Saints Advance to NFC Title Game with 20-14 Win over Eagles
It certainly didn't start off the way the New Orleans Saints or their fans would have liked.
But the Saints persevered and are on their way to the NFC Championship game.
New Orleans overcame a 14-0 first quarter deficit and defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 20-14 and will host the NFC title game against the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday.
It was an 18 play, 92 yard drive that used up a franchise record 11:29 in the third quarter that put the Saints ahead for good, as Drew Brees hit Michael Thomas on a two yard touchdown pass, making the score 17-14.
The Saints added a Wil Lutz field goal to take a six point lead, but missed a chance to put the game away on their next possession when Lutz was wide right on a 52 yard attempt.
But Marshon Lattimore intercepted his second pass of the game with 1:52 remaining and the Saints ran out the clock to seal the win.
Brees was intercepted on his first pass of the game and Nick Foles engineered touchdown drives of 76 and 75 yards to give the Eagles a 14-0 lead. Foles hit Jordn Matthews from 37 yards out and scored himself on a one yard run.
But the Saints' defense locked down the rest of the way.
Lattimore's first interception came on the next series and New Orleans responded with a 12-play, 79 yard drive culminating in a Brees touchdown pass to Keith Kirkwood. Wil Lutz added a field goal and the Saints trailed just 14-10 at the half.
After Philadelphia punted after the second half kickoff, the Saints put together the marathon drive and took command of the game.
Thomas led the Saints in receiving with 12 catches for a franchise postseason record 171 yards. Alvin Kamara led the Saints in rushing with 71 yards on 16 carries.
After starting the game 9-10, Foles completed just 9-31 passes in the final three quarters for a total of 201 yards.