Despite missing several starters because of injuries, COVID-19 concerns in the middle of the night and falling behind 14-0 early, the Saints still came away with a victory in Detroit beating the Lions 35-29. Quarterback Drew Brees threw an early interception but played well the rest of the way to snap a two-game losing streak.
“I think for us to remain very calm and poised, offensively put together five consecutive drives for touchdowns for 35 points and the defense to play as well as they did, we go into that fourth quarter it’s now 35-14,” said Brees. “We knew we had to close this team out, they are a finish strong type team, they have a good quarterback on their side, who is used to putting together those type of drives, so we knew we had to close them out.”
Brees threw for 246 yards and two touchdowns. Emmanual Sanders had six catches for 93 yards.
There was a concern the game would be postponed because fullback Michael Burton tested positive for COVID-19, but it turned out to be a false positive. However, several players were up into early Sunday morning waiting on another round test results. Sanders says they would not use that false-positive test as an excuse.
“What could we do that about it, the game was set to be played at 1:00 and we had to go out and handle business regardless of what the conditions were,” said Sanders. “That has to be the mindset no matter what.”
Coach Sean Payton says no one was going to feel sorry for them.
“There are far more other things that are important that we are suffering from than to hear about we were up to one in the morning, that’s just the way it is this season, so we have to understand that and then just be ready to still yet ready play our best game, I thought that was important today and I think our guys did that,” said Payton.
New Orleans next game is a week from tonight against the Los Angeles Chargers, who lost to Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers are still in first place in the NFC South with a 3-1 record. The Saints are 2-2.
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