Wil Lutz’s career-long 58-yard field goal as time expired gave the Saints their first season-opening win since 2013. New Orleans was down 14-3 at halftime but rallied for a 30-28 win. The fourth-year pro nailed the game-winner after the offense led a last-second drive after Houston went ahead by one point in the last minute of the game.
“I knew with 37 seconds left we were going to have an opportunity to at least get close to field goal range and in that situation, there’s not a single kick I would turn down,” said Lutz.
Houston grabbed the last-minute lead after marching 75 yards in just two plays with only 50 seconds on the clock. Texans QB DeShaun Watson ended with 268 yards passing, while his superstar receiver DeAndre Hopkins nuked the Saints secondary for 111 yards and two touchdowns.
The Saints trailed 14-3 at halftime. Lutz missed a 56-yard field goal right before halftime and is glad he got another chance.
“That’s what this game is all about, bouncing back and having your teammates have your back that’s got to be a top one moment for me,” said Lutz.
Lutz could have had a shorter field goal try right before halftime, but the Saints were once again on the wrong end of an officiating mistake.
They lost 15 seconds off the clock when 10-seconds ran off the clock at the end of the first half. The runoff should have occurred with 41 seconds left instead of 26-seconds after the instant replay judge determined Mike Thomas got enough yards for a first down. The Saints elected for the 10-second runoff instead of burning a timeout, but the 10-seconds should have come off at 41-seconds, instead of 26.
Quarterback Drew Brees, who threw for 370 yards and two touchdowns, says the mistake is unacceptable.
“That can’t happen, that’s a game-changer, we ended up kicking a 58-yard field goal or whatever it is, if we had 15 more yards are you kidding me, we are going to get closer,” said Brees.
The Saints will now get ready for a big road game against the Rams in Los Angeles.
