Because even though the game stunk, I still have to write this post.
No. 5 - Lions' stop of Saints on third-and-two in first quarter
On the opening play of the game, Mark Ingram gashed the Lions for 13 yards. It appeared to set the tone for what could be a very long day for the Lions defense, but they had other thoughts and responded by forcing a New Orleans punt after making a stop on third-and-two. Drew Brees' pass to Robert Meachem was incomplete, and the stop gave Lions fans hope that the Saints offense wouldn't spend all game torching Detroit's defense. The Saints had plenty of success later in the game, but this was a nice stop early on.
No. 4 - Lions' stop of Saints on third-and-seven in fourth quarter
Down by only a touchdown after making a comeback, the Lions defense needed to make a stop to give the offense a chance to tie things up. They didn't disappoint, as Stephen Tulloch brought down Jimmy Graham two yards shy of the first down marker on third down. The offense was unable to capitalize on the stop and make this a tie game, but the defense did its job at this point in the fourth quarter.
No. 3 - Sammie Hill's three-yard sack on Drew Brees in second quarter
Without Ndamukong Suh in the lineup, other Lions defensive tackles needed to step it up. Hill did just that and played pretty well on Sunday, especially toward the end of the second quarter when he sacked Brees for a loss of three yards.
No. 2 - Nick Fairley's tackle of Mark Ingram for loss of one yard in second quarter
Fairley also stepped it up, and he actually accounted for the top two defensive plays on this list. His first play, a takedown of Ingram for a loss of a yard, was examined yesterday in our Lions video review.
No. 1 - Nick Fairley's one-yard sack of Drew Brees in first quarter
Fairley's other play on this list came in the first quarter. He recorded his first career sack and continued to impress by bringing down Brees. Unfortunately, his injured foot forced him out of the game, but when he was on the field he showed why the Lions drafted him in the first round.