Brees Extends Lions' Streak To 18 With Record Day

NFL News - September 13th, 2009 - Written by John

This one was probably a little easier to predict. In Sunday's first wave of games that provided surprises (both good and bad), the New Orleans Saints, who were favored by almost 12 points, provided the kind of fireworks many expected.

Drew Brees aired it out for 358 yards and a franchise-high six touchdowns and eight Saints had a reception. Jeremy Shockey was the main beneficiary of the air attack, scoring twice in the first half. But Devrey Henderson, Robert Meachem, Heath Evans and Marques Colston all had touchdown grabs, confirming what many believed that New Orleans would repeat as the league's top-scoring offense.

Rookie Matthew Stafford had an adequate start to his career, although his counterpart, Mark Sanchez, looked like superstar against an inferior Houston Texans team.

Stafford had three picks but did fall into the end zone on a keeper in the third quarter for his first big-league touchdown.

He was able to hook up with All-Pro wideout for 90 of his 205 passing yards on the day, a duo that will be vital to rebuilding a franchise that was rarely competitive last year.

The Lions can also hang their hat on the fact that they continued to fight although the game seemed out of hand. Shockey's second touchdown catch made it 28-10 at the half and it appeared that the Lions would extend their losing streak to 18.

Even as the Saints continued to score in the second half, the Lions stayed toe-to-toe, alternating scores in the third quarter. Stafford's one-yard keeper made it 28-17 and, after trading field goals and a 58-yard TD strike from Brees to Henderson, Detroit's Louis Delmas recovered a Reggie Bush fumble and took it 65-yards to the house to make it 38-27.

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