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Drew Brees faced steady pressure from the Detroit Lions defensive line in the fourth quarter.

(Melanie Maxwell | MLive.com)

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New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees had no problem carving up the Detroit Lions' No.1-ranked defense through the first three quarters, but when all the chips were on the table in the final frame, the Lions slammed the door on the future Hall of Famer, holding him to 3-14 passing for 17 yards, zero touchdowns and a game-altering interception. The result, a 24-23 victory for Detroit.

Included in that horrendous stretch was a career-worst string of 10 incompletions for Brees, easily surpassing his previous high of seven from the 2011 season.

We wanted to go back and see what the Lions did defensively that threw Brees so far off his game during that 10-pass sequence in the fourth quarter.

2nd-and-15 (13:49)

The streak started thanks to defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. Looking to set up a more manageable third-down situation, the Saints ran a little pick play to free up outside receiver Robert Meachum. But as Brees fired the pass to his receiver coming free on the slant, Suh put up his big mitt and deflected the throw.

3rd-and-15 (13:44)

Now facing third-and-long, the Lions put six on the line of scrimmage and rushed with five. The look caused confusion for the Saints offensive line, allowing Ezekiel Ansah to come free off the left side. Brees stepped up in the pocket, avoiding the sack, but hurried a deep sideline throw to tight end Jimmy Graham, who was well covered by Rashean Mathis.

3rd-and-10 (5:35)

The Lions got away with one here. The Saints looked to set up a screen to running back Travaris Cadet, but as he ran to his spot he was tackled by defensive tackle Nick Fairley. Brees, seeing the play dissolve, threw the ball into the ground and let the official have it for blowing an obvious holding call.

1st-and-10 (3:38)

After the Lions cut the deficit to one score, the Saints looked to pick up some yards on a play-action pass. The call was designed to get the defense moving one direction while Brees rolled out to the opposite side.

The problem for the quarterback was defensive end Darryl Tapp didn't bite on the misdirection and was in his face as he turned to scan the field. Wanting to avoid the sack, Brees threw the ball away.

2nd-and-9 (3:24)

The Lions came on a delayed blitz with DeAndre Levy, but the Saints offensive line maintained a clean pocket for their quarterback. This was a rare case of Brees just missing his throw as he sailed a pass to Marques Colston a little high and wide as the receiver ran an out route from the left slot to the first-down marker.

3rd-and-9 (3:20)

This play is Glover Quin's game-changing interception, and something colleague Kyle Meinke already wrote about extensively, but the safety never has a shot to make the pick if not for the pressure generated by defensive end George Johnson.

While the coverage call was solid, it doesn't work if Johnson doesn't beat his man off the edge, forcing Brees to step up in the pocket and take most of the zip off his throw. That gave Quin the the extra time to make a break on the ball.

This play is a perfect example of the front four creating an opportunity and the back end capitalizing on it.

1st-and-10 (1:48)

Now trailing and with the clock a factor, the Saints were looking to pick up decent chunks of yardage. Cadet runs a delayed route of the backfield, but linebacker DeAndre Levy has eyes on him the entire way. As Brees looks for the back, he sees Levy, and instead of forcing the ball into a tight window and risking an interception against one of the league's best play-making linebackers, the quarterback wisely throws it away.

2nd-and-10 (1:43)

Chalk another completion up to the defensive line as Ansah easily beats his block working a stunt with Fairley on the right side. I'd safely guess the design was to free up Fairley around the edge, but Ansah's quickness was too much for the tackle to handle coming inside.

With pressure in his face less than two seconds after the snap, Brees is forced to from the pocket and he fails to connect with Graham while throwing on the move.

3rd-and-10 (1:38)

Brees wanted Colston on a post from the right slot, but as the receiver broke inside on his route, the quarterback spotted safety James Ihedigbo coming forward and probably flashed back to Quin's interception earlier in the quarter.

The quarterback pulled the ball down and eyed his second read, a deep throw to Brandin Cooks down the left sideline, where Ihedigbo was no longer in position to provide help for the cornerback.

But the throw never had a chance as defensive end Jason Jones beat right tackle Zach Strief and was able to hit Brees' arm as it came forward.

1st-and-10 (1:14)

Credit for the final incompletion in the streak goes to linebacker Tahir Whitehead. Once again, Brees' target was Cadet, this time running a wheel route out of the backfield. The running back did his best to juke Whitehead, but the linebacker maintained his balance and was able to follow the route inside and tip the pass away.

Conclusion

The success in the fourth quarter, particularly during the incompletion streak, is largely thanks to the play of the defensive line. The front four influenced seven of the 10 incompletions, with Levy and Whitehead playing solid coverage on two others and Brees throwing one bad ball.

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