way back to the Saints own 11 yard line! On 3rd and 6, Stafford would snap the ball from the shotgun gunning it immediately to slot WR Bryant Johnson in the slant for the touchdown to tie the game up. 7-7.
Trent Edwards & Pierre Thomas would respond right back with a nice drive of their own, getting all the way to the Lions 17 yard line. Yet again though, on a 3rd and 8, Ernie Sims would jump up and snatch a pass to give the Lions the ball back on their own 20. 1st and 10, Stafford would launch a 60 yard bomb to Calvin Johnson who would just be a step slow as New Orleans picked it right back at their own 20! Detroit's defense would be giving up alot of big plays today as New Orleans was quickly on their own 22 yard line. Very unusual for krul's defense. Couple plays later, a touchdown pass from Trent Edwards to Darrell Jackson to give the Saints the lead with a little over a minute remaining in the half. 14-7 Saints.
That lead wouldn't last long though as Phillip Buchanon would take back a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown to tie the game right back up. Trying a squib kick, Jason Hanson's kick would have a bad bounce going out of bounds for the penalty that would give the Saints the ball on their own 40 yard line with a minute remaining. Not to worry though Detroit fans, as Ernie Sims would come up with his 2nd pick of the game. 1st play by Matthew Stafford would be a quick screen to Calvin Johnson who would turn up field getting to the Saints 40 yard line before being tackled. 2nd & 4 with 18 seconds and 1 timeout remaining on New Orleans 33 yard line, Stafford would throw a quick strike to rookie tightend Brandon Pettigrew for 13 more yards, Detroit would use it's final timeout. With 7 seconds remaining, Jason Hanson wouldd boot through a 37 yard field goal before halftime to give the Lions the lead. 17-14 Detroit.
Detroit would receive the ball at the half as they hoped to increase their lead. Sources say that Lions head coach krul had a long and thorough talk all throughout halftime to his football team as he reportedly wasn't very happy with his teams first half performance. Although they wouldn't score a touchdown, Detroit's offense would move into range as Jason Hanson would drill another field goal, this one 45 yards away to make the score 20-14 Detroit.
The Lions defense would have no answer to New Orleans rushing attack the next drive as they would be able to run left, right, up the middle, anywhere. Until they would get into Detroit's goal line, to where the Lions defense would step up until a 3rd and long goal (11 yards) as Edwards would somehow fit a pass over the middle as Foote would deck Jackson, who would still hold onto the ball for a touchdown to give the Saints the 1 point lead heading into the 4th quarter. 21-20 Saints.
Matthew Stafford would make a huge mistake on the next drive as he would throw a pick to the rookie Malcolm Jenkins for an INT TD to give the Saints an 8 point lead now. 28-20 New Orleans.
Following drive Stafford would come right back passing 3 straight times to bring his team down to the 5 yard line in less than 45 seconds! Then 2 runs later Kevin Smith would run into the endzone 5 yards for a touchdown. They would fail the 2 point conversion however, 28-26 Saints with 5 minutes remaining.
Detroit's defense has been shaky all day, but they really need to come up with a stop on this drive if they're looking to have any shot in this game. 1st and 10, Reggie Bush would be stopped behind the line for a loss. 2nd and 13, the Saintd wouldn't be able to get the snap off fast enough for a crucial delay of game penalty. 2nd and 18 now. Daniel Bullocks would read the play all the way, jumping in front of a pass to pick it off, giving Detroit the ball on the Saints 30 yard line!
New Orleans defense would come up big forcing a quick 3 and out, however, Hanson would boot through his 3rd field goal of the game, this time a 38 yarder that would give the Lions a 1 point lead with a little over 3 minutes in the game. 29-28 Detroit.
Starting from their 31 yard line, Trent Edwards would throw another interception to Anthony Henry, his 2nd of the game! Detroit would milk the clock some more, kicking another field goal, this time from 50 yards....but wait, there's a holding penalty! Now Detroit would have to punt now!
Starting from their 18 yard line, Trent edwards would have to shake off his previous interceptions and be the hero to bring his team back for the win. With only 2 timeouts remaining and under a minute and a half left New Orleans would get to their own 29 for a first down, clock still ticking. 2 plays later, they get to their 44 yard line with 43 seconds left, 1 timeout remaining. 3rd and 10 from the 44, 31 seconds left. Edwards would friew a throw for a first down. On Detroit's 46 yard line, with no timeouts remaining and the time at 23 seconds. A deep throw would almost result in a pick, but incompletion instead. 2nd and 10, 17 seconds now. A deep throw to Marques Colston...completion! The Saints would be in field goal range, but the clock was ticking down fast as Edwards couldn't get the snap off quick enough as time expired! Detroit would barely come away with the victory! 29-28 Lions!
Good Game WarMachine.
Game Stats
Detroit Lions
Total Offense: 275
Rushing Yards: 55
Passing Yards: 220
First Downs: 10
Turnovers: 4
Possession Time: 12:26
New Orleans Saints
Total Offense: 352
Rushing Yards: 118
Passing Yards: 234
First Downs: 14
Turnovers: 5
Possession Time: 15:34
Individual Stats
Detroit Lions
Matthew Stafford - 65.8 QB Rating, 12/23, 232 Yds, 1 TD, 1 INT, 2 ATT, 14 Yds
Kevin Smith - 10 ATT, 33 Yds, 3.3 AVG, 1 TD
Maurice Morris - 1 ATT, 2 Yds, 1 FUM, 2 REC, 74 Yds, 56 YAC
Calvin Johnson - 2 REC, 39 Yds, 45 YAC
Bryant Johnson - 4 REC, 53 Yds, 13.2 AVG, 1 TD, 11 YAC
Ernie Sims - 6 TAK, 4 AST, 3 TFL, 1 Sack, 2 INT
Julian Peterson - 5 TAK, 3 AST, 4 TFL, 1 Sack
Anthony Henry - 4 TAK, 2 INT, 1 DEF
Daniel Bullocks - 2 TAK, 2 AST, 1 INT
Phillip Buchanon - 1 TAK, 1 DEF, 5 KR, 202 Yds, 40.4 AVG, 1 TD, 97 Long
Jason Hanson - 3/3 FG, 2/2 XP, 46 Long
New Orleans Saints
Trent Edwards - 68.8 QB Rating, 17/29, 240 Yds, 2 TD, 5 INT
Pierre Thomas - 15 ATT, 66 Yds, 4.4 AVG, 1 TD, 3 REC, 14 Yds, 4.6 AVG, 11 YAC
Reggie Bush - 8 ATT, 45 Yds, 5.6 AVG, 2 REC, 13 Yds, 1 YAC, 5 KR, 173 Yds, 34.6 AVG, 1 PR, 8 Yds
Darrell Jackson - 4 REC, 103 Yds, 25.7 AVG, 1 TD, 51 YAC
Marques Colston - 3 REC, 33 Yds, 11.0 AVG, 1 TD, 1 YAC
Tracy Porter - 5 TAK, 1 FF
Kris Jenkins - 3 TAK, 1 TFL, 1 Sack, 1 FF
Donte Whitner - 3 TAK, 1 AST, 1 INT, 1 FR
Sedrick Ellis - 2 TAK, 1 AST, 1 TFL, 1 FR, 1 DEF
Bobby McCray - 1 TAK, 1 AST, 1 TFL, 1 Sack
Malcolm Jenkins - 1 INT, 1 TD, 1 DEF
John Carney - 4/4 XP