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Biggest Winners, Biggest Losers, Saints-Lions: Going for Two Was the Right Call

Here's who won and who didn't in the Saints loss to Detroit
Doug Joubert|
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) runs against Detroit Lions during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) runs against Detroit Lions during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

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Going for two was the right call. After scoring a touchdown in overtime to get the Saints to within a point, Saints coach Kellen Moore made the decision to go for two.

It was the right call.

The Saints defense was flat tuckered out. The Lions had just driven the length of the field in the opening drive of overtime, The New Orleans D had no answers for anything Detroit was doing. Tired and on their heels, the defense did all it could for over 60-minutes.

Though the pass intended for rookie Bryce Lance landed out the bounds of play, the attempt for two was the correct call.

The Saints overtime loss to Detroit, 31-30, was a gigantic step in the right direction for this club. Going against one of the best teams in the NFL, The Saints gave the Lions everything they could handle and more before falling by one point.

The Biggest Winners

Saints Defense

This group really stepped up and hit very hard. They are the reason the Saints had any chance of getting a victory against the Lions.

Except for allowing Jahmyr Gibbs (we'll cover that in a bit) to hit the century mark, this Saints defense played very hard.

If there were any doubts about Brandon Staley's defense or his schemes, this game should put part of that to rest. Except for Detroit's 2nd possession of the game, the Saints D came up with play after play and hit and wrapped up.

Olave Giving 110%

Saints wideout Chris Olave was like a man possessed. 10-receptions for 182-yards.

Olave is truly an elite NFL receiver, but he's not the only one who came through like gang busters.

Devaughn Vele

Is there a catch he didn't make while in midair?

...and then there was this one...

There is a reason Devaughn Vele is listed as the 2nd receiver behind Chris Olave. In fact, we just showed you a couple

Special Teams Blocking

In our Halftime Studs and Duds column, we asked for better punt receiving blocking so returner Barion Brown could have a chance to return one. First punt in the second half, Brown gets good blocking and returns it 16-yards, setting up the Saints in good field position at the New Orleans 46. Thank you.

Not Giving Up

The Saints were down 21-0 and quarterback Tyler Shough was looking lost throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble. The reason they were still in the game at all was the New Orleans defense, as Detroit quarterback Jared Goff had only one touchdown and less than 165-yards passing in regulation.

The Biggest Losers

Officiating and Its Interpretation

No. It was not a forward pass.

Here's the NFL's own rule on what constitures a forward pass

A throw where the ball initially moves toward the opponent's goal line, or first touches the ground, a player, or an official at a point closer to the opponent's goal line than where it left the passer's hand

That was not a forward pass, no matter what the so-called "experts" on Fox or the officials on the field say. The ruling and its explanation were multiple loads of crap.

Hitting the Century Mark

Detroit running back Jahmyr Gibbs
Sep 13, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) carries the ball against the New Orleans Saints during the third quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

One of our keys to the game was to control the Lions All-Pro running back Jahmyr Gibbs. He may be the best running back the Saints see all season. Gibbs had two touchdowns and 128-yards on 24-attempts, not an embarrassing statistic, but one that led to a Saints defeat.

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Published
Doug Joubert
DOUG JOUBERT

Doug has been around Saints football since its inception. He was in Tulane Stadium when John Gilliam ran back the opening kickoff for a touchdown in 1967. Though he was in attendance for the Tom Dempsey field goal in 1970, he left early, something he regrets to this day. He covered the Saints at their training camp in Ruston, Louisiana in 1985 while he was working in Monroe, Louisiana as an award-winning radio sportscaster. He was the host of the New Orleans Saints Pre-Game and Post-Game show on Sports 1280, WQUE in the early 1990s. Doug is also the publisher of the Tulane site for On SI.

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