Saints Win 4th-Straight, Defeat Packers 26-17
The New Orleans Saints recorded a road win on Sunday, defeating the Green Bay Packers, 26-17, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
After trailing at halftime, New Orleans outscored Green Bay, 19-3, in the second half, the earn them the important win.
The triumph extended the Saints' current win streak to 4 games, their longest since the 2013 season, when they opened that year with 5-consecutive wins.
The Packers got on the scoreboard first, on the first possession of the game, when Aaron Jones raced 46 yards for a touchdown, capping off a 5-play, 75-yard drive, to give them a quick 7-0 lead at the 13:00 mark of the opening frame.
The Saints tied it at the 12:31 mark of the second period, when Mark Ingram scored on a 12-yard touchdown run, ending a 7-play, 55-yard drive, to make it 7-7.
Green Bay regained the lead at the 8:37 mark of the second quarter, when Brett Hundley scored on a touchdown run from 14 yards away, culminating an 8-play, 75-yard drive, to give them a 14-7 advantage, one they would maintain as the two teams headed to their respective locker rooms for halftime.
Despite trailing at the break, New Orleans actually outgained Green Bay, in terms of total yards in the first half, 225-195, including a 148-56 advantage in passing yards, while the Packers held a 139-77 edge in rushing yards.
Aaron Jones led the way for the Packers in the first half, rushing for 97 yards, including a touchdown, on 10 carries, while Ingram paced the Saints, compiling 54 rushing yards, including a touchdown, on 12 carries.
The Saints opened the second half with a bang, scoring on the first possession of the half, when Drew Brees connected with Brandon Coleman on a 22-yard touchdown pass, wrapping up a 7-play, 59-yard drive.
The PAT was block however, and at the 11:24 mark of the third quarter, the Packers continued to cling to a one-point lead.
For Brees, it was his 500th career touchdown pass, regular and postseason, combined.
New Orleans grabbed their first lead of the game at the 4:08 mark of the third quarter, when Wil Lutz made good on a 28-yard field goal, concluding a 9-play, 74-yard drive, to give them a 16-14 edge.
Green Bay regained the lead at the 14:50 mark of the fourth quarter, when Mason Crosby connected on a 46-yard field goal, capping off a 10-play, 53-yard drive, to give them a 17-16 lead.
Lutz gave the Saints the lead right back, on their very next possession, with his second field goal of the afternoon, this one from 44 yards out, ending a 9-play, 60-yard drive, to give them a 19-17 advantage with 10:21 remaining.
New Orleans extended their lead, and basically put the game out of reach, with 4:55 left, when Brees scored on a 1-yard touchdown run, ending an 8-play, 55-yard drive, to widen their advantage to 26-17.
That was all that the Saints would need, as they went on to the 9-point triumph.
The Saints outgained the Packers, in terms of total yards, 485-260, including a 324-79 advantage in passing yards, while Green Bay finished with a 181-161 edge in rushing yards.
Brees led the way for New Orleans, completing 27-of-38 passes for 331 yards and two touchdowns, along with a rushing touchdown, while Ingram finished with 105 rushing yards, including a touchdown, on 22 carries.
In a losing cause for Green Bay, Jones finished with 131 rushing yards, including a touchdown, on 17 carries, while quarterback Brett Hundley, who was filling in for the injured Aaron Rodgers, completed 12-of-25 passes for only 87 yards.
With the victory, the Saints improved to 4-2 on the season, while the Packers fell to 4-3.
New Orleans returns to action next Sunday, when they play host to the Chicago Bears.