Detroit — Here’s what I learned bouncing around the Detroit Lions’ locker room following the team’s 31-30 overtime win over the New Orleans Saints.
Breaking down game’s final snap
After the Lions and Saints traded touchdown drives in overtime, the visitors opted to attempt a two-point conversion following their score, distilling a chaotic game to a single snap.
The try ultimately fell incomplete, giving the Lions the victory on the do-or-die play.
“We hung in there and made the last play, made the last play to win it, and that’s the most important thing,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said.
While credit is shared between every player on the field, as well as coordinator Kelvin Sheppard’s call, two defenders went above and beyond to ensure the incompletion.
First, linebacker Derrick Barnes capped a stellar performance by dropping into coverage from the line of scrimmage to take away quarterback Tyler Shough’s first option, 6-foot-5 receiver Devaughn Vele, who had a short-yardage touchdown earlier in the game.