SCORING

Team		1	2	3	4	OT	Total
VISITOR:	Detroit Lions	0	7	0	6	0	13
HOME:	New Orleans Saints	0	3	6	3	0	12

Scoring Plays
Team	Qtr	Time	Play Description (Extra Point) (Drive Info)	Visitor	Home
Lions	2	5:45	S.Rogers 21 yd. fumble return (J.Hanson kick)	7	0
Saints	2	1:04	J.Carney 35 yd. Field Goal (12-67, 4:41)	7	3
Saints	3	9:16	J.Carney 47 yd. Field Goal (12-59, 5:44)	7	6
Saints	3	5:49	J.Carney 33 yd. Field Goal (4-6, 1:38)	7	9
Lions	4	7:14	J.Hanson 21 yd. Field Goal (11-89, 6:47)	10	9
Saints	4	1:52	J.Carney 20 yd. Field Goal (17-70, 5:22)	10	12
Lions	4	0:00	J.Hanson 39 yd. Field Goal (9-60, 1:52)	13	12

Paid Attendance: 63,747

Game Length: 2:58

Detroit Lions vs New Orleans Saints 12/24/2005 at Alamodome

Final Individual Statistics

Detroit Lions		New Orleans Saints

RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD A.Pinner 20 57 2.9 17 0 S.Bryson 4 14 3.5 8 0   Total 24 71 3.0 17 0		RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD A.Smith 13 33 2.5 7 0 T.Bouman 3 6 2.0 6 0 A.Stecker 7 5 0.7 4 0 D.Stallworth 1 3 3.0 3 0 A.Thomas 1 0 0.0 0 0   Total 25 47 1.9 7 0

PASSING ATT CMP YDS SK/YD TD LG IN RT J.Harrington 30 17 210 1/2 0 49 1 64.6   Total 30 17 210 1/2 0 49 1 64.6		PASSING ATT CMP YDS SK/YD TD LG IN RT T.Bouman 38 21 233 1/7 0 32 0 73.7   Total 38 21 233 1/7 0 32 0 73.7

PASS RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD M.Pollard 6 44 7.3 12 0 R.Williams 4 111 27.8 49 0 A.Pinner 4 31 7.8 23 0 M.Williams 1 21 21.0 21 0 C.Fitzsimmons 1 7 7.0 7 0 J.Harrington 1 -4 -4.0 -4 0   Total 17 210 12.4 49 0		PASS RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD Z.Hilton 7 83 11.9 22 0 J.Horn 6 70 11.7 18 0 D.Stallworth 2 47 23.5 32 0 A.Stecker 2 13 6.5 10 0 A.Smith 2 5 2.5 3 0 M.Karney 1 8 8.0 8 0 A.Hakim 1 7 7.0 7 0   Total 21 233 11.1 32 0

INTERCEPTIONS NO YDS AVG LG TD   Total 0 0 0.0 0 0		INTERCEPTIONS NO YDS AVG LG TD F.Thomas 1 0 0.0 0 0   Total 1 0 0.0 0 0

PUNTING NO YDS AVG TB IN20 LG N.Harris 6 279 46.5 0 4 55   Total 6 279 46.5 0 4 55		PUNTING NO YDS AVG TB IN20 LG M.Berger 4 160 40.0 1 2 46   Total 4 160 40.0 1 2 46

PUNT RETURNS NO YDS AVG FC LG TD E.Drummond 1 0 0.0 2 0 0 [TOUCHBACK] 1 0 0.0 0 0 0   Returns 1 0 0.0 2 0 0		PUNT RETURNS NO YDS AVG FC LG TD A.Hakim 4 64 16.0 0 42 0 [DOWNED] 2 0 0.0 0 0 0   Returns 4 64 16.0 0 42 0

KICKOFF RETURNS NO YDS AVG FC LG TD E.Drummond 5 150 30.0 0 48 0   Returns 5 150 30.0 0 48 0		KICKOFF RETURNS NO YDS AVG FC LG TD F.McAfee 3 53 17.7 0 29 0   Returns 3 53 17.7 0 29 0

Detroit Lions FUMBLES FUM OWN-REC YDS TD FORCED OPP-REC YDS TD OUT-BDS J.Hall 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 S.Rogers 0 0 0 0 0 1 21 1 0 Total 0 0 0 0 2 1 21 1 0 New Orleans Saints FUMBLES FUM OWN-REC YDS TD FORCED OPP-REC YDS TD OUT-BDS T.Bouman 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 A.Stecker 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 M.Holland 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Detroit Lions vs New Orleans Saints 12/24/2005 at Alamodome

Final Team Statistics

	Visitor Lions	Home Saints
TOTAL FIRST DOWNS	14	19
By Rushing	5	2
By Passing	9	14
By Penalty	0	3
THIRD DOWN EFFICIENCY	6-14-43%	6-14-43%
FOURTH DOWN EFFICIENCY	1-1-100%	0-0-0%
TOTAL NET YARDS	279	273
Total Offensive Plays (inc. times thrown passing)	55	64
Average gain per offensive play	5.1	4.3
NET YARDS RUSHING	71	47
Total Rushing Plays	24	25
Average gain per rushing play	3.0	1.9
Tackles for a loss-number and yards	4-8	2-6
NET YARDS PASSING	208	226
Times thrown - yards lost attempting to pass	1-2	1-7
Gross yards passing	210	233
PASS ATTEMPTS-COMPLETIONS-HAD INTERCEPTED	30-17-1	38-21-0
Avg gain per pass play (inc.# thrown passing)	6.7	5.8
KICKOFFS Number-In End Zone-Touchbacks	3-2-0	5-1-0
PUNTS Number and Average	6-46.5	4-40.0
Had Blocked	0	0
FGs - PATs Had Blocked	0-0	0-0
Net Punting Average	35.8	35.0
TOTAL RETURN YARDAGE (Not Including Kickoffs)	0	64
No. and Yards Punt Returns	1-0	4-64
No. and Yards Kickoff Returns	5-150	3-53
No. and Yards Interception Returns	0-0	1-0
PENALTIES Number and Yards	11-65	4-17
FUMBLES Number and Lost	0-0	2-1
TOUCHDOWNS	1	0
Rushing	0	0
Passing	0	0
Fumbles	1	0
EXTRA POINTS Made-Attempts	1-1	0-0
Kicking Made-Attempts	1-1	0-0
FIELD GOALS Made-Attempts	2-2	4-4
RED ZONE EFFICIENCY	0-2-0%	0-3-0%
GOAL TO GO EFFICIENCY	0-2-0%	0-1-0%
SAFETIES	0	0
FINAL SCORE	13	12
TIME OF POSSESSION	30:09	29:51

Detroit Lions vs New Orleans Saints 12/24/2005 at Alamodome

Ball Possession And Drive Chart

Detroit Lions

#	Time Recd	Time Lost	Time Poss	How Ball Obtained	Drive Began	# Play	Yds Gain	Yds Pen	Net Yds	1st Down	Last Scrm	How Given Up
1	15:00	5:56	9:04	Kickoff	DET 20	15	81	-5	76	5	*NO 4	Interception
2	3:47	1:39	2:08	Punt	DET 40	3	2	0	2	0	DET 42	Punt
3	14:50	12:42	2:08	Punt	DET 7	3	7	-5	2	0	DET 9	Punt
4	10:46	7:45	3:01	Punt	DET 20	5	16	0	16	1	DET 36	Punt
5	1:04	0:17	0:47	Kickoff	DET 37	5	14	0	14	1	NO 49	Punt
6	9:16	7:27	1:49	Kickoff	DET 29	3	-4	0	-4	0	DET 25	Punt
7	5:49	3:16	2:33	Kickoff	NO 46	3	4	-10	-6	0	DET 48	Punt
8	14:01	7:14	6:47	Punt	DET 9	11	94	-5	89	4	*NO 2	Field Goal
9	1:52	0:00	1:52	Kickoff	DET 19	9	65	-5	60	3	NO 21	Field Goal
				(235) Average DET 26

New Orleans Saints

#	Time Recd	Time Lost	Time Poss	How Ball Obtained	Drive Began	# Play	Yds Gain	Yds Pen	Net Yds	1st Down	Last Scrm	How Given Up
1	5:56	3:47	2:09	Interception	NO 20	3	0	0	0	0	NO 20	Punt
2	1:39	14:50	1:49	Punt	NO 15	4	35	0	35	1	50	Punt
3	12:42	10:46	1:56	Punt	DET 40	3	4	-10	-6	0	DET 46	Punt
4	7:45	5:45	2:00	Punt	NO 16	4	5	0	5	1	NO 26	Fumble
5	5:45	1:04	4:41	Kickoff	NO 17	12	62	5	67	4	*DET 16	Field Goal
6	0:17	0:00	0:17	Punt	NO 5	1	-1	0	-1	0	NO 5	End of Half
7	15:00	9:16	5:44	Kickoff	NO 12	12	59	0	59	4	DET 29	Field Goal
8	7:27	5:49	1:38	Punt	DET 21	4	6	0	6	0	*DET 15	Field Goal
9	3:16	14:01	4:15	Punt	NO 2	8	38	20	58	3	DET 40	Punt
10	7:14	1:52	5:22	Kickoff	NO 28	17	65	5	70	6	*DET 2	Field Goal
				(254) Average NO 25

* inside opponent's 20

Time of Possession by Quarter	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	OT	Total
Visitor  Detroit Lions	11:12	5:56	4:22	8:39		30:09
Home  New Orleans Saints	3:48	9:04	10:38	6:21		29:51

Kickoff Drive No. - Start Average

Lions: 5 - DET 32

Saints: 3 - NO 19

Detroit Lions vs New Orleans Saints 12/24/2005 at Alamodome

Final Defensive Statistics

Detroit Lions	Regular Defensive Plays									Special Teams						Misc
	TKL	AST	COMB	SACK /	YRDS	IN	PD	FF	FR		TKL	AST	FF	FR	BL		TKL	AST	FF	FR
J.Hall	7	0	7	1	7	0	0	2	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
L.Woods	4	3	7	0	0	0	0	0	0		1	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
J.Davis	5	0	5	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
W.Rainer	4	0	4	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
B.Walker	3	1	4	0	0	0	0	0	0		1	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
J.DeVries	3	1	4	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
D.Bly	3	0	3	0	0	0	1	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
S.Rogers	3	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	1		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
A.Goodman	2	0	2	0	0	0	2	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
R.McQuarters	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
C.Redding	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
K.Kennedy	1	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
M.Grootegoed	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
S.Cody	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
K.Edwards	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
C.Fitzsimmons	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		2	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
S.McHugh	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		1	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
S.Bryson	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		1	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
N.Harris	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		1	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
Total	41	8	49	1	7	0	3	2	1		7	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0

	TKL / TK = Tackle	AST / AS = Assist	COMB = Combined	IN = Interception
	PD = Pass Defense	FF = Forced Fumble	FR = Fumble Recovery	BL = Blocked

New Orleans Saints	Regular Defensive Plays									Special Teams						Misc
	TKL	AST	COMB	SACK /	YRDS	IN	PD	FF	FR		TKL	AST	FF	FR	BL		TKL	AST	FF	FR
C.Bockwoldt	7	2	9	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
T.Melton	5	1	6	0	0	0	1	0	0		1	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
R.McKinnon	4	2	6	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
F.Thomas	5	0	5	0	0	1	2	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
D.Smith	4	0	4	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
C.Grant	3	1	4	0	0	0	1	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
M.McKenzie	3	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
T.Slaughter	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0		1	1	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
B.Young	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
F.Brown	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0		1	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
J.Craft	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
T.Bryant	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
J.Bullocks	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
W.Smith	1	0	1	1	2	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
W.Whitehead	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
F.McAfee	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		1	1	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
M.Mitchell	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		1	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
S.Gleason	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		1	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0
M.Holland	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	1
Total	40	7	47	1	2	1	5	0	0		6	2	0	0	0		0	0	0	1

News: 12/25/05

From a big drop to a bigger catch, from certain goat to happy hero, Roy Williams did more than just travel back to his home state of Texas with the Detroit Lions on Saturday.

He lived up to a promise and his promise all in one road game.

He became a player.

"I told my teammates at halftime I'll never drop another one like that," he said of a slant pass that hit his hands and bounced away late in the first half.

"It would have been a touchdown. I got so excited about scoring. The sea was wide open, too. I just wasn't swimming."

But he stayed afloat -- the Lions slipped out of the Alamodome with a 13-12 win over New Orleans -- and he wasn't the goat.

Yes, Mr. CEO Matt Millen, you have drafted wide receivers No. 1 in three consecutive NFL Drafts, and finally you hit paydirt for a day.

Williams made several big catches in the second half, but none bigger than a 40-yard gain on a fourth-down play with 30 seconds remaining in the game. After another 15-yard reception by Williams, and a harried and hurried winning field goal, Williams could finally feel good about a game in which he dropped a sure touchdown.

It was great I got a chance to make up for it," he said, noting he did the same thing two weeks ago against Green Bay.

Then he made sure to thank his quarterback, especially for the high throw on the fourth-down play.

"Me knowing Joey, I knew he was coming my way, so I just said I got to make the play for this team. He put it up and back, and I knew he would throw it there. I made a play, got out of bounds and saved some time."

And for a day, saved a team which has already lost a season.

"It's hard to win in this league," Williams said. "Now everybody can go home happy, without pointing fingers and things of that nature. It's a Merry Christmas."

It wasn't exactly a Christmas miracle, but it was as surprising as, say, the Grinch finally having a heart.

Williams had a lot of time to think about the ball as it floated over the 40 yards.

And he did some soul-searching right there, on the field, waiting to jump, waiting to make the play that would define the game, his season and in his mind his career.

"I was telling myself, 'just catch the ball, you better not drop this one, or they are going to make fun of you for the rest of your life,' " he said. "There were so many black jerseys coming my way, and I'm wondering are they going to knock it down, or pass interference. That's what I would have done there if I was on defense. But I made the play."

He made the play, in part out of fear for his career. He used to be a big deal at the University of Texas, a star among stars down this way. In Detroit, something all together different was forming in the minds of football fans.

"Hey, I don't want that label as a guy who can't catch the football," he said. "I got to get more consistent as a receiver. I know that. But I shouldn't dropping touchdowns."

The Lions have talked all this year, and for many others about needing playmakers who make plays at the critical parts of games.

Dick Jauron, the interim head coach, was asked to choose which was the bigger play -- the 40-yard catch on fourth down, or the 39-yard field goal as time ticked away.

He correctly chose the pass play.

"It is hard to defend when you have a defensive back doing a jump ball against a bigger receiver, and Roy has the skill and athletic ability to go up and time it, and he has strong hands," he said. "Not only did he catch it, but he got out of bounds. That was huge."

It was big, for certain. As big as Texas, for Williams.

"I don't think I ever lost confidence, but I was getting tired of letting my team down," he said.

RECAP

It was an ugly game in an ugly season for both the Detroit Lions and the New Orleans Saints.

So bad, in fact, it took the ugliest of kicks in the final seconds to win it.

Jason Hanson rushed on to the field and kicked a 39-yard knuckleball field goal as time expired, giving the Lions a 13-12 victory Saturday in a game that, for three quarters, featured two of the NFL's tailenders.

There were six field goals, no offensive touchdowns, dropped passes and spotty play by two quarterbacks still trying to figure out where they fit with their teams.

''Winning like this shows character,'' said Detroit quarterback Joey Harrington.

New Orleans, which lost on a bizarre penalty and rekick on the final play two months ago against Atlanta, figured to have this one locked away when John Carney kicked his fourth field goal for a 12-10 lead with 1:52 to play.

Harrington, who had been benched twice this season, struggled most of the game before connecting with Roy Williams for two big completions on the Lions' final drive.

The first came on fourth down, a 40-yard sideline catch. On the second, with about 13 seconds left, Williams caught the ball in the middle of the field.

''I knew it was going to come my way,'' said Williams, who had dropped two passes earlier. ''I told myself, 'You better not drop it, they'll make fun of you the rest of your life.'''

The Lions were a bit lucky. Coach Dick Jauron considered spiking the ball to stop the clock, but Hanson and the kicking unit were already running on the field. That meant everyone else had to hustle off.

As the last seconds ticked off, Hanson launched a low kick that knuckled through the uprights for the win.

''It was done like it should have been, but I would have liked to have killed the clock and given them time to set up,'' Jauron said. ''I was watching the clock because that would have been a bad way to lose the game.''

Until that drive, the Lions had done little on offense. Hanson's two fourth-quarter field goals were their only offensive points. The Lions also got a 21-yard fumble return for a touchdown by defensive tackle Shaun Rogers in the second quarter.

For the Lions (5-10), it was an amazing victory in a season in which their fans protested their bad play and the management of team president Matt Millen. The win snapped a five-game losing streak.

''There have been times the coaches have not believed in me, and there have been times the players didn't believe in me,'' said Harrington, who was 17-of-30 for 210 yards in his third crack as the starter. ''But I never lost faith in myself.''

For New Orleans (3-12), it was just another tough loss in a season full of mistakes. It was also eerily reminiscent of the defeat against Atlanta, when the Falcons missed a kick in the final seconds, but were awarded a retry when the Saints were flagged for holding.

''We have fumbles returned for touchdowns, other teams make plays and we don't,'' said safety Dwight Smith.

The Saints have lost 10 of their last 11 in a season in which they played ''home'' games in New Jersey, San Antonio and Baton Rouge, La., after Hurricane Katrina.

Harrington's return began with an efficient 16-play drive that took Detroit to the Saints 4 before the threw his 12th interception. He underthrew the 6-foot-3 Williams on a fade route and 5-9 cornerback Fred Thomas picked it off. After picking up five first downs, the Lions would get only two more until the fourth quarter.

Todd Bouman wasn't much better at the beginning of his second start for New Orleans. A week after committing five turnovers in a loss to Carolina, Bouman was sacked and fumbled.

He kept a lid on the turnovers as the game wore on, twice leading drives to take the lead in the second half. Carney kicked field goals of 35, 47, 33 and 20 yards.

''We had chances to score touchdowns all day. I missed some guys,'' said Bouman, who was off by inches on several deep passes. ''It's just a disappointing loss.''

''The defense played well enough to win all day, except at the end,'' said Saints coach Jim Haslett. ''In this league you can't kick field goals and win.''

You can if it's the last one of the game. Now maybe the folks back home will quiet down a bit.

Scott's Game Commentary:

Talk about one miserable game to watch! In a battle that featured two of the biggest under acheiving teams in the NFL, the Lions pulled off a miraculous victory and in the process cost themselves any shot of a top five draft pick. It appeared on several occassions the Lions were toast late in the game. But, when you are facing a team that a replica of the Lions this season, you always have a chance at winning. The Saints had first and goal with under three minutes left but played to setup a field goal. With under two minutes left and no time outs, the Lions situation looked bleak. As was the case in the Dallas loss, penalties haunted the Lions the entire game. After Harrington got sacked that would have setup an impossible situation, Kelly Butler, who had several penalties and was just awful, was called for a false start. After in incomplete pass, Harrington was facing a 4th and 17. Against most teams, that would seem like an impossible situation, but not when your playing the 'Aints! Harrington hooked up for a 40 yard reception to Roy Williams and a few plays later setup the game winning field goal, although it had shades of the MSU / Ohio State fiasco play before the half. Hello Dick Jauron??? Ever heard of telling your QB to spike the ball? Hanson kicked a knuckle baller through and the Lions got their last victory of the season given they will get decimated next week in Pittsburgh.

Grades:

Offense: --- C-. What a way to start off the game! Nothing like having a nine minute drive end with an interception in the end zone. After that long drive, the Offense did next to nothing until the end. Roy Williams, who had some great catches, had his usual boneheaded drop that could have been a touchdown. As a team, the Lions are second next to the 'Aints in dropped passes. Artose Pinner started in place of Kevin Jones and did not do much - he's nothing more than a backup RB. Charles Rogers was back to being invisible and it now appears his future in Detroit is just about over. The bottom line is the Offense has been next to abysmal in the red zone this season and that better change in 2006 or the Lions will face another long year.

Defense: --- B. The Defense yielded four field goals but did not give up a touchdown, granted they were going up against an Offense as inept as the honolulu blue and silver. The 'Aints Offense had numerous chances at big plays but could never cash in. The only touchdown scored the entire game was after James Hall forced a fumble in which Shaun Rogers recovered and plowed his way into the endzone for his first NFL touchdown. Late in the game, the Defense did a good job in forcing the 'Aints to kick a field goal.

Special Teams: --- B. Hanson had a chip shot and kicked the game winner although it had a shank written all over it. Eddie Drummond had a good return but former Lions WR Hakim had good returns as well. Nick Harris continues his strong punting - quite a turn around from the miserable season he had last year.

Coaching: --- D. Jauron made the right decision to demote Garcia to the third string; however, it was three games too late. Joey Harringon is not much better but gives the Lions a better chance to win. Jauron said he hopes to have a shot at coaching the Lions next year, but I seriouslly doubt that will happen.

Overall: --- C. The Lions can thank their lucky stars for pulling out their second road victory of the year against a team even more pathetic than they are. In the process, they get their fifth win of the year and will end up costing them some draft spots in the 2006 NFL draft. The chances of a victory next week in Pittsburgh are next to nothing. Pittsburgh is fighting for their playoff lives and is playing their best football of the year. One more game to we can put the miserable season to a rest and start focusing on an offseason where the Millen and the crew have a lot of big decisions to make if the Lions are going to have any chance of getting back to mediocrity.

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