New Orleans, LA

The New Orleans Saints looked terrible in the first half, but came out roaring in the second half with Drew Brees leading a resurgent and unstoppable offense by throwing for 466 yards and three TDs in a 45-28 NFC Wild-Card win over the Detroit Lions Saturday night.

It earned the Saints (14-3) a berth for next Saturday's second-round clash with San Francisco (13-3).

This game, dubbed as clash of two prolifically pass-efficient clubs featured a postseason record-tying 1,038 yards of total offense with the Saints getting the best of it.

New Orleans amassed 626 total yards, a postseason record, with 167 coming on the ground and 458 yards through the air.

Brees, who set a single-season record with 5,476 passing yards, completed 33 of 43 passes while throwing for the most yards in a regulation playoff game.

In addition to Brees' amazing game, the Saints running backs also stepped up with the diminutive Darren Sproles, listed at 5-feet-6, 190 pounds, scoring a huge play in the fourth quarter.

The Lions showed a semblance of fight by drawing 24-21 late in the period, but the Saints countered with a 14-play, 80-yard drive that ended when Sproles bolted on a 17-yard score to hike the lead to 31-21 with 9:53 to play.

It was the second touchdown of the night for Sproles, who finished with 51 yards. Pierre Thomas ran the ball for 66 yards for the Saints, who received 47 yards from Chris Ivory.

Matthew Stafford threw for 380 yards and three TDs in his playoff debut for the Lions (10-7), who were making their first playoff appearance since 1999.

Lions receiver Calvin Johnson defied a suffocating New Orleans defense as he recorded 12 receptions for 211 yards and two TDs in the loss.

Copyright 2012, AHN - All Rights Reserved