New Orleans Saints rookie receiver Brandin Cooks

 

The New Orleans Saints captured a win over a fellow NFC opponent on sunday night, knocking off the Green Bay Packers, 44-23, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. Louisiana.

The win improved the Saints' home record to 3-0, and improves their win win streak to 11 games, dating back to the start of the 2013 season.

Green Bay got on the scoreboard first, on the fifth play from scrimmage, when Aaron Rodgers hit Randall Cobb with a 70-yard touchdown pass, capping off a 5-play, 80-yard drive, that took 2:03 off of the clock, giving them a 7-0 lead at the 12:57 mark of the opening quarter.

New Orleans answered back on their initial possession, when Brandin Cooks scored on a 4-yard touchdown run, completing a quick 5-play, 80-yard drive, that took 3:37, to even the game, 7-7, at the 9:20 mark of the first quarter.

The Packers, on their next possession, grabbed the lead right back, when Mason Crosby kicked through a 31-yard field goal, which wrapped-up a 7-play, 67-yard drive, to give them a 10-7 edge at the 6:08 mark of the initial frame.

The Saints continued the first quarter fireworks by getting a field goal of their own, this one from 31 yards away by Shayne Graham, to tie the game, 10-10, at the 1:42 mark of the first quarter.

The second quarter began just as the entire first quarter went, with points being scored after a drive, as Green Bay's Mason Crosby nailed a 49-yard field goal, culminating a 9-play, 49-yard drive, to give Green Bay a 13-10 lead at the 13:08 mark of the second period.

New Orleans tied the game on their next possession, when Graham converted his second field goal of the half, this one from 29 yards out, culminating a 15-play, 69-yard drive. making the score 13-13 at the 5:52 mark of the second quarter.

The Packers made it four scores in four first half offensive possessions, when Crosby kicked through a 27-yard field goal, his third of the half, capping off a 9-play, 71-yard drive, to give them a 16-13 lead at the 1:51 mark of the second quarter.

The Saints also made it four scores in four first half offensive possessions as time expired in the first half, when Graham was successful on his third field goal of the half, this one from 37 yards out, wrapping up a 7-play, 61 yard drive, to send the two teams into the break knotted up, 16-16.

Green Bay outgained New Orleans, in terms of total yards in the opening half, 292-238, including a 268-178 advantage through the air.

For the Packers, Rodgers completed 13-of-18 passes for 278 yards and a touchdown in the first half, while quarterback Drew Brees was 16-of-21 for 187 yards for the Saints.

New Orleans grabbed their first lead of the game at the 5:35 mark of the third quarter, when Brees connected with Cooks on a long 50-yard scoring strike, ending a 4-play, 88-yard drive, giving them a 23-16 advantage.

The Saints extended their lead at the 2:06 mark of the third quarter, when Brees tossed a 22-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Graham, to complete a 4-play, 40-yard drive, and make the score 30-16.

New Orleans put the game completely out of reach at the 9:56 mark of the fourth quarter, when Brees threw his third touchdown pass of the half, and the game, this one to Josh Hill from 2 yards away, capping off a 7-play, 71-yard drive, to extend their lead to 37-16.

The Packers drew closer with 5:07 remaining, when Rodgers scored on a 14-yard touchdown run, ending an 11-play, 80-yard drive, to cut the Saints' lead to 37-23.

New Orleans scored an insurance touchdown at the 3:16 mark of the football game, when Ingram scored on a 21-yard run, completing a 5-play, 32-yard drive, to give them a 44-23 lead.

New Orleans outgained Green Bay, in terms of total offense, 495-491, including a 193-89 advantage on the ground.

Brees led the way for the Saints, completing 27-of-32 passes for 311 yards and three touchdowns, while Mark Ingram rushed for 172 yards on 24 carries, including a touchdown, and Cooks accumulated six receptions for 94 yards, including a touchdown.

In a losing cause for the Packers, Rodgers completed 28-of-39 passes for 418 yards, along with two touchdowns, one through the air, and one on the ground, and two interceptions.

With the victory, New Orleans improved to 3-4 on the season, while Green Bay slipped to 5-3.

The Saints return to action on Thursday night, when they travel to take on the Carolina Panthers, in an NFC South showdown.

 

 

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