NEW ORLEANS – Matthew Stafford’s accuracy and poise sparked the Detroit Lions to a big lead and helped prevent them from squandering it, too.
Stafford passed for 254 yards and three touchdowns — two to former Seahawk Golden Tate — and the Lions held off a late surge by New Orleans to defeat the Saints 35-27 in an NFL game Monday night.
Stafford completed 22 of 25 passes.
Detroit (5-9) raced to a 28-3 lead, but Drew Brees threw two touchdown passes — one shortly after a Lions fumble — to help New Orleans (5-9) pull to 28-20 with 10:06 left.