*

Story by Brad Friedman*

This week's *Madden 17 *simulation against the visiting Detroit Lions yielded a balanced, dominant performance.

New Orleans kept Detroit out of the end zone until the fourth quarter and piled on 35 points in the middle two quarters to come away with the big 38-13 win over the Lions.

After a hushed first quarter yielded only a 53-yard field goal from Matt Prater to give Detroit the advantage, New Orleans's offensive engine ignited. After two failed drives tow begin the game, one of which ended in an interception, the Saints ripped off three consecutive touchdown drives, putting up 21 unanswered points before Detroit kicked a field goal as the half expired. [

Drew Brees tossed three of his four touchdowns in the quarter alone, connecting with Michael Thomas twice and Brandin Cooks once. Short punts and a Matthew Stafford interception put New Orleans in prime position to score and it took advantage.

The surge continued on the other end of the break when New Orleans put up 14 unanswered, thanks for a Brees-Coby Fleener touchdown connection and a 5-yard Tim Hightower touchdown run.

Stafford found Golden Tate for a 25-yard touchdown early in the fourth and followed that up with another promising drive deep into Saints territory, but a Craig Robertson interception abruptly ended the drive and extinguished Detroit's comeback attempt.

Key performers

Drew Brees: 29-38, 298 yds, 4 TDs, 1 INT

Tim Hightower: 66 rush yards, 1 TD

Michael Thomas: 7 rec, 76 yards, 2 TDs