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NEW ORLEANS — Statistically, the beleaguered New Orleans Saints defense couldn’t possibly slip any lower in the NFL rankings going into Monday night’s game with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Then, they went out and gave up 131 total yards in the first quarter and looked for all the world like they would be run out of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome by halftime by quarterback Michael Vick and the Eagles.

But the most important number that came out of the first quarter was zero: the number of points the Saints allowed in holding an opponent scoreless in the opening period for the first time this season.

At the same time, they came up with three big plays — the biggest a 99-yard interception return by cornerback Patrick Robinson — that kept the Eagles in check and provided the early impetus for a much-needed 28-13 win.

Even though the defense eventually allowed 447 yards, the Saints rattled Vick throughout the night. They got to him for seven sacks, the most he has had since joining the Eagles in 2009, and had two takeaways in delighting a crowd of 73,099.

“I was proud of our football team to be able to improve on some things that we really worked on and emphasized this week,” Saints interim coach Joe Vitt said. “Make no mistake, we have a long way to go. But the red zone defense, the pressure … were very encouraging.”

Read more: Time to hit the sack | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA

Rugby Saint II

447 yards given up won't cut it.