Baltimore Ravens vs New Orleans Saints Box Score on Sep 01, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Sep 1, 2016

After losing two starters to season-ending injuries last week, the Baltimore Ravens rested every starter but scored 23 consecutive points, including a strip sack for a touchdown by rookie defensive tackle Michael Pierce, to beat the New Orleans Saints 23-14 in the final preseason game Thursday night in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

The Ravens lost tight end Ben Watson and rookie running back Kenneth Dixon last week with serious injuries, and coach John Harbaugh did not play a single offensive or defensive starter.

Ryan Mallett got the start at quarterback for Joe Flacco and played three series, going 8-of-12 for 65 yards, before giving way to Josh Johnson. Johnson also was efficient, completing 18-of-24 for 181 yards, and sweeping left end for 2 yards for Baltimore's final score with seven minutes left.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees had not played in the final preseason game since 2006, but the Saints' lack of continuity on offense prompted coach Sean Payton to go against his tendencies.

On his only drive, Brees completed a 26-yard back-shoulder pass to wide receiver Willie Snead on third down, the key play in a 61-yard, 10-play drive that ended with Kai Forbath's 36-yard field goal for a 3-0 New Orleans lead. Brees (3-of-6 for 40 yards) then put on his baseball cap and gave way to Luke McCown.

Connor Barth, in a close battle with Forbath for the Saints' kicking job, nailed a 40-yarder on New Orleans' second series for a 6-0 lead.

Justin Tucker's 46-yard field goal on Baltimore's next series cut the deficit to 6-3, and then he tied it 6-6 with a 39-yarder that climaxed a 13-play, 65-yard drive.

The Ravens defense provided the go-ahead score. Pierce, a rookie defensive tackle from Samford, knifed through to sack McCown inside the 5-yard line, stripping the ball and recovering in the end zone just before halftime to put the Ravens up 13-6. Tucker added his third field goal of the half, a 30-yarder, for a 16-6 halftime lead.

Saints third-string QB Garrett Grayson threw a 4-yard TD pass to fullback Austin Johnson for the final score, cutting the Baltimore lead to 23-14, with 1:53 left.

The Saints have lost nine consecutive preseason games dating back to 2014, and they finished the preseason minus-eight in takeaway margin. ... The Saints signed center Max Unger to a three-year, $21 million extension. ... This was the Ravens' sixth 4-0 preseason. ... Ravens backup DT Carl Davis suffered a left ankle injury.