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Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) and New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) after the Lions beat the Saints 35-27 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans Monday, December 21, 2015. (Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

One certainty for the New Orleans Saints' next opponent this season is that at some point in the fourth quarter, they will be in position for a comeback.

Another certainty for the Detroit Lions as that the final score will be close.

The Lions enter their Sunday game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome as the only team in NFL history to have their first 11 games decided by seven or fewer points.

In all those games, they trailed at some point in the fourth quarter. And in seven of those, they came back to win, including in the 16-13 Thanksgiving victory against the Minnesota Vikings.


Darius Slay intercepted Sam Bradford's pass and returned it 13 yards with 30 seconds left to set up Matt Prater's 40-yard, winning field goal as time expired.

That was only the latest late-game heroic for the Lions, whose other win against the Vikings this season included a 58-yard field goal by Prater at the end of regulation to set up overtime.

Saints' next opponent holds record for close games, and more to know about the Lions | NOLA.com