Rob Parker: Detroit Lions stun New Orleans Saints and critics, too

DETROIT – It's hard to get excited about most Lions games, even wins.

The team's history, most of it bad the last 50-plus years, makes fans feel that way.

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And the sports writers who have covered this team for years are hard-pressed to believe something big is ever happening with this franchise.

Fair or not, it's because some of the scribes have seen so many downs the last 57 years, just one playoff win in that span.

But on Sunday, it was hard to discount the Lions' 24-23, come-from-behind victory over the New Orleans Saints at Ford Field.

The Saints (2-4) aren't the same Saints team that won the Super Bowl years back, but is still considered a good team, even with their bad record coming in.

In fact, it appeared as if the Lions were well on their way to a disappointing, lackluster home loss. The offense, minus Calvin Johnson, was sleep walking. The team's defense, which was ranked No. 1 coming into the game, was getting ripped apart.

"Obviously, we didn't play our best football, especially in the first half," quarterback Matthew Stafford said.

He later added, "We fight, we never gave up."

Same can't be said for some of the Lions' faithful. With eight minutes to go, some fans looked at the scoreboard and figured they had seen this movie before - Lions were losing, 23-10 - and bolted.

Then came the play that changed the game, giving the Lions a chance at a comeback.

On a third-and-14 play on the Lions' own 27, Stafford hit Golden Tate with a short pass on the right. Tate made people miss and it was N-B-C you later, a 73-yard TD, cutting the Lions' deficit to 23-17 with 3:38 left.

"He's been great, he's obviously stepped up," Stafford said about Tate. "That play he made on that long touchdown is as good of a play as I've seen in a long time."

Without question, Tate's play changed the momentum in the game. "It wasn't just me," a modest Tate said. "I just dug deep and the next thing I knew, it was a ballgame."

Which allowed the defense to redeem itself at the end when it mattered most. Going into the game, the Lions were trying to extend a streak of allowing no more than 17 points to give straight games. The Last time that happened was 1974.

It didn't happen. In fact, the Lions hardly looked like the No. 1 defense in the league.

The Saints were able to move the ball and get big plays. Marcus Colston had 111 yards on six catches. Kenny Stills had five receptions for 103 yards.

Drew Brees filled up the stat sheet with 342 yards with two TDs, but had the big pick at the end to set up for the Lions' victory.

Safety Glover Quin picked off Brees at N.O.'s 27 yard line and returned it 14 yards , setting up the Lions' first and 10.

"To the whole defense, those guys put some heat on one of the best quarterbacks in the league, one of the best offensive teams in the league," Tate said. "We just came up big with a little bit divine intervention, and the next thing we knew, we're 5-2."

And the Lions' defense had to make another stop in order to secure the win.

With 1:48 to go, the Saints still had a chance to move the ball in position for a game-winning field goal.

But they dogged and pressured Brees, who couldn't really move the ball. On eight plays in the final drive, Brees just moved his team 20 yards before giving up the ball on downs with 21 seconds to go.

The Lions have a long way to go. We saw this movie just a year ago when they started 6-3 and finished 7-9, out of the playoffs and cost their coach Jim Schwartz his gig.

And some might be right to say it's unfair to look at last year when it comes to the 2014 Lions.

For once, we will give the Lions a break, let them enjoy this win with no strings attached and at face value.

It was a win any team's fans in the NFL would feel good about. There will be smiles at the water cooler in the office on Monday - for a change.