Heading into the fourth quarter, the New Orleans Saints cut their deficit against the New England Patriots to 24-21 on a pair of touchdowns by a pair of small college players seeking to make the 53-man roster.
After giving up a touchdown to New England RB Laurence Maroney for the second time of the game at the start of the second half, the New Orleans Saints gained some momentum on the ensuing kickoff when WR Division III Wesley College product Larry Beavers returned it 97 yards for a touchdown on a runback that combined some nifty blocks and impressive open field running.
The New Orleans defense then forced New England into their first three-and-out series of the contest, finished off when LB Jonathan Casillas sacked Patriots QB Brian Hoyer for a an eight yard loss on third down.
On the first time the New Orleans offense actually took the field, midway through the quarter QB Patrick Ramsey found WR Adrian Arrington for a 51-yard completion, where the third-year wideout broke a tackle and outran several New England defenders. On the next play, Ramsey found Arrington again for a 11-yard completion to bring the Saints to the Patriots two-yard line, setting things up for RB Chris Ivory to punch in a two-yard touchdown.
The two clubs then traded possessions as New Orleans would enter the fourth quarter trailing by only three.
