Cardinals beat Eagles, Saints upset Packers, and all of NFL Week 8˗˗the Monday Morning Realist

Every Monday morning, Section 215’s Akiem Bailum gives an in-depth and unfiltered look at all of the latest sports news in The Monday Morning Realist. You can follow Akiem on Twitter @AkiemBailum.

Own Goals

Oct 26, 2014; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Detroit Lions kicker Matt Prater (5) celebrates with teammates Rob Sims (67) and Travis Swanson (64) and Jordan Thompson (82) and Sam Martin (6) and Kellen Davis (89) and Riley Reiff (71) after kicking a 48-yard field goal with no time remaining against the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL International Series game at Wembley Stadium. The Lions defeated the Falcons 22-21. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The great mystery continues. No, Realists, it has nothing to do with a train robbery or finding where Waldo is.

It’s about what is behind the continued fetish for the NFL when it comes to playing games in London.

Someone needs to tell the commissioner that even though the NFL gets huge crowds when it decides to take its pigskin act across the pond, part of it is only because it’s rare for UK’ers to see a sport branded as “football” with those dastardly yard lines running across the field.

Which segues us into the Atlanta Falcons. Ironically, they are supposed to be moving into a new stadium in a few years that will also house an MLS team.

Maybe the Falcons are that MLS team because what Atlanta has been doing more of as of late has a closer resemblance to international football than it does to the style that is played in the NFL.

Somebody has to make the playoffs from the NFC South, even if all the teams in said division are under .500
As for the Lions, they’re another one of these teams that no one probably expected to compete this year, but is. After defeating the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans the previous week, their record improved to 5˗2.

After this game, many Falcons fans were probably wishing Mike Smith’s plane got stranded at Heathrow.

It began promising for those dirty birds from Georgia. The first drive of the game was a scoring drive. On 3rd and 8 from the 22, Matt Ryan was able to connect with Roddy White for 24 yards to the 46. Devonta Freeman would be on the receiving end of Ryan’s first TD pass of the game as he scored from seven yards out. Matt Bryant’s field goal was good and Atlanta’s lead was 7˗0.

Detroit only managed one first down on their following drive, giving the Falcons the football again. A pass interference flag on Darius Slay on a pass intended for White moved the football from the Lions’ 21 to the 1. The Falcons would increase their lead to 14˗0 as #2 found Bear Pascoe (remember that name, Giants fans?) on the very next play.

In spite of the fact that Detroit moved the football out to the 37 yard line of the Falcons, the drive still resulted in a punt back to Atlanta, who would go three and out.

Detroit would then do the same later, giving the football back to the Falcons. After advancing the football to the Detroit 17 yard line, a pass intended for Julio Jones was subsequently picked off by Rashean Mathis. He returned the football 102 yards the other way for a score, before he was flagged for pass interference.

Four plays later, Steven Jackson made the Lions pay from one yard out by scoring a touchdown that put Atlanta ahead 21˗0. Three of the four plays after the penalty were to Jackson.

The Lions engineered what looked to be a productive drive on their following possession as they got the football to the 30 yard line of Atlanta, before Matthew Stafford attempted to find Coby Fuller. He, instead, connected with the Falcons’ Robert Alford as he intercepted Detroit’s QB.

The halftime period would come with the Falcons leading 21˗0. Then…something happened. Maybe Arsene Wenger came out and gave the Lions a halftime speech.

Because this game was all Lions after that. Detroit began the second half with possession. Their first drive was efficient, including a pass to Golden Tate for 21 yards on 3rd and 9 at the Falcons’ 49.The Lions were able to move the football inside the 5 yard line of Atlanta, but had to settle for a 22 yard field goal courtesy of Matt Prater. This gave Detroit its first points of the game as the Falcons’ lead became 21˗3.

A Falcons three and out would be followed up by Detroit cashing in on their following drive as Stafford and Tate teamed up for a 59 yard TD pass. This made the score 21˗10 Atlanta.

What are the Falcons known for? Getting big leads and them losing them. Yep, typical Atlanta.

The last Falcons drive of the third quarter saw four first downs, but still ended in a Cassius Vaughn interception of Ryan on 1st and 10 from the 47. Vaughn returned that pick 40 yards to the Falcons’ seven yard line.

Luckily for the Atlanta defense, they were able to hold Detroit to three with another field goal from the foot of Prater. This one was from 20 yards out for a 21˗13 Atlanta lead.

Only one first down would be picked up by the Falcons on the next drive. Detroit would get more than one first down as their ensuing possession lasted 13 plays for 69 yards capped off by a pass from Stafford to Theo Riddick for a five yard TD. That produced a touchdown and made the Falcons’ lead shrink to 21˗19. A two point conversion was attempted but the pass from Stafford to Tate was incomplete.

Detroit burned all of its timeouts on the following Falcons drive that stalled at the 40. They punted back to the Lions.

On 1st and 10 from the 7, Stafford found Tate for a 32 yard gain. He then passed to Riddick on 2nd and 10 from the 39. This put the football on the Falcons’ side of the field to the 41. With little time left, all of the following plays were either runs or spikes. Atlanta used their remaining timeouts and despite Detroit missing its initial game winning field goal attempt, was flagged for a delay of game penalty.

This made Prater’s attempt 48 yards instead of 43, but he was true from 48 with time expiring to complete a Detroit comeback win.

• Stafford: 24/47, 325 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
• Bell: 14 carries, 39 yards
• Tate: 7 receptions, 151 yards, 1 TD

• Ryan: 20/27, 228 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
• Jackson: 18 carries, 60 yards, 1 TD
• White: 5 receptions, 66 yards

Week 9: DET bye, ATL bye

Last˗Lap Pass

Oct 26, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) looks to pass the ball while Carolina Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson (95) applies pressure during the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium. The Seahawks defeated the Panthers 13-9. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Get the Nascar reference since the following game was in Charlotte?

Similar to the Falcons, the Carolina Panthers also appear to be aided by the fact that their division at this point in time will only send one team to the postseason. Such is the way of things in the NFL. Carolina was defeated by Green Bay last week 38˗17 in Bank of America Stadium.

Yeah, that’s the NFC South right now.

Meanwhile, what has to be said for the defending champion Seattle Seahawks? Is this the third or fourth consecutive week they’ve received honorable mention on a Realist?

Honestly, these are the defending champs yet they somewhat appear as if they don’t belong on a football field. It’s one thing to lose to a Dallas Cowboys team at home that appears to be the one of the best teams in football with a runningback in DeMarco Murray who may top 2,000 yards on the ground.

It’s another thing to lose to the St. Louis Rams, home or road. Many predicted a Seahawks dynasty at the beginning of the season. It’s still only the midpoint of the season, but it didn’t appear that Seattle was poised to be making another run to the Super Bowl at this point.

Plus, with all of the locker room controversy surrounding the Seahawks, speculation is that it contributed to their on field struggles.

If you like defense and field goals, you should DVR this game when NFL Network replays it.

After the Seahawks began the game with a three and out, they nearly regained possession of the football when Brenton Bersin muffed a catch at the Panthers’ 28 yard line. Carolina was able to recover as Josh Norman got onto the football.

The Panthers’ first drive of the game would result in a score. An eleven play, 58˗yard drive culminating in a 31 yard field goal off the foot of Graham Gano gave Carolina its first points with a 3˗0 lead.

A Seahawks three and out was followed with what looked like another efficient drive courtesy of Carolina. As the first quarter segued into the second, the Panthers got another field goal from Gano (26 yards) for a 6˗0 lead. But, the Panthers had move the football to the 1 yard line, so definitely a letdown after what appeared to be seven.

Paul Richardson returned the following kick 47 yards to the Seahawks 47. After advancing the football to the 40 yard line of the Panthers, Seattle got on the board for the first time this game courtesy of a 58 yard field goal from Steven Hauschka. The score then became 6˗3.

Carolina regained possession and, again, looked to have a promising drive that seemed like it was going to end in seven points. They did commit a couple of miscues. The first was a Ryan Kalil fumble that Cam Newton would recover at the Seahawks 44 yard line. The second came on 1st and 10 from the 14 yard line as Newton fumbled and Seattle’s Cliff Avril recovered. This would be the score going into the half.

Carolina would get one first down on their first possession coming out of the half, but on 3rd and 7 from the Seattle 34, Marcus Burley picked off a Newton pass that was intended for Greg Olsen.

The 24 yard return put the Seahawks at the Panthers’ 43. They advanced the football 29 yards despite needing 12 plays, but the end result was a 29 yard Hauschka field goal to tie the game at six apiece.

On the heels of a Carolina three and out, this gave Seattle possession again. They were able to get two first downs. With a Wilson pass to Robert Turbin at the 21 yard line as well as a 25 yard run from Marshawn Lynch, Seattle was in good possession to do more damage.

Needing only one yard to continue the drive on 3rd down at the 21, a fumbled snap was recovered by Carolina.
The Panthers couldn’t do much with that drive and Seattle only got two first downs on its next one.

The ensuing possession for the Panthers would see Newton complete to Kelvin Benjamin for 51 yards. That moved the football to the Seahawks’ 42 yard line. The nine play, 64 yard drive that spanned nearly five minutes ended in a 46 yard field goal for a 46 yard field goal via Gano. 9˗6 Panthers.

The Seahawks began their last drive of the game on the 20 yard line after a touchback. Nine plays and 80 yards later, Wilson connected with another Willson (Luke Willson) for his lone TD reception of the game. It was his only catch of the game all day as he gave Seattle their first touchdown of the game after the 23 yard completion.

The Panthers had to use their final two timeouts, and did not advance the football far at all. Two incompletions, a false start penalty and two sacks of Newton stalled the final Carolina drive and sealing the Seahawks’ win.

• Wilson: 20/32, 199 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
• Lynch: 14 carries, 62 yards
• Baldwin: 6 receptions, 61 yards

• Newton: 12/22, 171 yards, 1 INT
• Stewart: 16 carries, 79 yards
• Benjamin: 4 receptions, 94 yards

Week 9: NO at CAR, OAK at SEA

Roethlisberger Fiftyburger

Oct 26, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) passes under pressure from Indianapolis Colts defensive end Cory Redding (90) during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 51-34. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

This following game would end up being the polar opposite of the Seahawks/Panthers matchup.

Both teams would notch victories last week. Indianapolis blanked the Cincinnati Bengals 27˗0 as it appeared that that win may have exposed a bad Bengals defense to be susceptible to when it plays a good team.

For Pittsburgh, the improvement that this Realist predicted would take place in Western Pennsylvania appears to have come to pass. They were down early at Heinz Field before rallying back to top the Houston Texans 30˗23 on Monday Night Football. Ben Roethlisberger would end that game with 265 passing yards.

Hmmm…why did I use the word “pass” twice and Roethlisberger once in that last paragraph. There is a calculated reason for that.

As would be shown by the proceedings of this one. Nearly every drive resulted in a score especially for the Steelers. The first drive would give the Colts a 3˗0 lead after a 31 yard field goal from the foot of Adam Vinatieri capped off what was a 7 play, 67 yard drive that lasted three minutes and four seconds.

The Steelers answered Indy’s three with seven as their first possession lasted nine plays and 80 yards. 18 of them were courtesy of a Roethlisberger TD pass to Markus Wheaton for a 7˗3 lead.

The ensuing Colts drive ended in a three and out, a rarity this game. On the ensuing possession for Indianapolis, Roethlisberger found Lance Moore for 29 yards on 2nd and 17 from the Steelers’ 45. This moved the football to the Colts’ own 29.

Most of that drive occurred in the first quarter, but it ended in the second with #7 threw to Martavis Bryant from five yards out. After Shaun Suisham’s extra point was good, this made the tally 14˗3 in favor of Pittsburgh.

Two plays into the Colts’ next possession, Andrew Luck intended to pass to Hakeem Nicks, but instead threw to William Gay who was waiting at the Colts’ 33 yard line. 33 yards later, he put seven more Steeler points in the board. 21˗3.

Indianapolis’ next drive also resulted in a touchdown, but for their own team. This included a 53 yard pass from Luck to Donte Moncrief. The five play, 86 yard drive culminated in Darren Allen’s only TD reception of the game as he gave the Colts six more points from 21 yards out. The score became 21˗10 Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh was far from done. Roethlisberger completed to Bryant for a 52 yard pickup. But, the drive had stalled at the 13 as Indianapolis forced fourth down. This appeared to set the stage for a field goal try from Suisham before Colt Anderson (yes, he plays for the Colts) was penalized for defensive offsides. This gave the Steelers a first down and Roethlisberger would make them pay as he found Antonio Brown from 8 yards out. The lead ballooned to 28˗10.

That became 35˗10 as after another Indianapolis three and out, a 4 play, 77 yard drive ended in a 47 yarder from Roethlisberger to Brown.

Remember, this was the same Andrew Luck/Colts that stunned the Chiefs in the divisional round of last year’s playoffs after initially being down 38˗10. So you can never score too many points on Indianapolis. This next drive included 3rd and 11 from the 19 in which Luck found Hakeem Nicks for 27 yards. It ended when Luck threw to T.Y. Hilton for 28 yards and a score. 35˗17 Steelers.

That was then followed up by a huge defensive play from the Colts after halting the ensuing Steelers drive. It lasted seven plays and spanned 86 yards and ended in Jonathan Newsome blocking the Steelers’ punt after advancing all the way to the Colts’ 37 yard line.

After Ricky Jean Francois was on the recovery, the Colts were on the move again with all three of their timeouts and only 35 seconds left. Luck found Hilton for a 39 yard gain. That moved the ball deep into Pittsburgh territory, but with only one second left on 1st and goal from the five, the Colts had to ensure that they’d get points before the end of the half. Vinatieri’s 23 yard field goal was good for a 35˗20 game going into the half.

I’m guessing the defenses didn’t hear the halftime speeches, since coming out of the half, Pittsburgh had possession. On a 3rd down play from the Steelers’ 48, they needed only eight yards for a first down. They got 47 with a Roethlisberger completion to Heath Miller. Two plays later, he connected with Bryant again for a two yard TD pass. This made the game 42˗20.

Indianapolis only got two first downs on their next drive and Pittsburgh’s next one ended in a (gasp) a three and out.

The ensuing Colts’ drive lasted eight plays and sixty nine yards. It ended in an Ahmad Bradshaw (remember that name Giants fans?) 12 yard touchdown rush to bring the score to within 42˗27.

As the next Steelers’ drive began, Roethlisberger passed to Darius Heyward˗Bey, before Darius Butler caused him to put the ball on the turf. Mike Adams recovered, giving the Colts the football at the Steelers’ 36.

On 3rd down and five from the 31, they got 31 when Luck found Montcrief for a touchdown to bring the Colts to within eight at 42˗34.

Pittsburgh was poised to extend out its lead again, but a six yard run from LeGarrette Blount resulted in a fumble. Andy Studebaker was on the fumble and recovery.

With the ball at the Colts’ five yard line early in the fourth quarter, Indianapolis committed a big miscue early in. Luck, on a pass intended for Nicks was flagged for intentional grounding. This would be enforced in the Indianapolis endzone, meaning safety and a 44˗34 lead.

That momentum carried into the final scoring drive of the game when a 12 play, 67 yard drive culminated in a Roethlisberger TD pass to Heath Miller for 11 yards and a 51˗34 lead.

The Colts would get over two minutes on their ensuing possession and would see eight plays for 53 yards. A Luck pass intended for Hilton on 1st and 10 at the 27 of the Steelers was instead intercepted in the endzone by Antwan Blake.

Pittsburgh kept the ball on the ground for its final drive as all they had to do was take care of the football at this point and run out clock. They did face fourth down, but with plenty of time already having expired, the victory was already sealed along with a historic performance for Roethlisberger.

Yep…the unis worked.

• Roethlisberger: 40/49, 522 yards, 6 TDs
• Bell: 24 carries, 94 yards
• Brown: 10 receptions, 133 yards, 2 TDs

• Luck: 26/45, 400 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs
• Bradshaw: 6 receptions, 35 yards, 1 TD
• Hilton: 6 receptions, 155 yards, 1 TD

Week 9: BAL at PIT, IND at NYG

On the Receiving end of 6˗1

Oct 26, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) tackles wide receiver John Brown (12) in celebration after a 75 yard touchdown by Brown during the second half against the Philadelphia Eagles at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

With the Eagles on a bye week after blanking the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football 27˗0 two nights ago, much of the attention for this game had to be on the Arizona Cardinals.

This was a team that defeated the Oakland Raiders 24˗13 last week, but there aren’t too many teams nowadays that lose to the Raiders despite the performance of one Derek Carr.

But, with much of the attention as it relates to the NFC West on Seattle and San Francisco, how can the Cards not be playing with a bit of a chip on their shoulder. Going into this week they were 5˗1. In other words, they had the same record as the Broncos and were one better than the New England Patriots. But, because the Broncos and Pats’ QBs are sexier names than “Carson Palmer”, they get the publicity from the press.

How easy we forget that this was a 10˗6 team that likely would have one two of the four AFC divisions if they were in the AFC.

On Sunday, Arizona’s Cardinal flew higher than Philadelphia’s Eagle.

The first drive for each team ended in a punt, but Arizona’s lasted eight plays for 42 yards whereas the Eagles’ ended in a three and out. Despite moving the football to the Philadelphia 35, the Cardinals punted.

The Eagles’ second chance of the first quarter would feature two passes by Nick Foles over 20 yards. The first was a 3rd and 12 completion to Jordan Matthews to the Cardinals’ 46 for 23. Then, Foles found the end zone with a 21 yard pass to Jeremy Maclin. 7˗0 Eagles. The Cody Parkey extra point was good for the 7˗0 advantage.

Arizona responded. The ensuing drive included a 1st and 10 play for 36 yards from Carson Palmer to Larry Fitzgerald. Andre Ellington capped off the scoring possession with a 1 yard touchdown (with Chandler Catanzaro’s extra point) to tie the score at 7.

The Eagles would have issues with putting the ball on the turf on their next drive. On their first play of that chance, the ball was fumbled before it being ruled on the field as an incomplete pass. The second fumble of the drive would also occur on 1st down…but with Philadelphia in the red zone. At the 19 yard line, Foles found Josh Huff before Frostee Rucker (who?) was on the fumble and Deone Buchanan was on the recovery.

The Cardinals would punt on their next drive, but the next one for the Eagles included a roughing the passer penalty on Arizona’s Tyrann Mathieu as well as an interception at the Arizona 25 yard line by Antonio Cromartie.

In spite of a Palmer pass to Josh Brown for 21 yards on 3rd and 10 from the 38 yard line, the drive ended in nothing for Arizona.

Philadelphia would only manage a net of four yards on their next drive and punted. And in spite of a 21 yard gain by Ellington, Arizona did so too on their following possession.

The final Eagles drive of the first half would span 9 plays and 45 yards, but it began only at the 11 yard line of Philadelphia. Facing 4th and 10 from their own 44, this forced a punt as the half expired.

The Cardinals began the second half with a major breakthrough. After two plays of no gain, Palmer connected with Fitzgerald for 80 yards and seven points for a 14˗7 lead.

Philadelphia only had two first downs on their ensuing drive which was followed by an Arizona three and out.
Midway through the third quarter, Philadelphia started with very good field position in terms of the football. They began at their 44 and concluded at the Cardinals’ 36 as Parkey drilled a 54 yard FG through the uprights to make the score 14˗10.

Three and outs would be the story of the next few minutes of the third until on first and 10 from the Eagles’ 46 with just over two minutes left to play, Foles and Maclin teamed up on a 54 yard TD to make the score 17˗14.

The next drive for Arizona featured a 2nd and 10 play from the 37 that saw Ellington get tackled and lose the football thanks to Nate Allen. The play was ruled a fumble and recovery by Allen, giving the Eagles possession at the 48 of the Cardinals.

Nothing would result from that turnover caused by Philadelphia and the Cardinals had another 3 and out.
On 3rd and 11 from their own 41 on their next drive, Foles was looking for Riley Cooper but instead threw to Cromartie at the Cardinals’ 42. He returned it the other way to the Eagles’ side of the field to the 40.

Arizona converted that turnover into points and forced 1st and goal. But three incompletions from Palmer forced the Cards to settle for three via a Catanzaro field goal to make the score 17˗17.

Philadelphia would respond with three of its own when after a 13 play 75 yard drive ended, Parkey capped it off with a 20 yard field goal to give the Eagles the lead again at 20˗17. It had to be somewhat disappointing though for the Eagles since they advanced the football on that drive to the Cardinals’ two yard line.

After a short five yard pass to Fitzgerald, this brought up 2nd and 5 from the 25. Arizona got more than the five yards they needed when Palmer connected with Brown for 75 yards and a TD. This would give the Cards the lead again at 24˗20.

The four point margin meant Philadelphia could not settle for three points. They did have two timeouts. On 2nd and 10 from the 22, Foles threw complete to Cooper for 22 yards to the Eagles’ 42. But the drive that started at the 20 needed 80 yards when they got only 64. With one second left, Foles hoped to find Matthews for the game winner but it was incomplete to close the deal on the Cardinals’ sixth win of the year.

• Palmer: 20/42, 329 yards, 2 TDs
• Ellington: 23 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD
• Fitzgerald: 7 receptions, 160 yards, 1 TD

• Foles: 36/62, 411 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
• McCoy: 21 carries, 83 yards
• Maclin: 12 carries, 187 yards, 1 TD

Week 9: ARI at DAL, PHI at HOU

Waxing Crescent

Oct 26, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram (22) carries the ball past Green Bay Packers cornerback Davon House (31) in the second half at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. New Orleans defeated Green Bay 44-23. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports

Given the trajectories of the two teams that were playing this week on Sunday Night Football on NBC, the Packers and Saints, most of us Realists were probably going in the direction of the Pack.

Am I right? I see a few hands up but most of them I know have addresses somewhere in the Gulf South region.
Despite having an early lead last week in a game in which New Orleans should have won, the Detroit Lions instead earned their fifth win of the season over the Saints with a 24˗23. Sean Payton was so mad after the game that he rudely snapped at a reporter.

Such is the way when you are an NFC South team nowadays. Notice the NFC South theme to the Realist this week?
Meanwhile, this was a Packers team that coming into this week was 5˗2 and once again appearing to be the best team in the NFC not named the Arizona Cardinals. The 38˗17 victory over the hapless Carolina Panthers appeared to prove once again that the Pack was for real and had their eyes, not on Arizona in terms of the Cardinals, but Arizona in terms of the Super Bowl.

But, is it really time to start guaranteeing Super Bowls midway through the season? That’s another conversation for another day.

Early on, it looked as if this one would be another coronation of the Packers and Aaron Rodgers. The first drive of the game ended in a 70 yard TD from Rodgers to Randall Cobb. With the aid of Mason Crosby’s extra point, Green Bay assumed an early 7˗0 advantage.

The Saints responded with their opening drive. A 1st and 10 play from the Packers’ 49 would be a 45 yard gain as Brees completed to Kenny Stills. Then, on the following play, Brandin Cooks found the end zone from four yards out for a 7˗7 tie along with the ensuing extra point from Shayne Graham.

Green Bay would answer again as they would engineer another touchdown drive. What set the stage for this one was a short pass off from Rodgers to Eddie Lacy who put in 67 yards for the Packers’ cause. Green Bay should have scored seven points, but had to settle for three thanks to a Lacy run for no gain, an incomplete pass from Rodgers and a sack of #12.

Crosby was true from 31 yards out for a 10˗7 Packer lead.

New Orleans would begin its next drive with excellent field position after an onside kick went out of bounds at the Packers’ 46. But, the Saints would only muster three points off the drive as 4th and 12 from the 13 set up Graham’s first field goal of the game. The Saints tied it again at 10.

The following Packers’ drive would begin towards the end of the first quarter and included a 27 yard completion as Rodgers hit Cobb. That drive would ultimately span nine plays and 39 yards for four and a half minutes, concluding in a 49 yard field goal from Crosby for a 13˗10 Packers lead.

A touchback would put the Saints at the 20 yard line for their next drive. New Orleans would move the chains all the way to the 10 yard line of Green Bay before the drive stalled at the 11. Graham’s second field goal of the game came from 29 yards out to tie the game again at 13.

The trading of field goals would continue.

On the Packers’ final drive of the first half, Rodgers would connect with another Rodgers (Richard) on 2nd and 8 from the Packers’ 38 for 22 yards. The Packers would move the football to the 13 yard line and eventually to the 9 yard line. But, as was the theme for most of the second quarter, neither team could find the end zone. Crosby was brought on again to try another field goal and his 27 yarder was good for a 16˗13 lead.

The last scoring drive for the Saints would see them complete a 20 yard pass from Brees to Marques Colston. It began with less than a minute to go and only one timeout left, but the following play (with four ticks left that turned out to be the last play of the second half) was a Graham field goal from 37 yards out. This tied things again at 16.
Now, who delivered New Orleans’ halftime speech. Realists, I seem to be big on this as of late.

The Saints would start the second half with possession and get two first downs, but would not get much else as they had to punt back to Green Bay. The Packers would get a 20 yard pass to Randall Cobb on 2nd and 11 at the Packers’ 41 yard line. Green Bay’s drive would take them to the five yard line of New Orleans. Rodgers tried to find Andrew Quarless, but David Hawthorne intercepted the Rodgers pass and returned it seven yards.

On the fourth play of the following Saints drive (2nd and 1 from midfield), Brees threw to Brandin Cooks for a touchdown and a 23˗16 lead.

The following drive would see Rodgers throw to Davonte Adams on 2nd and 7 at their own 34. He originally was ruled to have gained seven yards out of it before the Saints challenged the first down ruling. New Orleans won and Adams was only awarded six yards.

The following 4th and 1 play to Lacy resulted in no gain.

Following the turnover on downs, it took four plays for the Saints to get their way to the end zone again. On first and ten from the 22, Brees got all of those 22 yards with a touchdown strike to Jimmy Graham. This made the game 30˗16.

On the ensuing possession for Green Bay, it featured entirely short passes from Rodgers to receivers. But Rodgers would throw one time too many as a pass intended for Adams instead ended up in the hands of Corey White.

The Saints then converted that Packers turnover into a score when a seven play, 71 yard drive lasting over four minutes culminated in a two yard pass from Brees to Josh Hill. Make the score 37˗16.

Green Bay managed to trim its deficit to 37˗23 (at fourteen) when an 11 play, 80 yard drive resulted in a quarterback keeper for 14 yards from Rodgers and a 37˗23 score.

The Packers then attempted an onside kick but it didn’t go the required 10 yards. In fact, it was recovered by New Orleans at the Packers’ 32. The kick was from the 35. Five plays into the drive, Ingram put an exclamation point on his huge night when he went 21 yards for a touchdown. This made the tally 44˗23.

Matt Flynn was then brought in at QB for the Packers. On the second play of the drive after an eight yard gain, Flynn was sacked for a loss of five yards at the Packers’ 23 yard line. Kasim Edebali also caused a fumble along with the stuff of Flynn. Parys Haralson was on the recovery.

The ensuing Saints drive featured all run plays. After a 19 yard run from Ingram, then came the two minute warning. Erik Lorig then got a couple of handoffs and fumbled on the second attempt. Letroy Guion caused the fumble and Tramon Williams was responsible for the recovery.

But, given the time and the deficit, the Packers were only able to run two plays as the Saints won an emphatic statement victory over Green Bay in what was, otherwise, a week where the NFC South went south.

• Brees: 27/32, 311 yards, 3 TDs
• Ingram: 24 carries, 172 yards, 1 TD
• Cooks: 6 receptions, 94 yards, 1 TD

• Rodgers: 28/39, 418 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
• Lacy: 13 carries, 59 yards
• Cobb: 5 receptions, 126 yards, 1 TD

Week 9: NO at CAR, GB bye

Other Games

Oct 26, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; General view of the NFL logo on the goal post pad before the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Indianapolis Colts at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Broncos defeat Chargers 35˗21

Chiefs defeat Rams 34˗7

Texans defeat Titans 30˗16

Vikings defeat Buccaneers 19˗13

Bengals defeat Ravens 27˗24

Dolphins defeat Jaguars 27˗13

Patriots defeat Bears 51˗23

Bills defeat Jets 43˗23

Browns defeat Raiders 23˗13

Redskins at Cowboys (8:30, Monday Night Football)