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| Ingram has a career night vs. Green Bay. Photo Credit: USA Today Sports |
Mark Ingram rushed for a career high 172 yards as he helped lead the saints to a 44-23 win over the Packers on Sunday night at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
By: Michael Hanley
Unbelievably, this victory puts New Orleans (3-4) in position to play for first place in the NFC South Thursday night when they play the Panthers. The Packers (5-3) now are a game behind the NFC North leading Detroit Lions with this loss.
Randall Cobb started off the game for the Packers with a bang as he caught a 70 yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers to open up the scoring and give Green Bay a 7-0 lead. It was the textbook start for them to quiet the raucous crowd inside the Superdome.
The Saints would quickly answer as Drew Brees and company went right down the field and capped the drive with a Brandin Cooks 4 yard touchdown run to even the score at 7 apiece. It signaled that this game would be one that had defense as only an option, not a requirement.
Both teams slowed down a bit as the offenses stalled in the red zone and had to settle for field goals to even the game at 10-10.
Packers again would drive down the field but the New Orleans defense was able to hold them out of the endzone and force another field , wish was made by Mason Crosby to make it a 13-10 Packers lead.
Saints would copy the Packers in again pickup some first downs but once getting to the end zone, failed to crack the goal line and settle for a field, made by Shayne Graham to tie the score at 13.
Both offenses again would settle for field goals and have the game be tied at 16 at the half.
Green Bay looked as if they were about to take the lead again but the Saints defense came up with a huge interception of Aaron Rodgers to deny them any points on that red zone trip. Drew Brees and company took full advantage of the opportunity and drove 88 yards in 4 plays to take their first lead of the night at 23-16. Brees would have a terrific all around performance as he finished the night 27/32 for 311 yards and three touchdown passes.
Rodgers looked as if he tweaked his left hamstring while on that drive and he did not show the same mobility as we are accustom to seeing him have and use as part of his overall game. Despite that, he continued on and played through whatever pain he was dealing with.
New Orleans would continue to feed off the momentum of that touchdown drive by putting two more together in the third and forth quarters to widen the gap to 37-16. It was as if an avalanche had fallen on Green Bay and their was no way of even slowing it down at that point.
The Packers would respond though and go on a nice 80 yard drive that would get them back to within 37-23 with just over five minutes left in the game. It would proved to be too late as the Saints were able to close things out for the win. Rodgers would finish 28/39 for 418 yards with one touchdown pass and two interceptions.
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