Carlos Monarrez

Detroit Free Press

What does this win mean for the Lions’ playoff chances?

First, let’s get this out of the way. The Lions are going to the playoffs and they’re going to host a game. Beating the Saints was a stolen victory almost no one expected them to get. It improved the Lions’ record to 8-4 and gave them a two-game lead on the Packers (6-6) and Vikings (6-6) and a good shot at winning 10 games. Heck, with the way things are going for the Lions, I wouldn’t be surprised if they beat the Giants, as well as the Bears and Packers, and win 11 games. And you know what, Cowboys? You’re not so safe, either.

►Seidel: Lions stunning win over Saints a big step toward the playoffs

►Related: Lions defense stifles prolific Saints offense in big 28-13 win

►Lions report card:High marks all around in win over Saints

►Related: Glover Quin proud of INT vs. Brees: 'See the toe tap?'

The Saints’ top-ranked offense was held to 13 points. What the étouffée got into the Lions’ defense?

This shouldn’t have happened. This couldn’t have happened. And yet, this happened. Drew Brees looked more like Who Brees in his worst game in a year while throwing three interceptions. At some point, I expected him to pull off his mask Scooby Doo-style and reveal himself to be Jay Cutler. Yeah, he was Cutler bad. How do the Saints hang 49 points on the Rams’ ninth-ranked defense last week, then tie their lowest offensive output of the year? All against a Lions defense that didn’t feature any of its three starting linebackers from the start of the season? How?

►Recap: Lions widen lead in NFC North with 28-13 win over Saints

►Watch: Saints DL Nick Fairley smack Matthew Stafford in the face

Who deserves the most credit for this win?

Teryl Austin. In fact, when the Lions’ defensive coordinator goes on head coaching job interviews after the season, he just needs to roll tape of this game and drop the mic. It was singularly spectacular. I think Matthew Stafford might have played his best game of the year, when you consider how much was riding on this game and playing on the road. But the win doesn’t happen without Austin’s defense pulling off a huge upset and shutting down the NFL’s No. 1 offense — all without any of his starting linebackers and using a still-hampered and still-sackless Ziggy Ansah. This year, life gave Austin lemons. On Sunday, Austin took those lemons, stuffed them into a sock and beat the Saints with that sock until he juiced the lemons and made lemonade.

Contact Carlos Monarrez: cmonarrez@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @cmonarrez. Download our free Lions Xtra app on your Apple and Android devices.